Artist: Stigma
Title: Concerto for the Undead
Type: Album
Label: Pivotal Rockordings

I had the pleasure of reviewing Stigma’s first album “When Midnight Strikes!” That was an extravagant, rapid-fire Death/Thrash romp, which dealt with vampires and the like. The subject matter now surrounds the dead, but as you’ll appreciate it’s not dealt with not in too serious a way when you consider track titles like “… And They Died Happily Ever After” and “3000 Years and Still Keeping It Real”. Stylistically, they’ve moved on in some ways too. This time it’s like Kalmah or any similar Finnish Melodic Death Metal band meets Screamin’ Daemon. This is perhaps strange as Stigma are Italian but there’s no law against it. “Concerto for the Undead” also draws the same strengths as its predecessors, particularly in terms of its non-stop action from beginning to end, the livewire melody and the irrepressibly theatrical nature of the work. As well as musically, this is reflected in the artwork which would be worthy of the wackiest Grindcore album sleeve. It made me laugh before we’d even started.

On a musical level, the first track “Chop His Head Off!” allays any fears that this just a joke. It’s entertaining and bombastic but it’s highly accomplished and incredibly catchy Death Metal. It’s fast, always melodic and even the Bodom-style / Hardcore gang choruses really work. The guitar meanders and is high in the range. The catchiness continues on “Prove You are a Man!” I found it impossible not to hum along to this album. “A Monstruous Feeling” is pure Kalmah in its style. The only problem I had was keeping up with the energy of it all. It may have happy melodies to cover such macabre themes, but on the technical side it’s good too. The subtle variations and the croaking vocals make it a serious piece of music as well as a theatrical and larger than life adventure. “3000 Years and Still Keeping It Real” is harsh, action-packed and still manages to capture the spirit of Death Metal, particularly of the Finnish variety. There’s even a sense of danger about it. The album maintains its intensity throughout, but I did note a greater complexity of structure on the last two tracks “Beat Me Maestro. Eight to the Dead” and “Doctor Skeleton” and maybe a slightly increased weighting of Grindcore on the latter, but in common with the rest, they are both imperious and lively.

Never has Death Metal been treated with such jollity. The humour, which is undoubtedly there, is just part of it. “Concerto for the Undead” is excellent. It’s technically good, great to listen to and an album to be enjoyed.

http://www.stigmahc.com
http://www.myspace.com/stigmahc
http://www.pivotalalliance.com