Milan's Bloody Mary reach their third release, confirming themselves as one of the most interesting realities in the gothic world, and not only at a national level. An absolutely enjoyable record, full of eighties atmospheres, that would not look out of place at all next to other masterpieces of the genre. Everything works here: production, songwriting, the musicians' skill. Above all, if it is true that a record's hardest task is keeping the listener's attention alive to the very end, this album has the merit of succeeding without any difficulty.
Special praise is due to Aldebran's voice - dark, deep, lulling - which leads the whole work and certainly gives it an important added value.
The twelve tracks contain several ideas: there are many metal elements, but the band moves quite far from the genre's most intransigent dictates, building a personal and immediately recognisable sound. Melody reigns supreme throughout the record, enveloping the listener with intense passages cared for down to the smallest detail: for an example, just listen to the best song on the record, Somebody To Love, marked by choral solutions of the highest level.
Other songs worth mentioning are the opener Velvet, able to take the listener straight to the centre of the band's world, and the beautiful Dreamer. Finally, a high mark for Pet Sematary too, a Ramones cover properly arranged.
For gothic lovers it is certainly a must-buy. To those who do not like the genre, on the other hand, I would perhaps suggest first seeing the band live before deciding to buy: Bloody Mary certainly deserve all possible attention, though, both inside and outside our borders.
First published in Italian; in English here. Where it appeared ↗