Amethista
Realitale

"Realitale" is the debut of Amethista, a band formed in early 2004 in Piedmont, featuring singer Aeretica (famous for her time with Dismal), Luca T-1000 on drums, Victor Lai on guitars, as well as two members of Highlord: keyboardist Alexandros and Frater Alchemoth Katharian on bass.

The band's fundamental idea is to integrate different musical visions into their sound: from Nightwish to Cradle Of Filth, but the vampire band from across the channel is the one to which Ae and her companions’ sound is most closely related. The result is a commendable black metal with gothic shades. Nothing new under the tree, but it's worth saying that Amethista has demonstrated impeccable command of their instruments, which upon debut can win you appreciation from the most loyal fans and may open wider doors to more recognition and satisfying success in the future.

The real surprise of this project is its devilish mastermind: Ae partly abandoned the ethereal singer cliché dressed in lace, red roses, and tears, re-emerging under a demonic guise, with chains and long black dresses. However, this change is most apparent in her vocals: the songs of the new band of the singer from Turin alternate with disarming ease between acid screams (I'd say Angela Gossow has been readily matched; the impact is staggering and often causes goosebumps!), cavernous growls, mysterious spoken passages, and sporadic clean vocals, which are truthfully the least outstanding in the variety of styles used. Supported by precise rhythm sections, another standout feature of the album is Alexandros's omnipresent keyboard, responsible for symphonic sounds inspired by the best-known acts of symphonic black metal yet always inspired and exuberant. Furthermore, compared to the prolixity of certain releases from Dani Filth's band, this album offers no less than seven engaging songs second by second, minute by minute; unpredictable at moments, emotional at others, terrifying when Ae delivers her best. Solo passages are not ignored either, and the technical and thrilling guitar sections, diverse, atmospheric, and esoteric keyboard sections make their mark.

The tracks diverge quite a bit; the first three tracks (the Egyptian "The whim of Rha", the enticing and mischievous "Invisible queen", and the violent "The vice") are malicious and fierce but not based on mere sterile and self-serving evilness and always captivating, while the subsequent "The beast within" is a semi-ballad with a desperate and romantic touch, yet forget the stereotypes of ballads from more famous bands, here the guitars are always lurking and dripping with blood. Without hesitation, we could call this song a "black metal ballad," although the definition might seem far-fetched. "My moment is eternity" is a symphonic interlude entirely supported by the keyboard and Ae's voice, reciting dark and metaphorical verses. Then "Soul's vibration" comes in to sweep the calm of the previous two tracks away, despite Alexandros's keys constantly emanating crystal-clear and sparkling notes. Thanks also to the more modern guitar compared to the standards of the other tracks, this song is the most convincing of the set. It’s up to the concluding "Lights in the abyss" to encapsulate all the elements of Amethista's sound in just over seven minutes.

Many detractors haven't favored their style, but I am thrilled by the sincerity of this debut that shines on its own without any shame in being exuberant and bold. In conclusion, it's worth noting that in this work, the clear derivation of their compositional style is veiled with impeccable instrumental command, whereby no filler episodes or unlistenable covers were offered to listeners (shall we recall "Temptation" on Cradle Of Filth’s latest album?). Continuing on this path, perhaps gaining a bit of personality through ever-increasing performances and the artistic growth of this fresh band, we might find ourselves discussing Amethista with even greater regard in the future.