Scelerata - Darkness And Light


Year of Release: 2006
Label: MTM Music
Catalog Number: 0681-184
Format: CD
Total Time: 47:27:00

Going solely on the graphics, this is Dragonslayer. However, the skeletal name hearkens back to He-Man's comically gaunt nemesis. Sans lairs of reptilian creatures and hordes of imbecilic henchmen, this has virtually nothing to do with those far-fetched spin-offs of the real world.

Turn it on its side and you may perceive G-Force's Fiery Phoenix. That's not it exactly what they're aiming for but it's close. Using a contemporary reference, think of Dumbledore's Fawkes. In a nutshell, that's the concept behind these scorching works, and Scelerata uses a good portion of the album embellishing upon implausible myths from the fabled aviary.

In typical fashion, the opener's initiated with acoustic guitars and clanging bells, which results in a madrigal overture fit for a king. Shortly thereafter, the earth gives way into fiery pits where beasts have firefights with dust devils and balls of pyre. As the drums and bass build a claustrophobic wall of sound, the guitars are a cool, fresh breath of untainted air. Yet, they slice and dice and eventually their rampant tactics scare the bejesus out of listeners as well.

After a casual restart, we're dunked back into this bottomless inferno by way of "Eminence." Scelerata continues to bait and switch sanguine promises with punishing riffs. Within the valley of these merciless licks, "The Spell Of Time" is a power ballad that offers short reprieve as it's somewhat in the vein of Queen's A Night at the Opera. Then again, it might be too heavy for sophisticates of that fare. In time, it too gets quite unruly, but it's probably the best track due to its bipolar, brisk movements.

Also, "Endless" cleverly uses an accordion and clearly features several extraordinary guitar solos. However, the singing in this instance would make cats shriek and dogs howl. Much of the same can be said for "Wings To Fly." Fortunately, the singer ends with a superior array of high notes in "Adonai (Sacred Melodies)." Here he seems sharpest, and in a roundabout way the instrumentalists drop us off at the doorsteps of Dream Theater's "Home."

Using a dichotomy of nascent strategies and tools is where this band excels. Still, they insist on spending the majority of their time concocting Speed Metal. Like the story goes, this bird could be beautiful if it sheds its ashen wings and patiently grows its golden plumes.

Also released by Voice and in North America in 2007 by Nightmare Records (NMR-302)


Tracklisting:
Land Of The Sins (1:07) / Holy Fire (3:46) / Eminence (3:52) / The Spell Of Time (4:51) / Ethereal Places (3:40) / Endless (5:15) / Darkness & Light (7:00) / Spirits Looking For? (5:54) / Wings To Fly (3:34) / Adonai (Sacred Melodies) (8:22)

Musicians:
Carl Casagrande - vocals
Magnus Wichmann - guitar
Bruno Sandri - guitar
Gustavo Strapazon - bass
Francis Cassol - drums

Guests:

Edu Falaschi - vocals (4)

Discography:
Darkness & Light (2006)
Skeletons Domination (2008)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin BR

Added: February 5th 2009
Reviewer: Joshua "Prawg Dawg" Turner
Score:
Artist website: www.scelerata.com
Hits: 2623
Language: english

  

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