Known more for its repetitive club beats and nauseatingly upbeat dance music, Spain does actually have an ever-increasing underground metal scene, and the symphonic/melodic death metal of Galician act Dark Embrace is about as far removed from glow sticks and foam parties as you can possibly get.
On thier fifth full-length studio release Land of Witches (Massacre Records) the band covers everything from ancient legends and their homeland to metal staples like war, insanity, and fear, guitarists Markos Villar and Mou Trashno (aka Alejandro Melchor) bringing the riffs while drummer Julio G. Valladares pounds the skins like a man possessed.
“We, the Witches” kicks things off with a pacey, tapped intro before vocalist Oscar Rilo hits you from all sides with high-pitched screams, ragged barks, low gutturals, clean tones with just a hint of gravel, and shrill, ragged yaps. Brimming with blastbeats and bursts of speed, the moody “Orcavella” is about an ancient Galician witch who, after feeding on the residents of her village, killed herself at the ripe old age of 176, the remaining villagers placing a stone in her grave to prevent any possible resurrection.
Next up is “The Dark Land,” a sensational cut about the band’s motherland, endowed with a dark atmosphere and a powerful groove. Addressing the feeling of emptiness with the passing of time, the doomy “My Darkest End” boasts a melancholic Gothic lilt which is immediately replaced by the fiercely aggressive “A Blaze in the Sky,” an uptempo track with a clear Iron Maiden influence.
Written about trying to retain morality and ethics during a time of war, “Never Betray You” begins with a clean and adept keyboard intro before being replaced by a fast-paced tremolo riff, double kick drums and subtle but effective symphonic backing. “A Place to Hide” is an emotive cut about a child using their imagination to escape from war, “Witch Tower” is about suffering from paranoia within the confines of a mental prison and opens with the sound of a tolling bell before going completely hell for leather, while closer “In the Snow” is a slow, brooding lament about the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Boasting some exemplary fretboard work, the guitar solos are a fine balance of frantic shredding and smooth, infectious melodies. The thunderous rhythm section is obviously a powerful and effective weapon but, not altogether surprisingly, it’s the vocals which draw much of the attention. For the most part, Rilo’s voice is a legitimately valuable asset, and if you’ve been with the band since their more Gothic origins then his unique style will be nothing new, but for others it might take a little time to become accustomed to his somewhat distinctive delivery.
Melodic death metal delivered with splashes of black, traditional, and Gothic influences, Land of Witches is arguably the finest, most cohesive and confidently performed record from the band to date.
Buy the album here:
https://www.darkembrace.net/
8 / 10
GARY ALCOCK