AA.VV.
The Funeral vol. 3

I would like to talk to you about this compilation passed to me a few days ago by a friend ("-Try listening to it.... you'll like it!"). I pick up the booklet and immediately spot the name 272 Records. Does it ring a bell for you? I don't think so... I had never heard of it before.

I went looking for some information online and discovered that it wasn't such an unknown label after all. It is essentially a record label headed by Lance Van Held, a musician and owner of the famous Fiend Club in Hollywood, and it produces a large number of compilations every year (from metal to electronic), which are then put into college radio circuits (if I've understood correctly, the tracks get rotation on about fifty radios). Another peculiarity of these productions: the majority of the bands involved are unsigned (without a contract), discovered mostly through web scouting (a sort of talent scout, this Van Held).

But let's talk about this "The Funeral vol. 3". As you might have guessed from the name, the genre covered is Gothic in all its forms: the bands here are 17 in total (for 70 minutes of music and more) and range from dark wave, symphonic metal, to the most decadent and twisted EBM/electro. Gothic, in short. All the bands are noteworthy, although I feel the need to say a few words about some of them. The song presented by the Finnish band The 4Order ("Angry Spirit") is beautiful, an intense metal ride halfway between "Theli" by Therion and Epica; Where Angels Fall with their "Marionettes (Again)" which heavily recalls the early Within Temptation and Edenbridge; Vision of Death ("Cutting World") with an extremely dark electro track heavily indebted to the sounds of Hocico, Wumpscut, and, in sum, the most driven Harsh-EBM; Brotherhood takes us back to the dark wave sounds of Joy Division with their "Abigail".

I would like to take a moment to discuss "This is my desire" by the Italians Ego Drama. In my modest opinion, the most beautiful track of the lot. Period. Not by chance, it was chosen as one of the leading singles of "The Funeral vol. 3". It's difficult to pin down the genre proposed by the duo (the group consists of only two people) from Rimini: fundamentally, it is electronic music in which, however, it is possible to trace a multitude of nuances and influences ranging from ambient, to metal, to industrial. All in an extremely creative and experimental key (both musically and vocally). A group that has all the credentials to break through, in short. Give them a few years.

An excellent product, in short, this "The Funeral vol. 3" which demonstrates (even though it was unnecessary) how alive, prolific, and exciting the musical underground is. Take a tour on Myspace, you'll discover hundreds of interesting bands (like I discovered Ego Drama) with demos and self-produced works that won't make you miss more renowned and hyper-publicized ones. Well done 272 Records!!!