Bestiari

Ador Dorath's third and latest offering - Bestiari is an album that has been getting a lot of playtime on my computer; not because this album is all that (it really isn't) but because after ten or so listens, I have finally figured out how best to vaguely describe this album. Simply put, this album is ‘slightly enjoyable’. However, having said that, words like 'wanting' and 'lacking' also come to mind.

This Czech sextet largely plays symphonic Gothic metal, dominated by black metal harsh vocals akin to Dani Filth's, some guttural vocals and soprano female vocals mainly used as backup. The mezzo soprano vocals done by Ania Neuwirthová is the major talking point of Bestiari mainly because while the album is not female fronted, Ania's vocals are able to create a positive mesmerizing impact on this record whenever she steps up to the Mic. Her wonderful vocals also used as some kind of choir back-drop add a bit of pomp, epic-ness (for lack of a better word) and a wonderful feel to proceedings. She’s got talent, that Ania...

That though is all there is to the album. Bestiari isn't breaking new ground. This is not a bad thing however; the biggest undoing to this collection of 11 songs is the riffing. 46 minutes of an entire album and the only single discernible riff to write home about is the one found on 'Attitude Gyroscope' and maybe 'Dead on Arrival'?! The riffs are there…just mixed poorly in the maze of vocals, keyboards and synth. On most of the songs, the intro riffs are promising and show flashes of something really good to come. Unfortunately they are just that - 'flashes of things to come' and with the keyboard to guitar play ratio at 3:1, what do you expect?!

I hear voices from the back shouting that the riffing shouldn't be their music's strongest point and to some level, I do agree. But then again, check out Trail of Tear's Bloodstained Endurance (who also plays this kind of music only that they are female fronted) and see how a band is able strike a balance between solid, catchy riffing and keyboards; and above all managing to sound symphonic as well. Why, even extreme Gothic metal bands like Moonspell, Dimmu Borgir and Co usually conjure up a memorable riff or two.

Enjoy Bestiari while it is still fresh in your minds because after the novelty factor has worn off, this in more ways than one could sound like a bad imitation of Cradle of Filth.