Band:	Graveworm
Album:	(N)utopia
Style:	Melodic black metal, Gothic metal
Release date:	January 24, 2005
A review by:	Thryce

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]

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.