I still haven’t heard the new album by Epica, but I have heard other symphonic metal (or, as it turned out later – rather only metal) records this year. And frontladies bravely withhold the front and defend the name of the genre in this „album-ish“ year. Among the cloying new works in the first half of 2014, I don’t miss to play (countless times) „Argia“ by Diabulus In Musica.

The quality is felt of miles and the chance for disappointment is minimal. „Argia“ bravely embarks in the storm with heavy, sophisticated, dramatic fast and slower metal tunes that wonderfully contrast with the beautiful voice of Zuberoa Aznárez and rarely with the rough vocals of Gorka Elso.

Harmony varies from high (and too high) and low tones, choral parts, lyrics in Spanish, Latin and English (with an extremely cute accent), sharp guitars and memorable drum rhythm. Distinguished among the thirteen compositions are „From the embers“, „Inner force“, „Furia de libertad“ (with the fitting guest participation of Ailyn Gimenez – Sirenia), „Healing“.

Sense of completion gives the magical outro „Horizons“, which derives from the symphonic fever as „Et resurrexit“  brought us in about an hour ago. „Argia“ radiates power and melodiousness and convincingly presents an already professionally built individual style of the Spanish musicians.

9/10

„Argia“ is officialy out on 14th April via Napalm Records.

Photo by Stefan Heilemann