vote
7.5
- Band:
Lord Vampyr - Duration: 00:59:55
- Available from: 25/04/2025
- Label:
-
Moribund Records
Six unreleased albums with the Theatres des Vampires, seven as a soloist, a myriad of other works with Cain, Malamorte, VII Arcano: a very long career that began in the early nineties, now thirty -five years ago, that of Lord Vampyr, at the century Alessandro Nunziati from Rome.
Career characterized by a peculiar sound, ranging from Black to Gothic Metal, always in the name of vampire themes, of which it was a precursor, obviously together with the Cradles of Filth and the Swedes Siebenbürgen. And these remain the main references valid also for the work in question, together with the melodic black metal of the nineties, primarily opera IX, and to Death SS and King Diamond, for horror atmospheres.
It is worth interest above all to feel reminiscences of a stylistically stilistically Norwegian -style black metal, which for example recalls the other Belgian pioneers Ancient Rites; In addition, the vocal inserts of New Wave matrix and the orchestrations refer to the disc which is at the origin of all these sounds between Black, Gothic and Symphonic Metal: “Into the Pandemonium” of the Celtic Frost, a masterpiece that dates back to 1987, now to turn forty years.
The industrial Goth suggestions present in some of the previous works are instead left aside, and this is good, because they seem not to be properly in the ropes of the Roman musician.
Furthermore, there is a certain commonality with the Italian dark sound, that particular stylistic area that has always been poised between progressive rock and Doom who made the history of tricolor music, from the jacula of Antonio Bartoccetti to the malicine of Renato Carpaneto in art Mercy, passing through the Goblin of Claudio Simonetti, and the latter is precisely the most recognizable influence, for an intent affinity: In fact, Lord Vampyr creates, imitating what the Goblin did for Dario Argento, compositions similar to soundtracks for horror films; In particular, after a first part consisting mostly of pieces of black melodic and keyboard gothic metal, we find a second one that is a collection of short instrumental songs from the cinematographic attitude, which seem to be taken by the works of the director of the capital, undisputed master of the cinema of the horror of the seventies.
The eight real songs contained in the first part have all succeeded, in particular it deserves to mention “Carmilla's Awakaning”, based on the story of Sheridan Le Fanu, “The Ripper” on Jack the Ripper, disturbing at the right point (pity only for the little imagination of the title, also by JudasPriestian memory), the epic and desperate “Deathwish Martial “Garden of Eyes”.
The second part is an album in the album, a kind of bonuses that will be able to tickle the tastes of fans of soundtracks and bare and frightening settings.
The disc as a whole is long – almost an hour of music – but manages not to bore, because each song has its own personality and everything is sewn together with passion and care; The vocal versatility of Lord Vampyr does the rest, passing away from the screaming from the sung and declared parts, with great safety and profession.
Stilistically, the work is far from being original or innovative, indeed, now these themes are very inflated, but Lord Vampyr remains faithful to his own story and is good, because the ability with which the matter deals with the subject is palpable, and, if sometimes we come across passages a little too naive or merely artisanal, more than artistic, the truthfulness and passion, they are able to continue doubts. To enjoy the macabre representation, however.
The scheduled battery does not bored too much and all the tools in general are well arranged and recorded; In particular, the quality jump of guitars and keyboards is noted, which contribute to giving the album a sound that finally does justice to the work of Lord Vampyr, also vocally in a special state of grace, as already underlined. All this, also combined with a particularly inspired songwriting, makes “The Greatest Bloodbath” probably the best work of the Roman musician. The disc of maturity, one could venture: highly recommended, and not only to long -standing followers and close observance.
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
