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THE REVIEW
Sometimes the mind catapults you into the past, in that past that was the 1990s (now I talk and write like an old man!) and among the many groups belonging to the underground, a name as evocative as it is unknown jumps to your attention: Cybele.
Sure, gothic rock is no longer at the top of my playlist, but I would give a small chance, albeit posthumously, to these Norwegian ladies who, in unsuspecting times, crafted an album destined to receive neither praise nor particular attention. Those were the years of Britpop, post-rock, and the so-called nu metal. Who would have noticed them?
Few, in fact, opened their hearts to the notes of Cybele, who, after this solid debut, would release their final effort in 2001. Always ignored and always far from the mainstream audience.
Norway, apart from Motorpsycho, rhymes with black metal and the various well-known screaming devil worshippers. However, the exception is always just around the corner.
A heterogeneous and experimental scene, in fact, churned out formations like The 3rd and the Mortal, Beyond Dawn, Bel Canto, and In The Woods (yes, I know, they debuted in the black scene) right in those years. It's in this trend that our heroines find their place.
Dead Can Dance and Siouxsie are the muses that inspire them, but the presence of some vaguely metal riffs (and I want to emphasize: vaguely metal!) brings them closer to the aforementioned The 3rd and the Mortal.
Dark, subdued sounds filled with nocturnal melancholy.
My favorite track is the eerie "The Withering Position," but "Deterioration," the dynamic "Imaginative Winds," the tribal "Flying," and an enchanted ballad like "In My Veins" also showcase the qualities of the Norwegian group.
Nothing revolutionary, not even for those times, and nothing close to the productions of Cold Meat Industry or other neofolk and industrial labels. Just excellent dark-gothic with a good electric feel and accompanied by vocal excursions that are not stellar but certainly captivating.
And the mind returns to that distant 1998.
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Summary by Bot
Cybele’s 1998 album Brightly Blackhearted is a solid gothic rock release overlooked in a mainstream era dominated by Britpop and nu metal. The Norwegian band's dark, melancholic sound blends influences from Dead Can Dance and Siouxsie, with subtle metal touches reminiscent of The 3rd and the Mortal. Tracks like “The Withering Position” and “Deterioration” showcase their haunting style. Although not revolutionary, the album remains an underrated gem for gothic rock enthusiasts.Tracklist
Cybele
A Norwegian female gothic-rock group, portrayed in the reviews as an underground act from the 1990s whose debut (late 1990s) and final release (2001) offer dark, nocturnal music influenced by Dead Can Dance and Siouxsie.01 Reviews
