Arkhamian
Promo 2005

Here it is. The source of our dreams and hopes. I don't know if any of you have ever wondered why my nickname on DeBaser is “habstract”. Well, that was the name of my former music band. The main members were three guys from Lizzano, in the province of Taranto: Antonio Leggieri (guitar), Gaetano Rizzo (guitar), and Vito Surgo (bass) to whom I joined as a singer and third guitar (live) and later Donatello Nardelli on drums. We were the H. A. B. S. T. R. A. C. T., a band inspired by Opeth for the atmospheres and guitar intricacies and by In Flames for the faster and more aggressive parts, but we still had a very personal style. Then one day I had to leave the band: they told me via SMS that it was better if I left, for various reasons. Academic reasons and difficulty meeting once a week to rehearse; but also musical reasons, because my voice apparently didn't fit to perform the more violent pieces. Anyway, I don't feel like discussing this here. The fact is that, regardless of what happened in the past, our friendship has remained strong and now I'm here to review that fateful demo, the one where I couldn't leave my mark.

The band has changed its name in the meantime: now the four have become the Arkhamian. But the spirit remains as before. Three tracks in the demo: 1) "Field Of Solitude" (I suggested the title and wrote the lyrics, although it's not the same that appears on the demo), 2) "Dreaming With The Devil", and 3) "Memory". Apart from the second song, the guys decided to release more recent pieces. I already knew it would be a wonderful demo. Vito and his bass set the scene. Then Gaetano's guitar continuously grows and you feel enveloped by the distortions. Here it is, "Field Of Solitude", recorded splendidly just as I dreamed. The guitars weave into an ancestral dance. The choral voice of Gaetano and Antonio envelops the piece, painting scenarios of dull melancholy, to then transform into a growl, the illegitimate offspring of Mikael Akerfeldt, always an inspiration for the band. Thus, the melodies follow one another, reminding me more and more closely of the early Opeth. Then everything calms down and an arpeggio slowly grows, leading to the end. Wonderful. Yes, it is precisely the "Field Of Solitude" I dreamed of. Then the insidious "Dreaming With The Devil" begins. After the initial intro, the double pedal kicks in, and there are no prisoners. I remember we wanted to pool our resources to rent that double pedal! Yes, behind these riffs lies a boundless passion for music, and a talent now rare. This is what I loved. Pure violence and melodic interweavings form the backdrop to landscapes sometimes dark and damned, sometimes more delicate, that slowly unfold on the senses. Incredible. Finally, the last song Antonio wrote before my departure. "Memory". A more suitable title could not be found, as this is the last memory I have of them. An oriental-flavored solo, then a sequence of slowdowns and gallops. Visions of some arcane and unknown world. Only 3 pieces proposed but so much substance, difficult for me to describe. A continuous back and forth of sensations and emotions. This was precisely the band I dreamed of playing in. But it is also a demonstration of how you don’t need to look too far to find those who can provide emotions with their music.

I wish the Arkhamian to achieve success as soon as possible and win the emerging band competition proposed by Nuclear Blast because they are great composers, no, great musicians, and they truly deserve it. Even without me. I wish you all the luck in the world, guys.