MELENCOLIA ESTATICA „Self-Titled”

Music: Black Metal
Website: www.atmf.net
Country: Italy
Cool Songs: Meditation I, Meditation IV
Duration: 32:10

Not much is known about this band. No where can you find the band member’s names or lyrics. I searched around to find out this group is a solo project from Italy that is headed by a woman ( you would never believe it). This group remains mysterious. One thing is for sure, they live up to their name. The self-titled album is arranged in four meditations of bleak, despondent black metal, with an existential stance. Most of the music is mid-paced to slow black metal recalling the likes of early KATATONIA, BURZUM, “Transilvanian Hunger”-era DARKTHRONE, XASTHUR, and early ANCIENT.

The production helps the group maintain this depressive atmosphere. Both low and feeble, this production comes across sad and ghostly. The thin production gives a different pitch to melodic moments like the beginning of the fourth meditation. Semi-fast (by black metal standards) black metal links together the cycles of anger and depression when it comes to melodic halt. The first meditation begins in true Scandinavian black metal fashion with blasting drums and an emotive riff in the vein of DARKTHRONE’s “Transilvanian Hunger.” The vocals give voice to the melancholy tone apparent through out the album.

MELENCHOLIA ESTATICA did not grab my attention at first listen. It sounded like just another black metal project. I thought it would have been something special back in 1996, before black metal exploded upon the world metal scene. A closer listen and some research on the band showed me this was not the case. Although not a groundbreaking album, MELENCHOLIA ESTATICA is not the typical Christ-hating or Viking black metal due to the album’s existential theme. The group’s music varies enough to stay interesting and relates well its despair-driven mood.

note: 7/10

Tracklist

Meditation I
Meditation II
Meditation III
Meditation IV