Artist: Darzamat
Title: Solfernus Path
Type: Album
Label: Massacre Records

Darzamat? Sounds like a Latin word for doormat! In actual fact Darzamat is, according to Latvian mythology, a “garden goddess.” A girlish guarder of the gardens and this is one of those occasions where the name suits the music rather well. Given how this band appear to have had something of a patchy history, it’s not surprising I have not encountered them before. In 1996 they released their debut album on Croon Records (and has subsequently had two re-releases, both with different covers, one on Metal Mind, one of Faithless Productions). Shortly after, they brought out an E.P. and then went on hiatus before bouncing back in 2003 with ‘Oniriad;’ another label yet again with Avantgarde Recordings who they stuck with for three albums, and finally in 2009 signed to Massacre Records who bring us Solfernus Path.

There have been a good few line up changes, and over the years have developed from a symphonic black metal outfit to what can be heard of them on this album. There is still a trace of black metal in the mix, but come expecting something along the lines of Dimmu and you’re going to be disappointed. There is plenty of melody on this album without compromising the heaviness; In particular I find the vocals of Nera incredibly striking. She has a crystal-clear clarity to her voice that aides a delivery as bright and chirpy as the morning birds in the garden, while these are counterbalanced by the deathly growls of Flauros (founder and only band member to have stayed since the start). The bewitching intro to ‘False Sleepwalker’ takes you under its spell before the album kicks in proper with some chugging guitars and sleepy yet blackened drums.

The tracks are occasionally intercepted by some samples that really add a nice touch. ‘II: Fumus’ sounds especially eerie, beginning with some wild and haunting whispers that could have come off ‘Sighs’ from the soundtrack to Dario Argento’s Suspiria, running off into ‘Gloria Inferi’ which keeps an underlying tone of foreboding with the symphonic keyboards low in the mix. Similarly, ‘III: Venum’ sets a dark and sinister tone, this time more militant sounding like an army marching through hell and up ‘Solfernus’ Path.’ There is also a strong Polish vibe emitted through the sound in the pounding thrash/death concoction. ‘Vote For Heresy’ has quite a melo-death feel to it, as does ‘King Of Burning Anthems’ which features the guitar work of Andy LaRocque of King Diamond. This album does strike a nice equilibrium between the wistful, magickal atmospherics and thrashing heaviness and is a solid and lively enough album to warrant a listen, especially if you enjoy female fronted metal that avoids all the usual conventions.

http://www.myspace.com/darzamat
http://www.massacre-records.com

Luci Herbert

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