With “Secrets”, their first offering, Diabulus In Musica struck rather hard. Nothing too revolutionary, but already a strong evidence that the combo has their say in the world of symphonic metal singer. This point, Napalm Records has clearly understood it, so here’s our Spanish signed to the Austrian label for their second release, entitled “The Wanderer”, and which it is hoped to be the height of the first, and that the hopes placed in them are confirmed.

Line-up:

• Zuberoa Aznárez - Vocals, Flute
• Gorka Elso - Keyboards, Grunts
• Adrián M. Vallejo - Guitar, Screams
• Alejandro “Alex” Sanz - Bass
• Xabier Jareño - Drums

Tracklist:

1. A Journey’s End
2. Ex Nihilo
3. Sceneries Of Hope
4. Blazing A Trail
5. Call From A Rising Memory
6. Hidden Reality
7. Shadow Of The Throne
8. Allegory Of Faith, Innocence And Future
9. Sentenced To Life
10. Oihuka Bihotzetik
11. No Time For Repentance (Lamentatio)
12. The Wanderer

If the symphonic metal genre is crowded, Diabulus In Musica will surprise, at least those who have known the formation Iberian with their first cake “Secrets”, because the formula is, rather differently. Clearly, where the previous album banked most of its success to its catchy melodies, its chorus memorized at the first listen and its energy was really glowing in a musical landscape being sometimes a little too dull, “The Wanderer ” takes a reverse direction. The emphasis is on atmosphere and musical research is perhaps even deeper than before, tending to, the first listen, seriously discouraged because no melody seems to stay ahead. What fly seems to have bitten our friendly Spanish, whose names feel the sun, the warmth and joy? A cold wind from Scandinavia has suddenly hit the music of the quintet, much less positive (despite the single “Sceneries Of Hope” which is, perhaps, a little too positive) and playful. This will cost a few fans at the group: the less adventurous will classify this cake in those to forget, which has no interest, and make lost some credibility in these charming young people who gives us many hopes.

However, this is not the case; “The Wanderer” is interesting. Certainly, the appeal is difficult to rise in the early times, and we’ll have to listen to it a few times. Choruses, themselves, are definitely not catchy initially, and their role is rather different. Rather than being a high point in the tracks, they are supporting the atmospheres that are implemented throughout titles, and progressively as we voyage into the album. Although some tracks like “Sceneries Of Hope” or “Blazing A Trail” have different roles, most of it being to attract customers, because the sense of melody is preserved, attractive and lively. These tracks stand out as well, and yet are not the best. It’s strange that the titles that seem less attractive at start that reveal the more charm and beauty. “Hidden Reality” and its lyrical chorus is a very good example of what Diabulus In Musica is able to do: without interest at the outset, it’s filled with a little something endearing. Perhaps it’s the folk, Celtic touch, touches which is found throughout the album, or the beautiful guitars that perfectly support our frontwoman, lady of great capacity, which has nothing to envy to the big name of the genre. We also find choirs, very classic in the genre, but they have an atmosphere a bit mystical, religious, and are wisely used.

In fact, despite the youth of the combo (this is only their second album and was released last year); you feel all the experience that transpires. The melodies were all treated and thoroughly studied. Nothing is done in a superficial way in this new opus, and influences to other genres are fairly well proportioned, although sometimes they are still rather obvious. We will think sometimes to Epica, especially in production, but also in the use of the choir and guitar (our Spanish group will even push the vice by inviting a certain Mark Jansen to push the ditty on “Blazing Q Trail”). But sometimes you can even peep into moods inspired by black metal (by far, but still a bit). Not as much as “Beyond Infinity” on “Secrets” that used the double pedal as it should, but the lack of female vocals, dark masculine choirs , the implementation of the atmosphere and the constant grunt easily help imagine this. Note also that our formation is touching the folk registry, and even provides the services of a folk singer, John Kelly from Elfenthal who have worked with Leaves’ Eyes, which will help Zuberoa on the ballad “Sceneries Of Hope” simple, but touching. The two voices in a more intimate register, all on edge, are highly complementary, and if the accompaniment is lightweight (piano, tambourine), it accentuates this aspect of privacy. The guitars that make their appearance at the end, and the voices of the two vocalists modulated completing the track, which, really, is more than just a ride. And the folk ballad genre, an acoustic guitar and a singer, that gives the eponymous “The Wanderer”, a beautiful piece too, whose musicality and emotion conveyed in the voice of the lady proves that Diabulus In Musica is a group who knows how to make up from the insipid “Lonely Soul” from the previous album. This time, the ballads are composed and especially touching because the Spanish, in her crystalline tone, knows how to adapt her singing.

