S.R.L.
Mutatio Et Maestitia

THE REVIEW

Second full-length for the Umbrian band S.R.L., authors of a thrash-death metal that thrives on the most diverse influences, from guitar harmonizations reminiscent of Iron Maiden, to more groove-oriented parts à la Pantera, to musical extremities worthy of the fiercest Necrodeath. An extremely convincing and engaging sound, capable of delivering great emotions throughout the listening experience, enriched by the bold and intelligent choice to sing in Italian. The lyrics are never banal, as demonstrated by the second track "La Sentenza", inspired by the story of Paolo and Francesca narrated in the Divine Comedy, an undeniable sonic assault dominated by the voice of the new singer Khaynn, a real war machine, capable of switching from screaming to growl with surprising ease.

Throughout the album, there are slower-paced tracks like the excellent "Melma", where drummer Rawdeath finds ample space, or "Khoma", which highlights the band's groovier side. "Il Canto Della Devastazione" seems like a declaration of intent right from the title, and indeed, we are faced with a piece of absolute value, alternating tense moments as sharp as a blade, with slowdowns rich in pathos, without ever losing sight of melody. "Veleno" is literally a loose cannon, a fast track ready to trigger furious headbanging and get fans riled up in a live setting. The brief acoustic guitar intro "La Terra Delle Ombre" sets the stage for "Inerme", another slow-paced but heavy track with an excellent solo making a brief appearance, while the task of closing the album is left to the pair "Labirinto" - "Il funambolo"; the first is a devastating mid-tempo, where the guitar duo Alcio-Elvys carves out a significant space, the second is a reimagining of the previous album's flagship track, revised according to the band's current sound, and I must say it doesn't make one miss the old version at all.

Bravo, well done, encore; if only there were more bands like this around Italy; a group that would deserve much more attention within the national scene and, why not, internationally. Furthermore, I had the chance to hear them live, and I must say this album (performed in its entirety) proves to be even more destructive live, also thanks to the technical preparedness of the guys.