ExpiatoriA is a 6-piece doom
metal band from Genoa, Italy. They’ve been around since 1987 but Shadows, their upcoming album due out
November 4th, is their first LP. They had a few demo tapes released
in the 1990s, but many lineup changes would lead to the band splitting up in
1998. In 2010, ExpiatoriA returned with a 6-track EP titled Return to Golgotha, followed by a
3-track EP, Crimson Evil Eyes, in
2016. Fast forward to 2022 and the band has recorded a debut LP, Shadows, with a new lineup consisting of
David Krieg (Tony Tears, Neith and ex-Malignance) on vocals, Edoardo Napoli (ex-Damnation
Gallery) on guitar and keyboards, and Massimo Messina on drums (Stefano
Caprilli plays drums on “When Darkness Falls”). The band's current line-up
includes Flux (Tony Tears and Tenebrae, touring member of Abysmal Grief) on keyboards
and Enrico Meloni (IKITAN and The Healing Process) on drums.
Shadows, while
it may seem like it’s been 45 years in the making, only features new
compositions. This is a very atmospheric album, and fans of Mercyful Fate and
Candlemass will particularly enjoy it, I believe. This is some old school metal
with doomy vibes and gothic undertones done extremely well. The record has the
feel of a concept album, its six songs forming a cohesive whole. “When Darkness
Falls” gets things off to a great start; it’s got a classic metal sound with an
ominous doom mood and features a splendid guitar solo. “Ombra (Tenebra Parte
II)” is sung in Italian and it made me yearn for more Italian songs! It adds an
air of mystery when you listen to a song sung in a language you don’t speak. A
slower number that eventually picks up the pace highlighted by the gloom of an
organ, featuring the hypnotic vocals of Raffaella Càngero to add a woman’s
touch to the proceedings. Epic in scope, it’s a highlight of the record. “The
Wrong Side of Love” has Krieg’s vocals reminiscent of Type O Negative’s Peter
Steele and Rammstein’s Till Lindemann. “7 Chairs and a Portrait” is the latest
single and a very evocative track with chiming bells, catchy riffs, and terrific
graveyard atmosphere. “The Asylum of the Damned” is a beautiful instrumental—the
shortest track on the record—and features flute and sax that lend themselves
perfectly to the overall setting of the piece. The album culminates with “Krieg
(My Last Song)”, a more gothic song with a great acoustic beginning that turns
into a lavish melancholy tune.
ExpiatoriA’s Shadows, whether you were waiting for it or not, is well worth the wait. You can tell a lot of effort and planning went into this 44-minute record. This is an album that is ideal to listen to on dark autumn days, when it’s windy and grey outside. It conjures the gloom of graveyards and the magic of this picturesque season, all carefully crafted by a group of multi-talented musicians. There’s really something for everyone here: doom, traditional heavy metal, goth, and even hints of prog rock throughout. Shadows comes highly recommended from your friendly Harbinger of Doom.
ExpiatoriA on Bandcamp: https://expiatoria-official.bandcamp.com/album/shadows
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