Megalomania

Where to start with this band? Originally, I was never a metal fan, not until one day my uncle introduced me to this band. This band changed my life. Enslavement of Beauty is a band founded by Ole Alexander Myrholt and the music genius Tony Eugene Tunheim. Enslavement of Beauty is a type of band that I cannot tell you what type of music they play because of how many genres they use in their music. If you are a black metal fan, you are looking in the right place. So the website says that Enslavement of Beauty are symphonic black metal. I consider them neo-classical with black metal influences.

Ole Alexander Myrholt is a type of vocalist that has been known for previous bands, but the thing about him is that he knows how to sing along with the melody of the song. The only problem with Ole is that his lyrics are all sex-related. The guy freaking loves it . Tony Tunheim is a genius in terms of writing music. Tony writes his music to start off really slowly with keyboards or gothic influences, then kicks in straight to melodic/symphonic black metal. See, the way he writes his music makes me relate back to where I mentioned earlier that you can't tell what type of music he plays.

In the album Megalomania, ''Late Night, Red Wine Blight" is a song that, if you listen to it carefully, seems gothic and doomy because of the spooky music coming out of the keyboards and the vocals that Ole delivers. Track 7, "Prudence Kept Her Purity", probably could be stated as the best melodic black metal song of all time. Track 8 "Seven Dead Orchids" is the highlight of album. I describe it as depressive black metal because you can hear people crying with the guitar solos within the song. "C17-H19-NO3-H2O" is a type of song that I want you to mark my words because will never hear anything like it in your life. The chorus is after the name of the song and there is some mixture of clean/black vocals in this song.

Megalomania is an album I recommend buying 100% because it really is worth listening to and is what Enslavement of Beauty specializes in. They have different music than other bands, and when you listen to them you will understand what I mean.

Seeing no one had still reviewed any of this outstanding band's albums, I decided to make justice and give this band the credit they deserve.

Enslavement of Beauty is a (very) melodic Black Metal band that features a Shakesperian element to its music, and, very noticeable, to the lyrics. With their first release, Traces o' Red, the musical quality was superb: all the songs were literally filled with awe-inspiring melodies; great vocals, amazingly well arranged keyboards, nice guitar riffs and unforgettable songs in general.

With Megalomania, little has the band changed: still the haunting keyboards all around, poetic lyrics and a very profound feeling to the entire album. All the songs are catchy as hell, and, with only one exception, I can easily say this album is almost flawless.

"Dainty Delusive Doll" inmediately gives the listener the general idea of what will the album be: an -almost unbeliable- catchy melody breaks, along with Black Metal vocals. The keyboards are omnipresent, and it feels as though the remaining instruments are but supporting the keyboards and vocals. One of the best songs in the whole album, it ensnares the listener's attention the second it starts. It also features some female vocals, however they are rather strange, it sounds kinda "raw" for a female. Nonetheless, excellent song. "The Venial Blur" continues the path of DDD, an excellent rythm all along, again, with amazing keyboards and great vocals. This song's chorus is actually a woman screaming, crying and whining, it sounds damn cool, as well as eerie.

Next comes a flawless song: "Late Night, Red Wine Blight". This song is very atmospheric, as it starts with *very* sinister keyboards. Seriously, this song could be put along a horror movie and it wouldn't sound out of place. The guitars and drums join then, completing the eerie atmosphere. The vocals are the same as before, however alternate with, again, eerie female vocals and male screaming. Another of the album's peaks, this song is incredibly well arranged, though it has a sinister sound all along, it never sounds cheesy or stereotypical, but incredibly catchy and awe-inspiring. "Malignant Midwinter Murders" contrasts with the latter, for it has a "cheerful" sound to it: the keyboards sound a little "joyful", and it feels like a very animous song. However, it is yet another masterpiece.

There are another highlights in the album: the following "Comme Il Faut" features one of the most catchy rythms I've ever heard. The listener, be it a metalhead or not, is bound to like this song. The song is truly perfect: it may sound a little repetitive, but true catchy rythms are supposed to be repetitive. One has to listen to believe it. It's yet another of this album's pinnacles, along with "Ye that Tempteth, Ye that Bequeth". The latter is indeed the best song in the whole album, without a question: it starts slow and soft, with a beautifully done guitar and melodious keyboards. The vocals come in and the song turns agressive, but it always remain slow-paced and *tremendously* catchy. This song is entirely beautiful, period. Beautiful.

After some good songs comes the closing "Crowd of Mourners", a really melancholic song featuring no vocals. As the name states, it is a song that evokes feelings of mourning and sorrow. It is only an accoustic guitar backed by melodic keyboards, however the song achieves a feeling of depth that strikes the listener; the song is haunting, sad and depressive. Thus closes this album perfectly.

The only flaw is: "The Dying Buds of May", a song with good rythm but incredibly lame vocals. The song lasts 5:43 minutes, and every single second there's a horrible voice speaking, not even singing. And what's worse, the voice has some electronic effects which makes this song simply forgettable.

In general, this album's damn worth the buy. It features some of the most catchy rythms I've heard, and still, it doesn't forsakes the growling vocals and the Metal element of the music. If you happen to find it, don't doubt it, this band's amazing, and every metal listener should give them a try.