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Diablo Swing Orchestra - The Butcher's Ballroom review



Reviewer:
9.2

506 users:
8.59
Band: Diablo Swing Orchestra
Album: The Butcher's Ballroom
Style: Avantgarde metal, Symphonic metal
Release date: 2006
A review by: Herzebeth


Act #1
01. Balrog Boogie
02. Heroines
03. Poetic Pitbull Revolutions
04. Rag Doll Physics
05. D'Angelo
06. Velvet Embracer

Act #2
07. Gunpowder Chant
08. Infralove
09. Wedding March For A Bullet
10. Qualms Of Conscience
11. Zodiac Virtues
12. Porcelain Judas
13. Pink Noise Waltz

Music like this doesn't come out that often; nowadays, in the metal scene, everyone seems to be doing what bands from the 80's and early 90's already shaped, most metal music kept recycling itself over and over again until we sadly got used to that fact without minding much. When a band like D:S:O suddenly appears and breaks the whole metal scheme with such an original sound and renewed vibe, I just can't help to be utterly impressed as I am right now.

D:S:O successfully combines a rich and meticulous preference for diverse connotations such as Swing, Flamenco, Jazz, Gothic Metal, Progressive Metal, Symphonic Metal and Orchestral undertones in the whole album (who knows which genres I'm missing here); and in the end we have one of the most interesting albums this year. "The Butchers Ballroom" is an overwhelming experience that generates all kind of feelings from the beginning to the very end, making you want to replay the piece over an over again until your ears feel anesthetized.

I can't even explain how worthwhile this album is; from the overture you'll understand this is like nothing you've ever heard before. Songs like "Heroines", "Pink Noise Waltz", or "Wedding March For A Bullet" are blatant explosions showing the strength and power that D:S:O dwells, but cuts like "D'angelo", "Balrog Boogie" or "Zodiac Virtues" manage to show an astonishing ensemble that perfects the ability of music as a complex art. Musically, "The Butcher's Ballroom" is so complex and intricate that it could take a whole article to analyze the depths of every single track wrapping it; the instrumentation is skilled, the vocals are both beautiful and dominant, the atmospheres are dark in Act#1 but strong in Act#2, so as you can see this album has everything a music fan could wish for.

Production-wise the album is really clean, the layout is very suggestive and the lyrical content is outstanding, to find out more you'll have to buy this album. To sum things up, D:S:O is the most promising band this year; if their debut had such an impact in the audience I can't even imagine how their next albums will sound like.

Highly Recommended!!!

Best Tracks: "Balrog Boogie", "Pink Noise Waltz", "Heroines".


Rating breakdown
Performance: 9
Songwriting: 10
Originality: 10
Production: 8

Written by Herzebeth | 12.12.2006




Comments page 3 / 3

Comments: 64   Visited by: 370 users
30.03.2013 - 17:21
Rhiannon
Account deleted
Written by 3rdWorld on 09.03.2013 at 13:34

I agree with SMAX, this sounds like lame ass symphonic rock. How the fuck is this even Avantgarde?

WTF? You clearly haven't heard this album...
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02.04.2013 - 20:41
3rdWorld
China was a neat
Written by [user id=36134] on 30.03.2013 at 17:21

Written by 3rdWorld on 09.03.2013 at 13:34

I agree with SMAX, this sounds like lame ass symphonic rock. How the fuck is this even Avantgarde?

WTF? You clearly haven't heard this album...

Make it lame ass melodic/symphonic rock played like a cheap imitation of various swing, jazz styles. I stand by what i said, this isn't even close to avantgarde.
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02.04.2013 - 21:32
Rhiannon
Account deleted
Quote:
Make it lame ass melodic/symphonic rock played like a cheap imitation of various swing, jazz styles. I stand by what i said, this isn't even close to avantgarde.

i really wish lame ass melodic/symphonic rock would sound like this, and not like Avantasia/Bon Jovi. I really wish...
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10.08.2013 - 14:04
Rating: 7
Oriax
Played this albums in my brothers video shop.. And this girl of prob. 10 years old started dancing to it.. In South Africa! Was awsome!! Hahaha!
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