Missa Pro Defunctis
Lamentari
•
March 4, 2020
Just when I think you can't take Symphonic Black Metal any further, LAMENTARI's debut EP "Missa Pro Defunctis" comes across my desk to review and outright blows me away! LAMENTARI is Latin for "a passionate expression of grief or sorrow", and this couldn't be a better definition for this act based out of Copenhagen, Denmark. I find that this is Symphonic Black Metal that is really intriguing to listen to and consume. Not only has quality production, but instead of basing it around the stereotypical tropes of Satan and his minions, they use the more somber and darker elements of Liturgical Classical Music to rage against the world and its penchant for grief. To be honest, when I first heard of the band GHOST, I thought it would be akin to this. However, I find "Missa Pro Defunctis" far more enriching of a listening experience than anything I've heard from GHOST. When the opening bars of "Dies Irae" came blasting at me after the "Introitus", I seriously had a moment where I was practically breathless and said to myself, "Whoa..." I get many albums my way, but it's rare that I'm left speechless after the first song.
The creative nucleus of LAMENTARI is composer/keyboardist Max Uldahl Pedersen and guitarist Emil Holst Partsch, and these two have created one of the most powerful sounds in the genre to date. Willingly wearing their influences of J.S. Bach, Igor Stravinsky and Mozart on their sleeves, their arrangements in all four songs really give the feel of being at a classical concert with a raging Black Metal band combined with a talented orchestra for a drastic effect that leaves the listener speechless. Each song feels less like a modern song and more like separate movements from a Classical piece. This is driven home because instead of using digital choirs and orchestra, they used an actual live orchestra and choir to add ambiance and atmosphere to each track. There is nothing that can replace the feel of using live instruments and a live choir to make epic-sounding music, and more bands should pay attention to LAMENTARI's example. I completely understand that hiring a live orchestra and/or choir doesn't come cheap, but using both gives the music a true sense of grandiose drama that can only come from live human beings making orchestral music.
Another wonderful touch to the music is Emil's lead guitar playing that comes in a few times throughout each song. His lead playing has its fair amount of influence from Yngwie Malmsteen, but Emil's lead playing comes off more as a solo violin does in a piece of Classical Music. This is even more so than the aforementioned Swedish shredmeister's playing which has a tendency as of late to feel like a glorified excuse to play faster than a speeding bullet. I'm left wanting to hear more of Emil's soloing, and that's yet another rarity found on this record. After listening to this EP, I had the sensation of being bowled over by a mechanized Panzer assault in all the right ways for all the right reasons. This isn't some romp through hell that leaves you feeling slimy and gross. This is a journey into the depths of grief and sorrow; two of humanity's oldest companions. I'm certainly excited to hear more from these Danes. This is a band that has lots to sink your teeth into, and leaves you eager for more. And yes, as always, BUY THIS EP!!!
10 / 10
Masterpiece
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Missa Pro Defunctis" Track-listing:
1. Introitus (Intro)
2. Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)
3. Lacrimosa (Tearful)
4. Confutatis (Silenced)
Lamentari Lineup:
Max Uldahl Pedersen - Keys
Emil Holst Partsch - Guitar
Francisco "FURAN" Fuentes - Vocals
Jon Elmquist Schmidt - Drums
Thomas Fischer - Bass
Daniel Lønberg - Vocals (Live)
Ingolf Sebastian Schjødt - Guitar (Live)
Eskil Rask - Bass (Live)
Thomas Mascagni - Drums (Live)
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