Diablo Swing Orchestra
The Butcher's Ballroom

Step right up, ladies and gentlemen: the devil invites you to dance!

Winners in 2006 of "The Biggest Surprise Reward" at the Metal Storm Awards, the Diablo Swing Orchestra (D.S.O) are an avantgarde metal band from Sweden, and with this first full-length album, they deliver a rather delightful and exuberant record. Just from the track titles like "Balrog Boogie", "Poetic Pitbull Revolutions", and "Wedding March For A Bullet", it's clear that the group's musical offering is anything but standard. Comparable to a fusion between Nightwish (especially vocally) and Devil Doll, or if you prefer, a lighter version of Unexpect, the group's style traverses a wide range, borrowing from all corners of the musical world: you'll find elements of traditional metal, jazz, progressive rock, opera, swing, flamenco, tango, orchestral music, electronic inserts, classical, baroque and oriental sounds, and even Mexican music in full mariachi style!

This extensive stylistic variety also reflects in the instruments used: besides the essential bass, drums, and guitar (two, to be precise), you can find cello, flute, organ, and violin. The singing is primarily in English but also features parts in Italian and Latin. A special mention goes to the singer Annlouice Loegdlund with her extraordinary mezzo-soprano voice, delivering an excellent performance and providing a significant added value to the group. With so much going on, there was a high risk of overdoing it, especially considering it's a debut album, but the band manages to maintain high-quality standards throughout the record, achieving a personal and recognizable sound and finding an excellent balance between eclecticism and accessibility; perhaps too much so for those who expect avantgarde to mean more cerebral, serious, and elitist music, so much so that in this case, one might almost speak of "pop-avantgarde metal". Nevertheless, even if a bit pandering, the album is anything but flat and banal, and most importantly, it knows how to entertain with a smooth and seamless listening experience. A good starting point for those looking to approach more experimental metal before moving on to more demanding works, this CD can also be enjoyed by veterans of the genre, perhaps to rest the mind between listening to "In A Flesh Aquarium" and "Destroy Erase Improve"..