I did not know the Italian group 'Deathless Legacy', nor the style they claim, the 'horror metal' and, listening to their latest album 'Mater Larvarum', I found a mixture of styles which I like with a fusion of symphonic metal, gothic metal, melodic metal and progressive metal. Known for doing very theatrical shows featuring scary makeup, the Italians are used to releasing concept albums that they always accompany with an associated book (see their page with their different stories here) and 'Mater Larvarum' are no exception in exploring, I quote the band, "feminine ferocity, frightening silences and shadows from the underground": quite a program!
And yet, despite the always very dark themes mixing occult sciences, devilry and esotericism, the melodic lines are catchy from the first listen and can be compared to the tenors of symphonic metal and this, from the start with 'Ora Pro Nobis' (see the video above), a very catchy title which makes the link with the theme only by remarkable choirs in a religious atmosphere. We also find this lively and playful side in the majority of the compositions, and we can quote titles like ''Hollow', 'The Coven', 'Absolution', 'Queen Of The Infernal Pantheon' or even 'Moonless Night' with choruses that immediately stick in your head. In a more theatrical but just as melodic metal, the Italians also offer us 'Fade Into The Dark' in which 'Steva' shows all his vocal talent or the rhythmic mid-tempo marked 'Moonless Night' (see the video here) automatically starting the foot tapping machine, atmosphere that we will find in 'Altar Of Bones' with its more disturbing atmosphere and more in phase with the deployed theme. We find this same atmosphere in the last two compositions : first of all with 'Run' which again highlights a very expressive vocal performance of 'Steva' on a melody giving off a feeling of oppression and anguish interspersed with a remarkable more sedate section with a very beautiful guitar solo, then with the final title song in a heavier and more epic atmosphere deploying an addictive melody with very beautiful grandiose choirs.
In summary, the Italians of 'Deathless Legacy', led by a talented singer who has nothing to envy to the best female metal singers, release a very beautiful album which shows that their horror metal label is finally quite restrictive and certainly scares some people when they can claim a place of choice in the best symphonic and gothic metal formations. If you want to also discover the previous albums, I put you the spotify links on their last three albums, 'The Gathering' from 2015, 'Dance with Devils' from 2017 and 'Ritual of Black Magic' from 2018 as well as the single 'Saturnalia' which is actually a long and beautiful title of 24 minutes which shows the very progressive side of the group... | |
