OPUS

Another of the many bands I've discovered after their retirement, Adramelch officially ended their near-30 year existence shortly after the release of Opus back in 2015. And should they never opt to reunite, this will prove a fine nightcap for a unique-sounding metal band.

Admittedly, my knowledge of metal is limited, so take my comments with a grain of salt. As I read about these guys, I noticed quite a few metalheads expressing surprise at how unexpectedly good this band is. They say that Adramelch defies some of the preconceptions they had going into the listen, one guy not even sure they were metal. While I would call this metal, it could also be just metal-tinged hard rock. The pace of the songs ranges from slow/lumbering to medium-gear, never getting too fast. No lightning speed chugging, growls, or mechanical blast drumming here. To me, they sound like some of the brooding Scandinavian metal bands I used to listen to, slower, crushing but clear, dynamic, and moody. Keyboards are used sparingly for atmosphere. Huge chunky chords are allowed to ring on and on as the plaintive melodies play out. The songs feel dramatic thanks to these big, sustained chords and the powerful vocals, and they are often immersed in a foggy melancholy. Still, a sense of hope and uplifting also comes through.

The songwriting is strong. They take things in different directions and will surprise you from time to time. There are some really cool intricacies they throw into the guitar and drum parts, serious chops. They sprinkle in some acoustic guitar here and there. It seems pretty clear to me that had this band gotten some lucky breaks and a level of exposure that a band like Pain of Salvation received, they would have been bigger. Also, while not RPI, there is certainly a flare and a passion in the vocal arrangements that may remind the listener that this is an Italian band, even if the vocals are English language. Anyone into more (relatively) laid-back, spacious, melancholic metal should definitely give this album a shot. It's very accessible and it extends a generous olive branch to prog rock and melodic hard rock fans who may not be regular purveyors of metal. In other words, you might dig this even if metal is not typically your thing. Great swan song, Adramelch!