Angeldark
Angélique

Metal evolves, changes, gets contaminated. Some years ago, there were those who played death metal, those who played thrash metal, and so on. Simple.

Nowadays, there are cases difficult to categorize because genres mix, procreate, and give rise to subgenres. It's easy to get lost. This album is one of those cases. Just the first two minutes of "Wolf" are enough to understand: blast-beat drums, piano, a "go!" in growl that precedes a clean male voice, and finally, the chorus sung by a soprano over an electronic base. The main voice is still that of the guitarist and composer Santi Fano: a deep, resolute yet melodic voice that reminds me a bit of Paradise Lost. The wonderful soprano voice of guest Berenice Musa is reserved for some rare verses or backing vocals. Completing the picture is a growl I would describe as a party pooper: it sounds strangled, whispered. Shame. 
 For the rest, this Spanish band in their recording debut offers a robust metal, made of tight rhythms that rarely slow down to make way for a chorus or a keyboard bridge. The guitars propose constantly different riffs: maybe this is why I am not tired of this album yet. A key role for the keyboard, which is not omnipresent but plays a crucial role: the piano is delightful, with its delicacy contrasting the heavy guitars (yes, it’s nothing new).
 The sound is enriched by electronic bases, well integrated into many tracks. The last track is entirely electronic: there is no drum, only the dance base, the voice, and the guitar. The album is opened and closed by two classical music pieces, played by a string orchestra and choirs (yes, this too is not new). 
That Angeldark doesn’t shine in originality is evident just from their name. So, if you're looking for something new, "Angelique" will disappoint you (at least until the penultimate track). But if you want to hear some tough, complex songs that never tire... there are some here. 
 Bye now!