'Alterium' was born at the end of 2022 from the ashes of the Italian group 'Kalidia' with its three former members, the singer 'Nicoletta Rosellini' (who also plays in the band 'Walk In Darkness'), the guitarist 'Paolo Campitelli' and the drummer 'Dario Gozzi' to which were added the guitarist 'Alessandro Mammola' and bassist 'Luca Scalabrin'. They claim to be power metal and what emerges from the outset, with 'Drag Me To Hell' which opens the album, drummer 'Dario Gozzi' leading the dance throughout the track. We find this style in the energetic title song 'Of War and Flames' (see the video above) but also in 'Chasing the Sun' and in 'Shadowsong' to a lesser extent. But other compositions provide greater variety with for example 'Siren's Call' which flirts with more classic syphonic metal which offers alternations between more moderate verses and a more powerful unifying chorus (see the video here). In this style, we can also cite 'Firebringer' which, even if it remains energetic with a fairly fast tempo, offers a more conventional rhythm section and a chorus that we want to sing back with 'Nicoletta Rosellini'. As for 'Crossroads Inn', it brings a more moderate side in the form of a well-paced mid-tempo (see the video here) and 'Heroine of the Sea' is also closer to symphonic metal driven by saturated guitar riffs and a catchy melody. And when 'Alterium' decides to take us into calmer waters, we won't be able to ignore the very beautiful power ballad 'Crystalline' (see the video here) and the album ends with the mid-tempo 'Bismark' with its well-defined tempo and beautiful alternations between energetic sections and calmer ones.
In summary, the Italians of Alterium' ultimately released a relatively varied album which offers us powerful and fast power metal but also more moderate compositions more akin to symphonic metal which destines 'Of War and Flames' to a metal audience open to different styles and loving melodies accessible at first listen... | |
