This is the debut album from Italian blackened doom metal band Ponte del Diavolo.
Okay, so here we have something quite interesting. When the promo blurb mentions both Electric Wizard and Darkthrone, you know it’s one to take an interest in. I will say that this doesn’t fully cover what you’ll find on Fire Blades from the Tomb though, so I’ll also mention here bands such as Messa, King Woman, Vanishing Kids, and Siouxsie and the Banshees, to give a broader impression.
Sporting two bassists, a range of additional musicians, (on synth, theremin, clarinet, and vocals – including members of Notturno and Shores of Null), and an emphasis on thick atmosphere and emotion, Fire Blades from the Tomb offers a compelling listen across its 45 minutes, (which concludes with a Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds cover).
Manifesting as an old-school blend of post-punk, darkwave, and doom, with elements of black, heavy, and progressive metal, this is not your average metal release. Although you wouldn’t directly call this black metal, the genre’s obvious influence can always be felt around the edges, (although occasionally much more blatantly too), colouring the music with an affecting darkness that enriches the material greatly compared to if it wasn’t present. Ponte del Diavolo have earned the blackened part of their subgenre appellation.
The vocals are an obvious and striking focal point for Ponte del Diavolo’s music. The singer’s voice is potent and her performance throughout is strong. She has a wide range, delivering everything from fast-paced energetic outbursts to slow, evocative singing.
The music combines elemental blackened fury, with post-punk panache, menacing atmospheric intensity, and gloomy doom auras. It makes for a characterful, idiosyncratic approach, but one that Ponte del Diavolo fully own and push hard. Surprisingly catchy, with many memorable parts that stick in the brain early on, Fire Blades from the Tomb is an album that makes a powerful impression.
Hauntingly beautiful and driven by deep emotive expression, the songs are well-crafted exemplars of how to take common influences and apply them in uncommon ways. This is music that has taken its ancient influences and given them new life as something fertile and vibrant. Fire Blades from the Tomb is the sort of album that instantly makes you sit up and take notice whenever it’s playing; generic background music this is not.
With great personality comes great reward, and Fire Blades from the Tomb is an exceptional and notable record.
Essential listening for lovers of textured and emotive heavy music.
Wonderbox Metal 