However, all is not pink in the small world of “The Wanderer”. For starters, the album is punctuated by uninteresting tracks, a case usually reserved for ballads, but this time, it will not be the case (unlike the previous album). “Ex Nihilo” is sluggish and hardly convincing, despite the rapidity of onset, oriental tones beautifully crafted and Zuberoa Aznárez’s versatility. Yet, it remains on the surface of something bland, where the chorus is, there not enough widened, as the atmosphere, which lacks that little ingredient that would change the whole to make it tasty. We are a bit bored, and retain nothing, too bad. “Shadow Of The Throne” is sluggish as well. The black atmosphere is not enough worked and struggle to take your attention, especially as the frontwoman is absent, because if the growl is good, it’s not enough to captivate completely when the track, lack of ideas and inspiration. Finally, “No Time For Repentance (Lamentatio)” is a long piece, and therefore could create hope, especially remembering the great success of “St. Michael’s Nightmare” on “Secrets”. Alas, it is not. Without much interest, and partly ruined by the typical deathcore song from the beginning, it pales against other testing of the combo in this type of tracks.

However, an actress will stand. Zuberoa Aznárez is a singer; she does not care of the difficulty and proves her technical mastery throughout the album. She also stands out in her ability to transfer emotions to the listener, and in spite of the register and tone of voice that she must take, varying smoothly and demonstrating that she is the major asset which Diabulus In Musica can count on. Mark Jansen who sings on “Blazing A Trail” is pretty good also noted by his grunt quite recognizable, and the complementarity between him and the beautiful is successful, as the one with John Kelly. The guests are really a good idea to highlight the richness of the band’s music, a little influenced by Epica, and they will have to find their own way and their own personality.

If everything is not equal, there are some tracks that are really worth the effort. As the two emotional ballads, at the intriguing “Hidden Reality”, but also “Allegory Of Faith, Innocence And Future” with an intro that dives us straight into the picture: acoustic guitar, an atmosphere slowly but surely developed, one sees immediately that a great work has been granted to the song, which is one of the tracks that will continue to lead in quality. The instruments do a very good job added to the singing from the young lady, the echo effect in place on the chorus and the refrain worth a visit also. In the dark genre, the track “Oihuka Bihotzetik” (try to write it from your memory, it’s fun) is well thought out and gives us a good time, where grunt, female vocals and choirs are in harmony, all with guitars which are not sidelined, having their importance, and helping to boost the title, which look great among the rest. Finally, we can say that the cake is a little shaky, the second part being better than the first.

You will, therefore, understand that this is not the album of the year, but “The Wanderer” is a good successor to “Secrets”, and in the symphonic metal genre, an interesting release. If the major influences are still felt sometimes we see, however, that the Spanish tried to experiment, innovate, don’t stay in one lane to rest on their laurels but instead want to surprise. So you wonder which way the formation will borrow on their next album, because it is true that it touches a little bit of everything: from folk to black-death, the symphonic acoustics, we find for all tastes. We will have to wait to see what they’ll offer in the future, but this is a pretty solid work, well-crafted and made in spite of few tracks more dispensable.

Highlight: Allegory Of Faith,Innocence And Future, Oihuka Bihotzetik, Blazing A Trail