It says 'Symphonic Death Metal Opera' on the cover and it certainly is. There's a whole host of vocalists on here, from various other bands to opera stars, with the vocals blended in from each style to create an intricate tapestry and occasional choral arrangements.
The album opens with a "Symphony Of Aggression" and its mélange of instruments and hauntingly beautiful female vocals and baritone death growls. I could go on about where the melting pot that MaYaN have come from, but I'll leave that for you to read up on, on your own and concentrate on the music instead. In many ways "Mainstay Of Society" reminds me of Therion where it has powerful guitar riffs over melodic orchestral arrangements and boisterous violins, death vocals accompanying alto and soprano for added dynamics. Title track "Quarterpast" is a brief interlude with what sounds like a children's choir singing in eerily as it blends into "Course Of Life" where the powerful clean male vocals are a complete contrast to the death and black metal rasps which are also used throughout the song.
A slightly buzzier guitar sound is used on "The Savage Massacre" to enhance the speed everything is played at, additionally Laura Macrì's vocals are truly exquisite. "Essenza Di Te" is another melodic interlude again showcasing Laura Macrì's operatic talents. Picking up the pace again "Bite The Bullet" is more progressive thrash, while "Drown The Demon" has a nice clicky kick drum cutting through the choppy guitar. The guitar leads on "Celibate Aphrodite" are both fast and intricate adding to the manic changes in tempo and melodies. Every time "War On Terror" started, I couldn't help thinking that it was the soundtrack to one of the Harry Potter films, but then the guitars and drums kick in at high speed, while the breaks are orchestral in nature with choral arrangements, it doesn't lose its intensity in any way at all. "Tithe" finishes off the album as a quiet instrumental outro.
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Marco Gaminara
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