This EP is the follow up to a self-titled album in 2011, but looking into it there’s a bit of history with these Italians, who seem to have forsaken their black metal roots and moved on to something more akin to old school death metal. All this is apparent on “Riverso”.
Yes, classic ingredients are there. “Patibolo” starts darkly and dingily amid swatches of black clouds. Satanic-sounding music lays waste to the landscape in a wall of sound with triggering drums and imperial roars. The black and silver sleeve art depicts fire breathing. It’s powerful and expresses a dark mood and atmosphere but there’s nothing to distinguish it.
And so it goes on. The carnage continues with the sludgy and deep “Obbedienzassenza”. This is old school death metal. It’s like an underground battle. There are black mutterings. The title track is harsh and grey. “Hic and nunc” speeds up a bit but it’s neither here nor there, descending into deadpan darkness.
I felt no passion. I thought it started with some but in fact the more I listened to this grey and lifeless album, the less I felt. “Rivero” is dreary and dark. It’s a dreary album whose concept and appeal escaped me.
(5/10 Andrew Doherty)
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