Fire Up The Blades, Moderator Posts: 8.933
Joined: 6-March 07
From: St. Petersburg, Florida
Formed by David Grimoire and Adrian de Crow, Opera Diabolicus' debut album "1614" is a concept album about Countess Bathory and her infamous exploits. The album, from start to finish is an intense, evil, and epic journey through some of the most well produced and riff-tastic Prog-Power of recent years. To top that off, Snowy Shaw (King Diamond, Therion, Mercyful Fate, Dream Evil) handles both vocal and drum duties. In addition, Mats Leven of recent Therion success also is on the record for vocals, along with Nikals Isfeldt of Dream Evil, and a Jake E. Of Amaranthe. Lending her outstanding vocals to his release is Camilla Alisander-Ason, whose voice sounds very familiar, but I do not know of any previous work of hers that I can find. If she is an unknown talent, all the more amazing. A very smooth and seductive voice.
This record is also produced/mixed by none other than unknown deity himself, Andy LaRocque....So yeah, you already know its amazing.
A full-length music video for the track "Blood Countess Bathory" was released as well
I can guarantee this is very close too a 9/10 or 10/10. The riffs are immense, the mix is incredibly well balanced, and the theme is just awesome. The track "In Memoriam" is just great, featuring epic drums in the intro, followed by majestic guitars and manic evil laughing, and some seriously creepy breathing. And it struck me as brilliant, that any track titled "In Memoriam" is usually a soft track, mellow, or sorrowful. Instead, complete evil is displayed, as Countess Bathory laughs at her victims.