Opera IX - The Black Opera: Symphoniae Mysteriorum In Laudem Tenebrarum review
Band: | Opera IX |
Album: | The Black Opera: Symphoniae Mysteriorum In Laudem Tenebrarum |
Style: | Symphonic black metal |
Release date: | 2000 |
Guest review by: | Dark Cornatus |
01. Act I: The First Seal
02. Act II: Beyond The Black Diamond Gates
03. Act III: Carnal Delight In The Vortex Of Evil
04. Act IV: Congressus Cum Daemone
05. Act V: The Magic Temple
06. Act VI: The Sixth Seal
07. Bela Lugosi's Dead [Bauhaus cover] [bonus]
Opera IX as a Black Metal band and are definatly one of the more unique bands in the scene that seem to go by unknown to most. Their 3rd full length album titled "The Black Opera: Symhoniae Mysteriorum in Laudem Tenebrarum" released in 2000 is quite simply a blessing to the ears. It consists of 6 tracks (separated into Acts) and one bonus track. I cannot really pick a fault in any of the first 6 songs. The riffing is an exquisite part of Opera IX, there are rhythm changes, surround sound (ie. Some guitar from one speaker, then switches to the other speaker) and crunchy riffs. The Keyboards haunt the music; they really have a great effect in mystifying the sound to an even darker level (you can hear what I mean at the very start of the album, as an example). The biggest bonus of this album is Cadaveria's wide vocal diversity, which ranges from extreme growling to clean singing, even to haunting shrieks.
The first six songs are all brilliant, they contain no faults and (I'm not exaggerating) there is simply nothing wrong with them. So why is the review rated 9.5/10? That lies ahead with the cover song "Bela Lugosi's Dead"; its a good song, just nowhere near as good as the previous ones. It's very slow and is more of a Doom style song.
Production wise it is not the clearest album, but not in a bad way, for some Black Metal acts often like this style because it fits the music. It is still quite clear sounding though. The cover is quite odd, but cool.
All in all I put this album in my top ten favourites of all time. It is consistant and unique, which I think is very important for a masterpiece album, and most fans know it is their masterpiece of their time in the Metal scene.
There are two sample links on their site, unfortunatly not of the greatest quality, but here they are:
http://www.operaix.it/media/Track02.ra
http://www.operaix.it/media/Track04.ra
Rating breakdown
Performance: | 10 |
Songwriting: | 10 |
Originality: | 10 |
Production: | 9 |
Written by Dark Cornatus | 08.06.2006
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
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