Diabolique
Butterflies

The delicacy in music.

This poetic journey of six November chapters was published by the Swedish darksters Diabolique in 2000, following the pivotal "The black flower," which gave the band a certain popularity in the dark-metal scene.

But there's very little, if any, metal to be heard here. In fact, we are faced with six tracks of soft and seductive melodies where enticing keyboard scores duet with the gentle timbre of singer Kristian Whaalin. Where, and I want to emphasize this, the guitars serve as a soundscape and rarely let themselves go to the role of "leads." The opening tracks "Rain" and "Losing you" alternate dark-rock patterned tracks with choruses with an unabashedly pop aftertaste; this without descending into a blatant attempt to appear commercial. Dark, sad thoughts and rides that recall dreams of distant or lost loves alternate rapidly, leaving the listener with a truly intense sense of sweet-bitterness.

The true highlight, however, is the beautiful "Butterflies" in which all the peculiar characteristics of our band weave together: soft vocal melodies, effective hammonds, weeping guitars, ravaged romanticism and ethereal visions of rainy days.
The lyrics, heralding a very naive sentimentality, imbued with youthful innocence, are articulated by an inspired Kristian, truly adept at delivering them in a "felt" way. Among the remaining tracks, all of high quality, I want to point out the gracefulness of the acoustic-symphonic ballad "Stolen moments," a true pearl of gothic beauty.

In the lyrics, the feelings of tormented loves still take center stage, all filtered through sugary keys and the typical pop-flavor that the band is not afraid to include. Truly precious. The influences of historic groups like The Cure, Radiohead, Bauhaus are certainly present in the sound of the three Swedes, but their merit lies in elaborating them in a very personal and intelligent way, although those seeking total originality will not find great interest in this offering. An ep-gem that I recommend to those who adore the romantic-decadent atmospheres typical of a certain type of Scandinavian acts and British dark-rock.

Talented and, unfortunately, not given due consideration and guiltily forgotten by most.