Dark Moor's previous disc "Tarot" played with the fortune telling cards, famous classical themes and a female singer, and came out with a good disc full of pomp and circumstance (and bloated tunes) all wrapped up into a neat power metal package. This seventh album, "Autumnal" takes everything to the next extreme. Grander, bolder, bigger, more epic, more symphonic, and lifting even more from the dusty old orchestra standbys. It's a grandiose album for sure, and one that will leave many breathless, and others reaching for the skip button.
"Swan Lake" is given the heavy metal treatment, and spins in and out of recognition. It's a swan that's sprouted dragon wings, iron tipped feathers and breathes fire. The closer "Fallen Leaves Waltz" is a tasteful, technical, and entertaining instrumental oddity, that is indeed, a waltz. Just as the name suggests. Their "old" female singer is gone and Itea Benedicto, soprano voice of Spanish band Niobeth has filled in the slot left by her predecessor. The play between Manda (Nemesea) and Alfred Romero (of
Dark Moor) was a better, more intriguing and generally complimentary match. The chemistry just seems off which is not such a problem since "Autumnal" is a constant barrage of musical themes, power metal chunkiness and symphonic assaults.
Despite all of the pomp and circumstance, they never properly achieve that level of excellence that other power-minded outfits have. The music attempts to aim higher but riffing off of classical, ballet fare is not as unique and unheard of as it once was. The female/male vocal exchange doesn't have the emotional punch that it could, and frankly, the Tarot theme of the previous disc was much more enjoyable than hearing "Swan Lake" piped out in agonizing length. The cookie monster vocals are becoming a bit thin too, and unconvincing.
There are a few highlights, namely the majestic mid tempo pounce of the sleek "Don't Look Back" and the melodic punch of "When the Sun is Gone". "Faustus" is self explanatory, based upon the epic novel by Goethe, and has the kind of rash, thunder gripping opening and rapidly sweeping chorus that you would expect from such a track. The Greek mythological character Odysseus (from Homer's poem "The Odyssey") is the center piece "For Her".
"Autumnal" is a bit of a bloated album, but pumps it out in such a pompous sheen that it is difficult to resist getting caught up in it. Neither is this a step forward or backward but perhaps, a sideways hop that neither progresses or degenerates.
Dark Moor is at a standstill, and hopefully on their next outing they will shore up some of the holes in their formula and finally deliver their masterwork. With "Autumnal" they haven't quite reached that point yet.
Written by
Alanna Thursday, March 4, 2010
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