I'm impressed with this album. I do not, in particular, like it much. I will probably let it spin in my CD player for not more than 2-3 times in the future to come. I just have to applaud the balls his outfit has to release such a unique CD. And (by 'unique' saying) if someone claims he's listened to virtually everything in Metal music, then spend some Euros to buy him The Butcher's Ballroom and bring a camera with you to capture his open-mined face turning pale. This review is brief; DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA, on the other hand, isn't. Hell, no...
Swing, Flamenco, Jazz, Opera, Musical, Salsa, Art Rock, Orchestra, Goth, Glam, Prog...what else came around my mind? Phew...Under the 'metal' prism, this Swedish band plays practically every music style existing in the last two centuries. Five gentlemen and one lady, dressed in 19th Century (or even earlier?) clothing, made me laugh with their hilarious bio - check their official website - and then grabbed me by the balls for 50+ minutes and did not let me go until I had heard The Butcher's Ballroom for five times or so.
Compared to them, bands like RUSH, DREAM THEATER, ATHEIST and TOOL seem totally old-school and 'straightforward'. And, no, I'm not talking 'bout individual instrumentation skills or songwriting complexity. The point is the ideas, the go-betweens in mixing completely different music styles and the 'metallic' arrangements in songs' parts (using various instruments - electric or not). Not letting aside the neat production - clean and multi-dimensional, but not 'polished' - it is essential to just repeat that DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA released an album that features total music played by metalheads.
You can't imagine what The Butcher's Ballroom sounds like. Not 1000's of reviews are capable in presenting you with a clear idea of this 666% progressive album. The idea is the whole majesty, you see...This album is highly recommended, by all means. For the value of music, and only... You may never listen to it again for the next 50 years, but you'll definitely listen to it (the first time) ten times in a row, just to confirm you have actually listened to this stuff! If you think your CD collection is 'varied', think again...