I had discovered the Italian band 'Deathless Legacy' with their latest album 'Mater Larvarum' and their new studio recording, 'Damnatio Aeterna', was released a month ago. As usual, the album is accompanied by a book written by 'Frater Orion' and 'Sister Steva' which tells, and I quote from their website, "the story of 'Malchrum', a demon relegated to the lower circles for an ancient mistake, receives a mission that could change everything: to corrupt the innocent soul of a priest and lead it into the eternal flames." Yet another very dark and provocative theme in the land of the Papacy (see the description here)!! Musically, to be in line with the themes addressed, we find this fusion between melodic and symphonic metal that highlights the very expressive vocals of 'Steva' in atmospheres, as you might expect, giving off a certain drama but still benefiting from catchy melodic lines at first listen.
On the menu of this new opus, there are 11 new compositions that pepper the album, and, from the outset, the title track begins with grandiose choruses and continues with a memorable first melody, the rough vocals of 'Steva' perfectly fitting this disturbing side that this title exudes. Then, 'Miserere' continues in the same style with a new melodic hit that was the subject of a single (see the video above). A change of tempo with 'Get On Your Knees' which deploys a languid atmosphere, and which highlights once again 'Steva' in a much more sensual register, then, 'Communion' takes us into funereal sounds of church organ to then offer us a well-paced mid-tempo with new catchy melodic lines. Follows 'Indulgentia Plenaria' which presents a new contrast between a disturbing atmosphere and a catchy melody which should work well in concert, then, 'Oblivion', introduced by a piano, is a new hit in power, well-paced, with a chorus which makes you want to accompany 'Steva'. With 'Spiritus Sanctus Diabolicus', we are fully immersed in an anguishing liturgical atmosphere, with the title chanted many times, the melodic lines always keeping this immediate accessibility, then, 'Sanctified' is the ballad of the album in which 'Steva' brings a real emotion, this title alternating in a beautiful way quiet sections and others much more powerful with muscular saturated guitars (see the video here). 'Mother of God' follows, in which the rhythm section leads the dance with an up-tempo, unifying chorus. 'Steva' highlights the full power of her vocals in this energetic atmosphere. Then, 'Nighshade', which is less dark in its melodic approach, offers us an alternation of intensity between catchy verses and a chorus in which we have an irresistible urge to scream the title along with the choruses. 'Gehenna' closes the album by returning to the characteristic style of 'Deathless Legacy', in a disturbing atmosphere sprinkled with a touch of progressive with a succession of rhythmic changes.
In summary, true to their "horror metal" label, the Italians of 'Deathless Legacy' release an excellent album in the continuity of their previous ones, always with this immediate accessibility (and, perhaps, even more in this latest opus) thanks to catchy melodic lines at first listen... | |
