| Reprieve (Demo CD) | 2003 | No Label |
Perhaps this American (although Il Sangue is now a full band with 5 members) did not do this intentionally. Perhaps I am being overly optimistic. But whatever it is, there is a definite unique feel to the music on this demo that sets this band apart from their peers. And what I pin this down to is the tremendous atmosphere ever-present in the music...but do not fear, this does not mean that ‘Reprieve’ is dripping with keyboards, violins and female sopranos...no, it’s much less deliberate (and far more original) than that. Somehow, the raw, under-production of this CD-R moulds with the songs and instruments (just a few guitars and drums) to create a devastating mood almost accidentally, and it’s a terribly haunting mood of dread, torment and sorrow.
Il Sangue’s first demo ‘Prophecy of Doom’ still featured this atmosphere and feel, but not to such great extents, and the music on that release is a little less unique (though still reasonably original), and more traditional death/doom. However, with the tortured, piercing guitars, brooding, intense delivery, wretched, pained, almost black-metallish shrieks, acoustic guitar interludes and even the occasional woeful, non-over-the-top yet harmonious and pleasant singing (which appears briefly on the 17-minute masterpiece ‘A Final Embrace’) as well as some faint tortured groans, ‘Reprieve’, the bands second works, just has that little bit more to it. It is also slightly more melodic and melancholic and sorrowful, with ‘Prophecy...' providing more of a sickening, malevolent assault.
Either way, Il Sangue are certainly onto something here, and should have an extremely promising future ahead of them within the doom scene, still being so young and unheard of. So, if you’re a fan of unique, original death/doom, then I wholeheartedly suggest you check this band out and give them a listen, because this demo, 26 grim minutes of doom drudgery with only occasional moments of speed-uppage, certainly has a distinct, fantastic edge to it.
You can learn more about Il Sangue and order 'Reprieve' and other of their works by contacting neillaperriere@cs.com, or by heading over to www.theorderofsangue.tk.
1. Reprieve
2. A Final Embrace (The Pallbearer)
Approx. 26 minutes
| Fall of Empyrean/Il Sangue Split (CD) | 2003 | No Label |
The album starts off with Fall Of Empyrean' s first offering, 'This Paradise Crumbles'... one is treated to a short (and perhaps a bit off key... but maybe, that was intentional) acoustic intro, after which the band get right into it. It's difficult to make comparisons to other bands here, as they seemingly take a little influence from all of the 'big' doom/death bands. I can defiently see a bit of Anathema here, mostly due to the acoustic intro, and interludes. Perhaps, there is also a little bit of early/mid period Katatonia there as well. I suppose, the most shocking thing is a seeming lack of influence from My Dying Bride... it was something I fully expected after the first few riffs, but it just isn't there... strange... but good, as we already have enough MDB clones out there. Having said all that, I do prefer the second track, 'Destructive Light Of Dawn' however. It just seems to me, better composed, and laid out. Good solid leads, nice atmosphere, great melody. Nothing to complain about here. I'm actually a little surprised that Fall Of Empyrean hasn't been signed yet.
Next up, we have Il Sangue. The quality of these two tracks is noticably lower than the Fall Of Empyrean tracks, but not enough that it gets in the way of the music. After the intro of 'On Earth, As It Is In Perdition', I am quickly reminded of Shape Of Dispair, and Deinonychus, if only briefly in the sense that Il Sangue seems to reaching for that same atmosphere of, well, despair, that the other two are known for. Unlike Fall Of Empyrean there are no romantic or gothic influences here... just straight ahead death/doom, with the occasinal quieter part. I'd also like to add, that I think the 'sick' vocal style (part anguished screams, and part sick grunts, along with some clean spoken parts) suits this music extremely well. Overall, Il Sangue certainly is something one should check out, if they don't like any gothic and romantic influences in their death/doom.
In the end, we've got four tracks, by two good, young, and distinct doom/death bands on this disc. Certainly something which any doom/death fan should seek out... but the casual listener should skip this in favour of something more well-known.
Fall Of Empyrean:
1. This Paradise Crumbles
2. Destructive Light Of Dawn
Il Sangue:
3. On Earth, As It Is In Perdition
4. As Tongue Meets Ash
Approx. 37 minutes
| Elegia 4: ...In Still Desolation (LP) | 2005 | Parasitic |
The sound can best be described as noisy funeral doom with black metal elements. The spoken sections and whispering in the background as well as the simple echoing chords on the guitar, remind me of Dolorian's self-titled album. In addition to the spoken sections and the whispers there are other black metal elements like the snarling grunts. Drown this in sharp noise that acts like razors on the ears, and you would have a pretty good image of the music.
The idea of suffering is shown here as something completely different than what is preached by romantic oriented bands. Suffering does not lie in the tears but in the intense pain that jags through the soul. Just like loneliness is not a lament, but a type of mental torture. Just like existence is not just miserable, it makes you question whether Hell can actually be worse.
The hideous image of death that is portrayed on this album reminds me of the extreme emotions from Worship and Stabat Mater. In fact I'm postitive that those who like those two bands will also like this. At the same time I'll also give a warning that this is indeed music too cruel for most people to handle. Still, highly recommended.
-Inno Funebre Un- Suicide Chalice
-Inno Funebre Due- Souls At Martyrdom
-Inno Funebre Tre- Harrowing The Sacred
Approx. 38 minutes