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Graveworm - (N)utopia review



Reviewer:
8.0

190 users:
7.94
Band: Graveworm
Album: (N)utopia
Release date: January 2005


01. I-The Machine
02. (N)utopia
03. Hateful Design
04. Never Enough
05. Timeless
06. Which Way
07. Deep Inside
08. Outside Down
09. MCMXCII
10. Losing My Religion [bonus] [REM cover]

Chances that many of you have heard about this band are pretty wide, since they're pretty known, they're signed to a major Metal label, and this is their fifth full-length, Graveworm are not one more among the crowd, and they want to prove that with this album, strangely entitled "(N)Utopia".

First thing that makes you want to hear this is the beautiful artwork that graces the cover of the album, is just gorgeous, the angel between the sunken crosses, the logo, the whole blue driven color, just perfect, 10 points for the presentation of the Cd.

Musically, Graveworm lean more towards Gothic Metal rather than Black, melodies are contagious and really catchy, tracks like the one that titles the album, "(N)Utopia" a mid paced catchy song with good arrangements, or closer "MCMXCII" another catchy song with a lot of cool rhythms and some dramatic moments towards the end, as a matter of facts, keyboards are almost inexistent most of the album (except this song and "Outside Down"), this song is where the keys take their place and add a lot of atmosphere to the music.

Black Metal is there too, don't be fooled, singer Stefan Fiori (also the singer in Abigor), have a wide vocal range, he can go from ultra piercing shriek to a cookie monster super low gruff, passing through your moderate scream that sounds like a shriek, to the "griek"(the perfect combination between growl and shriek).

Not all songs have those Gothic overtones; we can hear some blast betas in "I - The Machine", and some blackish aggression in "Outside Down" but most songs are mid-paced tunes, so if you're searching for some relentless headbanging, look elsewhere.
In a nutshell, this is a good album, maybe not the most original piece that I've heard n my life, but fairly entertaining, catchy songs great vocals and good artwork, this definitively qualifies as a good album. Nice work.

Written by Undercraft | 26.12.2004



Staff review by
Thryce
Rating:
7.7
Graveworm's fifth studio full-length album was released in 2005. Back then I didn't like it that much, but I recently listened to it again, without any prejudices, and it immediately caught my attention in a very positive and surprising way.

I have been a devoted Graveworm fan for several years now and own all their releases so far. I like the way they make their typical Gothic- atmosphere- creating sound with remarkable Black Metal influences and with Stefan Fiori's thrilling screamed vocals. Fiori is also responsible for Graveworm's dark and most of the time romance inspired lyrics.
Graveworm is also known for their great instrumental songs and of course for their violin parts that intensify the Gothic atmosphere.

With "(N)Utopia" the band has reached a new era in their musical evolution. Songs are a bit shorter than usual and also more intense; the keyboard effects have totally replaced the violin. This whole album is much more listener-friendly than ever before. Songs are more powerful and melodic and a lot of catchy elements have been added to the typical Graveworm sound. Also the use of keyboard melodies is - like I said - sometimes strongly present. Great examples of what I stated here are songs like "Timeless," "Never Enough," "Hateful Design" and the (only) instrumental song "Deep Inside."' Songs like "MCMXCII" (1992 written in Roman numerals, also the year in which Graveworm was founded) and "Which Way" have the most remarkable similarities with older Graveworm work but still have influences of a different style with some new elements.

The only thing that hasn't changed and that only is getting better - if possible - are Fiori's vocals (cfr. "I-The Machine" and "MCMXCII"). His voice and the way he can switch from deep growling to higher screaming is just amazing. His vocals have grown stronger through the years and the last four Graveworm albums (including (N)Utopia) each have been a highlight and proof of his talent, and each of those albums is considered to be a Graveworm masterpiece.

Overall this album certainly isn't as bad as I originally thought and I'll even indulge by saying this is a (pretty) good album. But relatively speaking, it's still not as masterly as the three previous albums.
published 04.06.2006 | Comments (7)



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