NERO DI MARTE

"Nero di Marte" is the self-titled debut full-length studio album by Italian technical/progressive extreme metal act Nero di Marte. The album was released through Prosthetic Records in March 2013. Nero di Marte have actually existed since 2007 under the Murder Therapy monicker and released a couple of EPs and a full-length studio album under that monicker before they opted to change their name to Nero di Marte in July 2012.

The music on the album is a technical/progressive extreme metal hybrid not completely unlike Gojira. The guys in Nero di Marte take it a step further though by incorporating some very technical playing and post-metal influenced dissonant death metal elements which remind me of the New Zealand based act Ulcerate. Nero di Marte are incredibly skilled musicians and everything is delivered with militant precision although there is still an emphasis on groove. The tracks feature intriguing structures and a level of detail that´ll ensure longivity. The vocals are mostly delivered in a raw yet still semi-melodic fashion but there are also a few growls thrown in for variation. Again I´m reminded of Gojira. The tracks can go from blasting technical and brutal parts to more melancholic atmospheric parts during the playing time, and "Nero di Marte" is through and through a very entertaining album.

The album features a powerful sound production suiting the music well, and paired with the excellent musicianship and the clever songwriting, "Nero di Marte" is quite the intriguing debut album. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.