After reading Alan Averill’s review of this album in Zero Tolerance (the one where he calls the band Infernal Angel) one could really expect the worst from this CD. He mentions “mid 90’s gothic black metal high camp” along with bands such as Cradle and Old Mans Child. Although I have so much respect for his musical output I seriously reckon he is as good a reviewer as I am a singer and should stick to what he does best as this sounds nothing like what he described (apart from one song’s orchestral intro and a clean vocal section perhaps). Also saying it is “flat dull and lifeless” is a bit harsh as although the Italian band are far from spectacular such a description sells them short and there is a fair bit of promise here.
I admit that the first couple of songs are pretty workmanlike and apart from hints of creative melody in ‘Melody Of Pain’ the band do not really get into their stride until the third number ‘Midwinter Blood.’ The rhythm picks up a gear and the guitars have much more emphasis on a dynamic and memorable melody, this is now catchy and bolstered by the odd death grunt and fiery tempo that is more in line with the likes of Naglfar and Immortal than the aforementioned bands somewhat incorrectly name-checked. I think by calling this musically a ‘tired genre’ Alan is saying that it is something that you have heard plenty of times before and that is certainly correct but then again there is very little that is unique in music these days. If you think about it and we culled each and every band who lacked originality there would be very little left to listen to. The thrash revivalists would for example all disappear in a big puff of smoke.
Back on topic and to these Infernal Angels, this is an album of hits and misses, ‘Conquering The Throne Of Sin’ could certainly do with some more vitriol in the vocals and on that one the only time singer XeS really sounds like he is getting impassioned is with the songs farewell throaty rasp. Another song that sticks out with an actual tune shining through is the far more zealous and commanding ‘Sangue’ and it is good hooks in the harmony lines that the band could do with putting into some of the other songs here to make them stand out.
This lot look like a fairly young bunch under their corpse paint so there is plenty of room for improvement here as this is an album that does unfortunately strike as distinctly average on the whole. Still it’s worth more than the one out of five mark given in ZT in my opinion and it would be unfair to write the band off from one negative and sadly no doubt widely read review.
http://www.myspace.com/infernalangels
