Tempus fugit, well it only seems like yesterday that we were surprised to hear that Rune Erikson was shedding former moniker and infamous band to go and change direction and orientation with this calmer project fronted by Portuguese chanteuse Carmen Simões. Unbelievably that was back in 2006 and we are now on album number four from Ava Inferi. I have to admit this lot made a quick impact on me as their work is incredibly evocative and paints an emotional and dreamlike picture with plenty of depth of character and atmosphere behind the music. The band itself has expanded and joining on more of a permanent basis we have Joana Messias on bass and André Sobral on guitar, both of whom have played in other Portuguese outfits in the past. Mix this with production by Dan Swanö who has managed to give the album that vintage but huge sound that Rune was apparently looking for and this is an album that if there were any justice should project the band onto a bigger and wider audience.
As the title track crunches in it is obvious the mix is brash and powerful. Drums batter and sinuous guitars weave melody around the weighty bass. Carmen powers in with a couple of heady clucks operatically delivered before calming into a more placid and enchanting style, full of mystery. There are things going on in the background, booms, crashes and other effects and this album sounds particularly good on headphones. Things are impetuous and stormy here and you simply have to close your eyes and feel like you are bouncing around on a small boat. About to be thrust into an oncoming storm. ‘The Living end’ however goes for a glistening approach, Rune writes that one album he was inspired by was Fields Of The Nephilim’s Elyzium and this hits the mark perfectly here with metal and gothic elements uniting in harmony. As we breach the chorus with backing male vocals and Carmen’s voice peaking this sounds excellent and reminds a little of a cross between Madder Mortum and This Mortal Coil, no doubt this is due to the ever ethereal feel behind the music. ‘A Portal’ is both doomy and gloomy and the instrumentation and melodies seem both simple and subtle but totally persuasive, not allowing you to escape their clutch or even want to as they take you over.
At first I wasn’t sure whether to grin or cry to hear a song start off with a sample from The Wicker Man.’ It had to impress after this as one of my favourite films has been plagiarised to death. The sample was Christopher Lee offering of ale to the gods and the track is called ‘The Heathen Island’ and I am pleased to say it is obvious the artists have as much love of the film as I. They not only entrance with the mythos of the film behind the skilful construction of this epic 10 minute number but they also go on towards the last third of it to weave more samples from Lee, Woodwood and Pitt making it an utter delight. The actual enchanting vocals, sound of the sea and flow of the song on the whole is beautiful too and maybe a perfect follow up to last albums ‘Tempestade.’ It is not just the sea however as this album which if elemental would surely be water delivers us to ‘Venice In Fog’ at conclusion. This is another incredibly rich and atmospheric track with the music and mix containing what I am guessing are the eerie cries of gulls and gondolas creaking within the damp mist. They could have maybe sampled Don’t Look Now but this was unnecessary as the trick had already been done but it sends a shiver down the spine just like said films dénouement and finishes the album in a mature and highly illustrative fashion.
‘Onyx’ really is a quite gorgeously dark album and one that I feel will be getting a lot more plays from me. It feels like the band have come of age and settled into things and although not a particularly commercial album in any sense it is one that should be embraced by more people than will probably encounter it in this narrow minded world. I really hope the band get some touring in this year as I would very much like to catch some of these numbers live, although the idea of seeing them in Portugal itself certainly has a lot more appeal than a miserable dark venue in London.
http://www.myspace.com/avainferi
