Plugs of Apocalypse
Deeper Than Hell

The new work from the Roman band Plugs Of Apocalypse is the quintessential album that is hard to comprehend in its entirety, perhaps because the final impression one has after listening to "Deeper Than Hell" is of a well-conceived product, yet lacking the element that could make it more than just "pleasant." In ten years, this band has transitioned from being a typical deathcore band to something light-years away from that genre, a risky step but one that needed to be taken, with decidedly positive results if we take a closer look. Who are the Plugs Of Apocalypse of 2017? A band that seems to have found its natural habitat in a hybrid context, ranging from electronic, power passages, the melancholy typical of gothic/dark productions, and abundant doses of melody. Starting from the songwriting, there is nothing to criticize since we are talking about seasoned musicians; each track has its precise form with beautifully crafted melodic parts and keyboards that succeed in providing oxygen and ideas to a work that would otherwise be easily categorized in a specific genre. Moving to the vocals, once again, the absolute stars are the two melodic voices (male and female) that perfectly fit the sound context, while - fortunately - the growl has been relegated to a supporting role, given that there are indeed very few heavy passages in this work. So everything is great, you might think... Yes, it would have been that way if it weren't for the sound production which significantly limits the potential of this work. It is almost frustrating to notice how the guitars have been put in the background compared to the keyboards (which are a key element of this work, but certainly not to the point of being so prominently featured), with sounds that do not fully express the power conveyed during the recording phase. A real shame because this flaw brings the album a couple of points below the (high) rating it would have certainly deserved with much better accompanying sounds. An album I would dare to call elegant (also accompanied by a splendid artwork), which deserves a listen from those who find their favorite musical genre in American alternative rock of the late '90s.