SUPERBIA

I've often mused whether a point in time will arrive where there can be no more original ideas in music. There are just twelve notes to play around with after all, albeit with a myriad of combinations, which must eventually duplicate themselves. Thankfully, I need not deliberate any longer, as Superbia have elected to eschew such eventualities, and create a demo that should have the spirit of Chuck Schuldiner screaming for his riffs back. Whilst opener 'My Destructive War' had me wondering if I really wasn't listening to 'Crystal Mountain', the following tracks did at least morph into nicely melodic death metal. Vocalist 'Gemini' is a capable growler, in a very European sense, sounding very much like Piotr Wiwczarek at times, whilst some weird vocal techniques are present at others (particularly in the whispered sections), which maybe don’t quite achieve the desired effect. The production on this four-tracker is pretty decent for a demo, and the performances from the rest of the band are typically assured; melodic death metal certainly requires above-par musical ability. There is a real sense of going back in time however; in fact it could have been recorded back in the early nineties. And yet, as much as I hear nothing new or necessarily inspiring in this, I still found myself enjoying it. Sure, Superbia are going to have to find their own sound to really progress beyond releasing demos, but there is a chance of success for them if they develop a sound of their own. I hope that future recordings will bring Superbia's identity to the fore, and reveal to us what the band is truly capable of. For now though, this is a curious listen, and one I have suspicions will be a 'completists only' CD for their fans in years to come.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Self-released demo

EP

SUPERBIA

Review by Steve Cowan

RUNNING TIME:

19:46

RELEASE DATE:

2007

TRACK LISTING

1) My Destructive War
2) My Darkest Angel
3) I Want Out
4) Sons Of Sin

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Italy

"...a demo that should have the spirit of Chuck Schuldiner screaming for his riffs back."