Metat[r]on

Darkwell is an Austrian-German gothic metal quintet that enjoyed some moderate success in the early years of the millennium before separating for five years and quietly reuniting in recent years. Metatron is probably the band's most commercially successful record and the only one that features extraordinary singer Stephanie Luzie who can also be seen on the cover artwork for the album and the promotional single.

The music can be described as gothic metal with simple groove metal and nu metal riffs, occasional electronic and symphonic elements and charismatic, elegant and operatic vocals. There were quite a few bands like this one around in the early years of the millennium but the unique vocals make Darkwell one of the more memorable acts. Highlights include the atmospheric, dreamy and enchanting title track ''Metatron'' and the diversified and playful ''Crown of Thorns'' with its enhanced folk and symphonic keyboard sounds.

I'm however not completely sold on the tunes with excessive electronic sound effects such as promotional single ''Strange'' with its weird introduction and ''The Machine'' with its darkwave and industrial soundscapes.

It's a pity that Darkwell wouldn't release another album for twelve years and eventually lost all its momentum. Metatron might not be an exceptional record but it's a creative, diversified and entertaining gothic metal album that showed promising potential. Stephanie Luzie would go on to be the lead singer of symphonic gothic metal band Atargatis that would also only release two records that are however worth to be checked out. It would be amazing to hear her unique vocals again in a new project in the near future.

With the loss of their original vocalist, Darkwell also eschewed their original style in favor of a more progressive, often simply bare and bizzare sound. The new voice is as operatic and talented but headier, instantly recognizable and different from the multitude of mezzo-soprano goth metal vocalists. The new sound incorporates cuberpunk elements and far more ambitious twists and turns than their old straight gothic sound allowed. In all this experimentation, they never lose their quality. This is still great material, catchy and powerful, smartly written and expertly played. The new sound is a creature I have never heard elsewhere, and it is very hard to draw a comparison- If you admire Darkwell for their first album and EP, you will find similar riffs and drums and peaky and valleys, but in a style so much more progressive and harshly original that the darkness is lost, the gloom is departed, and the vocals punch through all barriers of subtlety into the kind of sound that will alienate fans of pop music but please those who listen for new voices singing new variants of classical form. It's more baroque, It's a bit lighter, and it's worth a listen.