CD Title: Diabolicanos: Act III - Armageddon
Year: 2007 (to be released in January 2008)
Website: devilish-impressions.com
MySpace: myspace.com/devilishimpressions
Label: Conquer Records
Featured on: Loucifer Speaks and Metal Centre
Rating: 10/ 10
More Links: Interview with Quazarre (2007), Live @ The Electrowerkz Review, Live @ The Underworld Review, Live @ The Underworld Review Version #2 on Forum
I was a little bit anxious about reviewing this album. I was absolutely obsessed by Devilish Impressions' last album, "Plurima Mortis Imago", so this one had a lot to live up to.
The first thing I noticed when listening to this album is that it has a different sound to the last one. It's not a massive change, but I found that it was quite noticeable. While "Plurima..." seemed to have more of a focus on complicated riffs and keyboard parts, the focus here appears to lie on the lead guitar sound and melody. That's not to say that the riffs and arrangements on "Diabolicanos" are simple - far from it - Devilish Impressions have continued to create interesting and challenging music... it's just different to the way that they created it on the previous album.
So, is "Diabolicanos" better than "Plurima"? This is a question that I still find myself unable to answer. Both albums have their selling points and both should be treated as completely separate entities. The fact is that "Diabolicanos" is an astoundingly well crafted piece of work and I can feel my obsession creeping onto this release as well. Especially when I hear "Tales of Babylon's Whore"!
The album opens with "T.H.O.R.N.S". This is an incredibly hard-hitting track - starting with the blast of vocals at the start and pounding drums. Turquoissa's keyboards provide the track with some very welcome melodies and the main riffs are memorable, while not seeming repetitive. Quazarre's vocals are of the same style and high standard as his ones on "Plurima...". One thing that I really like about them is that he seems to know when it's necessary to give extreme vocals and then when to do more melodic or chanting vocals. This is something that he uses to great effect throughout the album.
"Rex Inferni" provides us with another prime example of those vocals in action. This track very catchy and since getting this album I have often found myself attempted to sing-along (I really should find out what the lyrics actually are!).
As crazy as it may seem, I was originally put off "The Word was Made Flesh Turned into Chaos Again" simply because of its title. After listening to the track a few times I have been made to feel incredibly foolish! The track begins with some atmospheric - almost scratching - noises. This will have you looking nervously over your shoulder... and hoping that you're just paranoid. Once track kicks off the listener is treated to one of the best things that Devilish Impressions have done (in my very humble opinion). It's a track that I could listen to again and again without ever becoming bored of it.
"I Am The Son Of God" is another favourite of mine. The vocal melodies and the melody of the track overall make it impossible to get out of your head. The keyboard/synth parts will be in going around in your head for days.
"Tales Of Babylon's Whore" is my current favourite track from this release. I say 'current' because - as I listen to the album more and more - this is likely to change. "Tales..." has a very menacing feel to it and yet it still retains the melodies that have come across as an incredibly important element of this album. The drumming is superb and I also think that this track contains the first time that Devilish Impressions have used a guitar solo in an almost traditional way. The lead guitar tone for the solo is clear and crisp and creates a fantastic juxtaposition with the rest of the instrumentation (which is fantastically brutal).
"Diabolicanos" takes the listener on another journey that travels through varying tempos. Again, the main riff is catchy as Hell!
"Natas Ro Dog On Si Ereht (Of Plagues and Blasphemy)" has a fantastic title - read it backwards! The song itself contains some strangely sing-alongable parts.
Devilish Impressions have recently made a video for "Har-Mageddon" and I can understand why. The track combines most of the major and previously mentioned elements of the album.
The album closes with the exquisite "Mass For The Dead". This track acts as a big finale and it works incredibly well. "Mass For The Dead" is big in sound as well as length.
While reviewing albums I usually try to pick out the best and worst tracks. Devilish Impressions have made this task near impossible. All of the tracks on this album have been made to such a high quality. All I'm able to do is to pick my personal favourite (as mentioned earlier) - "Tales Of Babylon's Whore" - and that's purely because I instantly fell in love with the track.
I still cannot decide which album I prefer - this one or "Plurima Mortis Imago" - but I really don't think it matters as both are definitely worth checking out.