Ready, set, go, and no later than six months from its genesis, Italian symphonic black metal duo Dawn of a Dark Age has already embarked in what looks like a freaking ambitious long-term project: a monumental cycle of six albums which started in July this year with the issuing of The Six Elements Vol.1 – Earth, and will be completed in 2017. Each of the six platters will represent one of the elements of nature – Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, Spirit, plus a sixth element which has yet to be unveiled. Nature and its relationship with mankind is also the obvious concept, the clean and polished instrumental parts embodying the harmony of the primordial environment and the chainsaw black metal guitar reflecting men’s frustration and insane yearn for total control. Although apparently a little too conceptual, the Dawn of a Dark Age project has solid roots in the academic classical education of poly-instrumentalist Eurynomos (no, it’s not what you think – please read carefully!), alias Vittorio Sabelli, already a member of the Symphonic Orchestra of Molise, and the talent of vocalist Pierluigi D’Amario (Buran).
The first step of this abstract ring is dedicated to the Earth and ahead of all we need to say that it’s gonna create some serious expectations over its followers. Despite the theoretical hugeness of the task, in fact, Eurynomos and Buran have cast the basis for something utterly interesting as concerns not merely black metal, but music in a wider acception. The commistion of, let’s call them genres, and the synergy of instruments, all skillfully played by Eurynomos, is particularly victorious in such tracks as “Dawn of a Dark Age”, “Raped Earth”, or “Outro n°1” (which in fact all is, but metal, if not for a certain ambient derivation). An eerie, unsettling clarinet can be spotted on “The Last Prayer”, endowing the track with a folkish allure that prompts to the mind images of untamed and elemental Norse landscapes. Saxophone makes its appearance on the doomy, gloom-filled “Raped Earth”, not as part of a proper jam session like Shining did in Blackjazz, but as a tool of disruption and disturb, much in the way of Krzysztof Penderecki’s extreme experimentation. The same sax returns on the beautiful “Dawn of a Dark Age”, this time with a totally different, soothing and ebbing effect. “Eurynomos Army” pushes full-throttle through a kind of icy and alienating black metal that those familiar with Mayhem and Darkthrone will certainly appreciate. The same linearity can also be found on “Cold Winter”, although broken by some abrupt pace changes that make it a little too naïve.
Not yet a masterpiece, but anyhow, there are all the elements for creating quite a thrilling saga, hoping that Eurynomos’ creativity will maintain on high levels for the two long years to come.
Notes:
The Six Elements Vol.1 – Earth was self-released on July 1, 2014.
The first step of this abstract ring is dedicated to the Earth and ahead of all we need to say that it’s gonna create some serious expectations over its followers. Despite the theoretical hugeness of the task, in fact, Eurynomos and Buran have cast the basis for something utterly interesting as concerns not merely black metal, but music in a wider acception. The commistion of, let’s call them genres, and the synergy of instruments, all skillfully played by Eurynomos, is particularly victorious in such tracks as “Dawn of a Dark Age”, “Raped Earth”, or “Outro n°1” (which in fact all is, but metal, if not for a certain ambient derivation). An eerie, unsettling clarinet can be spotted on “The Last Prayer”, endowing the track with a folkish allure that prompts to the mind images of untamed and elemental Norse landscapes. Saxophone makes its appearance on the doomy, gloom-filled “Raped Earth”, not as part of a proper jam session like Shining did in Blackjazz, but as a tool of disruption and disturb, much in the way of Krzysztof Penderecki’s extreme experimentation. The same sax returns on the beautiful “Dawn of a Dark Age”, this time with a totally different, soothing and ebbing effect. “Eurynomos Army” pushes full-throttle through a kind of icy and alienating black metal that those familiar with Mayhem and Darkthrone will certainly appreciate. The same linearity can also be found on “Cold Winter”, although broken by some abrupt pace changes that make it a little too naïve.
Not yet a masterpiece, but anyhow, there are all the elements for creating quite a thrilling saga, hoping that Eurynomos’ creativity will maintain on high levels for the two long years to come.
Notes:
The Six Elements Vol.1 – Earth was self-released on July 1, 2014.
| Tracklist: 1. Cold Winter 2. The Last Prayer 3. Raped Earth 4. Eurynomos Army 5. Dawn of a Dark Age 6. Outro n.1 | 07:14 05:46 05:09 04:33 07:58 05:17 35:57 |
Personnel:
Eurynomos - All Instruments
Buran - Vocals
Eurynomos - All Instruments
Buran - Vocals
Text by Arianna
arianna@unholyblackmetal.com
arianna@unholyblackmetal.com