Music: Melodic Death Metal/Progressive
Country: Sweden
Cool Songs: Leaving Shangri-La, Mourning Becomes Me, I am Legion, Walk into Light (Liars Parade)
Web site: http://www.myspace.com/bibleblackofficial
Long time MERCYFUL FATE guitarist and recent KING DIAMOND recruit, Mike Wead adds another band to his impressive resume, BIBLEBLACK. Simon Johansson, Weads band mate from ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA, maintains the albums guitar rhythms. Also ranking amongst the group are Jonaz Bulund (bass) and Kacper Rozanski , who shrieks, sings with clean tongues and of demonic-enhanced voices, of the Swedish black/thrash outfit NATTAS. Drummer Staffan Lundholm rounds out the group.
BIBLEBLACKs debut album The Black Swan Epilogue mostly adheres to a Swedish melodic death metal style, but also plays to our expectations by often sounding like Weads established bands.
When not picking his guitar in the fashion of Gothenburgh, Swedens finest, Wead executes awe-inspiring solos, which would fit well next to his mate in FATE, Hank Sherman. Unlike playing with Sherman, though, Wead seems solely responsible for all leads. The rhythm section always sticks tight with Wead, and BIBLEBLACK offers speed and brutality not seen in MERCYFUL FATE. Drummer Lundholms feet and hands move much faster than any KING DIAMOND-related band.
The atmosphere created through keyboards and various guitar effects instill many of the tracks with spooky fade outs and introductions. Gothic organs give BIBLEBLACK an edge over the average bass-drum-guitar bands of the Gothenburg, Sweden crowd. A ringing organ bids the album adieu on the title track. Its chilling tones conjure images of haunted mansions.
These parts will definitely relate to KING DIAMOND fans, but other parts lean toward prog sounds and black metal dramatics. The speed, black-metal-style vocals and movie score keyboards on The Dark Engine might draw comparisons to DIMMU BORGIR. Like a metalized version of GOBLIN, the instrumental Stigma Diaboli emphasizes weird keyboard and guitar harmonies.
I am Legion opens to prog-flavored electronics (Think AYREON or SYMPHONY X). Wead and company follow suit with the swagger of MERCYFUL FATEs Headless Rider. This tracks impeccable timing may relate back to Johansson and Weads strange, mathematical guitar work in ABSTRAKT ALGEBRA. Even the guitarists doom metal projects (CANDLEMASS, MOMENTO MORI and MEMORY GARDEN) seem to influence the tracks end.
BIBLEBLACK encompasses a far wider scope than the average melodic death metal band. While the rhythms that drive The Black Swan Epilogue seem fabricated in their native country by bands such as THE HAUNTED and DIMENSION ZERO, BIBLEBLACK has gothic sensibilities and progressive arrangements uncommon in the said scene. Additionally, the group introduces influences from various projects. The Black Swan Epilogue isnt at the level of classic KING DIAMOND or CANDLEMASS record, but it is a great start.
note: 7.5/10
Tracklist
1. Leaving Shangri-La
2. Mourning Becomes Me
3. I Am Legion
4. The Dark Engine
5. Bleed
6. Stigma Diaboli
7. Walk into Light (Liars Parade)
8. The Black Swan Epilogue
Total playing time 44:22
Line-up
Kacper Rozanski – Vocal
Mike Wead – Lead Guitars
Simon Johansson – Rhtyhm Guitars
Jonaz Bulund – Bass
Staffan Lundholm – Drums
Related Posts
UKĆ „Coming Out”
HER ANXIETY „No Land In Sight”
REBEL SOULS „Dawn of Depravity”
CICONIA „Animal Chapters”
SIEGE OF POWER „This Is Tomorrow”
LUMSK „Fremmede Toner”
LITOST „Pathos”
DIRTY VELVET “Far Beyond The Moon”
ZØRORMR „The Monolith”
THE GROUND SHAKER “Rogue Asylum”
BLACK HAWK „Soulkeeper”
OÏKOUMEN „Dystopia”
SLEGEST „Avstand”
ÓSSERP „Els Nous Cants De La Sibil-la”
KATATONIA „Sky Void Of Stars”
REVOCATION „Netherheaven”
ICESTORM „The Northern Crusades”
EXODUS „Persona Non Grata”
ORIGIN OF INFINITY „After The Slumber”
ORIGIN OF INFINITY „Ocvltism”
GLOBUS “Cinematica”
HEIDEN „Andzjel”
EXESSUS „Asynapse”
LORD SONNY THE UNIFIER “America’s Newest Hitmaker”
MAGICAL HEART „Heartsonic”
SPOILER NYC “Banned in 38 States”
SON CESANO “Emerge”
DEVILSBRIDGE „Sense Of”
RED ELM „Arena”
