Stormlord
Mare Nostrum

In 2008, four years after "The Gorgon Cult," the Italians Stormlord decide to reappear in our ears with a new full-length, branded "Locomotive Records," named "Mare Nostrum". If the previous work had contributed in some way to making Stormlord enter among the prominent groups of the national extreme scene, this latest album, curated in its every detail, completely confirms their position of absolute prominence among the many national prides.
We are faced with a perfect mix between the epic fury of "Supreme Art Of War" and "At The Gates Of Utopia," to which is added a technical expertise now of the highest level. This album is a tribute to a type of culture with which we all grew up and that has made us the people we are; the Roman Stormlord wanted to emphasize that our country has made a fundamental contribution to the development of Western culture.
"Mare Nostrum," however, is not only Rome, the group also speaks of a certain type of Latinity that goes from Tunisia to Spain, to Portugal, to Egypt, to India passing, of course, through Rome which for 2000 years has been a cultural reference point. The aim of this work is to exalt this type of culture, ours compared to the Norse culture and iconography that is predominant especially in extreme metal; therefore, it is also a claim of the "Italian Style" in proposing a Black Metal that has nothing to envy the acclaimed (but also criticized) Scandinavian "masters" of the Black Cult.

There are nine tracks available, for a total duration that slightly exceeds three-quarters of an hour, characterized by a multitude of interesting and catchy nuances. All the tracks manage to be engaging thanks to very original songwriting, a technique worthy of perfect sound reproduction; aided also by a well-balanced, modern, and precise production. The keyboards, a key element of the sound of the Romans, also play an important role in this album without overshadowing or putting other instruments in the background, being the right complement to the band's sound. In fact, the keyboard inserts stand in stark contrast to the violent riffing of the guitars without ever being too intrusive, making each track melodic and easily assimilable from the first listen. The frontman Cristiano Borchi, once again, proves to be a skilled screamer moving smoothly to more guttural parts, up to parts in clean vocals; immediately in evidence is the new lyrical framework, also extended by a female contribution, "narrated" masterfully by a series of varying tones; the melodies welcome this play of chiaroscuro, moving from more fast-paced parts to more considered ones, alongside the usual orchestrations, now characteristic of Stormlord.
Each track is guided by the excellent riffs of the two guitarists Gianpaolo Caprino and Pierangelo Giglioni, the solid and compact rhythmic pair of the Folchitto/Bucci duo, and the already mentioned keyboards that enrich every composition.

These 45 minutes therefore encompass melodic, dreamy, and slow parts, but also more violent and furious parts influenced, in part, by the typical canons of (more modern) Death and Thrash. Epic-flavored orchestrations (followed by distinctly oriental melodies) and impressive symphonic openings by the keyboards also fit in. "Mare Nostrum" thus positions itself as a valid and mature alternative to the Scandinavian sound, achieving originality thanks to particular melodic inserts capable of making all the tracks very interesting; it is the result of great commitment and devotion in favor of a movement that in our country has never been boasted in the right way. Our Mediterranean Sea, Mare Nostrum indeed, as the ancient fathers loved to call it, is very important for the immense riches it holds!