Volturian - Crimson
Updated: May 10, 2020
Label: Scarlet Records
Release date: 24th April 2020
Genre: Modern metal
Joining forces for a sensational new band to bring gothic twists into modern metal, singer Federica Lanna (Sleeping Romance) and guitarist/keyboardist Federico Mondelli (Frozen Crown) have breathed new life to Volturian, based on the idea of the huge contrast between mellow, dreamy female vocals and heavy down-tuned guitars, with a massive infusion of electronic music.
According to the ban'ds bio Volturian's music, ranging from new wave to Europop to obscure gothic atmospheres, relying on the dark, obscure, and romantic themes, infusing the band's lyrical imagery with gloomy Victorian vibes. Definitely interesting since most modern metal bands mainly focus on pop/commercial music.
Tracklist:
Crimson Dust New Life Haunting Symphony Broken The Killing Joke In a Heartbeat Between the Sleepers Days Before You Died Forevermore Fading Like a Flower
Not only focused on just the metal elements, but the new group also takes in the inspiration of 90s’ Europop music as heard in the album’s introduction “Crimson Dust”, with the pulsating electronic synths that start to pick up the pace into the following track “New Life”, where it's taken to a darker atmosphere of industrial music. With the pristine vocals of Lanna moving fluently the heavy atmosphere, it gives me feels of their Swedish counterpart Amaranthe, but with more metal and little less pop. As the latter fades, we’re crushed by powerful drums in “Haunting Symphony” with elegant keys that flow along with the chugging guitars in the mid-pace rhythm. Not only the music was captivating, but the chorus as well is very catchy, in my thoughts, and this is where I think; the more I progress into the album, the more intense it gets. In “Broken”, though the track is minimal, they do come at a full-force of strong electronic synth works and thunderous guitar waves also very with beautiful piano keys that bounce along with the heavy rhythmic verses while in "The Killing Joke" comes in with an addictive chorus with Lanna's deeper yet charming vocal range and electric dance music.
Heavy, steady track "In a Heartbeat" features Giada Etro (Frozen Crown), where we get a duet between two different ranges where the singers really give it their all. Fast-paced "Between the Sleepers" carries strong power metal influences with a really nice melodic guitar lead. Energetic but it's also very calming due to where the vocal direction Lanna is performing. addictive trance-pop melodies and high-tempo electronics hit us in "Days Before You Died", a quite easily-digestible alternative rock track with airy vocals the breezes that made me reminisce to the album "Uprise" by the Dutch band Nemesea. The last original song to the album is "Forevermore" which takes a mid-tempo pace with nice trance and melodic melodies. Closing the album is a tribute to the late Marie Fredriksson, a cover of Roxette's "Fading Like a Flower". As the Europop genre gives inspiration to the band, with strong keyboards that take lead and entertaining vocal hooks does the song justice.
Modern metal isn't really a genre I mostly listen to on a daily, but "Crimson" is a pretty solid debut for this new collaboration with straightforward songwriting, the gothic twists however the promo said this band will bring, it comes and goes and I think it should be a little bit more centered, but the piano does add a fundamental and elegant layer. All in all, Votlurian is definitely a good substitute for me, or maybe even some listeners of Amaranthe who kinda strayed off the metal direction and gone more commercial.
Final rating: 8.5
Volturian is:
Federica Lanna - vocals Federico Mondelli - guitars, keyboards Alberto Mezzanotte - drums Massimiliano Rossi - bass
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