It’s common in the reality of conflicts and struggles we all are living in today to see some depreciative words based on inner hate ideas (racism, macho views, homophobia, and many others) when dealing with a band’s music. In the case of female musicians, it’s nothing new to see macho-based words to THE RUNAWAYS, Joan Jett, Lita Ford, Doro and others, tearing apart the value of their music. It’s a disgusting thing to deal with such kind of people without putting some sense into their heads with the fists. And listening to “Kintsugi”, the new album of the Italian quintet WICKED ASYLUM, the idea that macho people doesn’t deserve to be heard becomes clearer. The band plays a form of modern Heavy Metal, melodic and aggressive, with traits that resembles NWOBHM and US Metal as well, but always with that essential care used by Italian bands to create music (pay attention to the instrumental arrangements and way of singing to have a clear idea of what these words are trying to depict).

It’s caustic and hooking, aggressive and melodic, bonding together aspects that can seem strange to the puritans (as the blast beats heard tempered with modern elements heard on “Crystallised”). But as one becomes used to the quintet’s musical work, it6 becomes more and more difficult to resist to. Taste it and you see how the band’s personality and an amazing energy flow from each song heard. Davide Tavecchia did the recordings, mixing and mastering of “Kintsugi” at Twilight Studio, in Senago. The sonority built is something that can conciliate the weight and aggressiveness that the band unleashes on its songs, but always in a way that can be understood clear by the hearers. It’s a very good result, indeed. 

It’s obvious that they can make things in a better way in the future (due the potential heard on the album), but “Kintsugi” is really a fine release, especially when dealing with songs as “Kintsugi” (pay attention that the melancholic appeal contrasts with some aggressive NWOBHM-inspired moments, with very good singing of the vocals), “Crystallised” (where some modern Metal elements are heard contrasting with some blast beats, with charming arrangements heard on bass guitar and drums), “Mistress of Dread” and “Weaker Than Thee” (again contrasts can be heard, with melodic and aggressive guitar riffs attacks being shown, and some rhythms resembles what is heard from German Metal acts), “Heart in Two” (aggressiveness and melancholy can be heard under this set of darkened and hooking melodies and arrangements), “Walk Away” (some heavy Hard Rock touches can be heard into the song’s core, along with some melodic temper and charming guitars), and “Song of Nothing”. 

WICKED ASYLUM has a very good work, as shown on “Kintsugi”, but they have potential to do something really great. For now, enjoy this very good offering of the quintet.