DIABLO
There is no greater joy in being sent random promos for review than the discovery of gems such as Diablo's fifth album, 'Icaros'. From Finland, they formed in 1995 and have rarely toured outside their home country where they have achieved huge success, including reaching number two in the charts with this release, and number one with its predecessor, 'Mimic47'. Combining old school influences from various metal subgenres - thrash, heavy, prog etc - they also effectively inject the songs with a large dose of contemporary heaviness, thus eschewing retro mimicry. A corollary of this is a potentially widespread appeal within the metal scene, if only their music received greater exposure outside of Finland (a recently completed European tour in support of Children of Bodom will hopefully have gone some way in rectifying this). Relentless in pace throughout (with the exception of the mid-tempo 'Chargin'), the ten tracks are chock-full of massive riffs ā la Arch Enemy with concomitant virtuosic lead work (perhaps also comparable to the brothers Amott); resonantly pounding bass; polyrhythmic drums; and frontman Rainer Nygård's varied vocals which ooze pure emotion from his tuneful growls that are somewhere between James Hetfield and Chuck Schuldiner, to a more aurally euphonic delivery (such as on the verse to the album's title track). Unceasing in its hard-hitting metal intensity, the songwriting remains masterful throughout in its combination of heavy riffage intertwined with catchy, infectious melodies. And the production is entirely flawless so kudos to Samu Oittinen for his expert work here. For those who hail Trivium as the masters of retro/modern metal, think again, for Diablo make the Floridian quartet sound like an average pub band. All hail Diablo!
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Sakara Records
Album
ICAROS
Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
45:00
RELEASE DATE:
13th Oct 2008
TRACK LISTING
1) Trail of Kings
2) Living Dead Superstar
3) Bad Sign
4) Resign From Life
5) Icaros
6) Light of the End
7) Chargin
8) Through Difficulties To Defeat
9) Hammer
10) Into The Sea
2) Living Dead Superstar
3) Bad Sign
4) Resign From Life
5) Icaros
6) Light of the End
7) Chargin
8) Through Difficulties To Defeat
9) Hammer
10) Into The Sea
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Finland
"'For those who hail Trivium as the masters of retro/modern metal, think again, for Diablo make the Floridian quartet sound like an average pub band."