Metharia- Demo

Italy's Metharia combine melodic metal and alternative rock with exceptionally strong songwriting, performances, and production on their 2001 promo/demo release. With vocals that range from emotional melodic outpourings to scratchy black/death metal growls and music that ranges from intricate acoustic guitar-based alt rock to metal numbers centered on distorted guitar riffing, Metharia's work is an interesting and diverse stylistic blend with a focus on emotion. While I can't really comment on the lyrics (as I don't speak Italian), the vocal melodies are universally exceptional, as is the guitar work and musicianship in general. Despite the fact that the band seems to consider it a promo/demo release, this 7 song album is well assembled, very well recorded and produced, and, overall, quite exceptional.

The disc kicks off with the incredible "Wakinyan Tanka", mixing distorted riffing with outstanding lead guitar work and emotive lyrics, countered by a mellower bridge with clean guitars. "Come un' oasi" is equally brilliant, taking things in a beautiful acoustic rock direction and building to a killer heavy finish with amazing melodic guitar soloing. "Il risveglio delle idee" takes things in a more straightforward metal direction with growled vocals and exceptionally noteworthy drum work, leading directly into "Bestia dentro", which successfully resurrects the moody acoustic rock and big metal finish formula of "Come un' oasi" albeit with a heavier chorus and more up-tempo finale. "Il buio della tempesta" is effectively the album's ballad, opening with rain samples before taking form as a mellow bass-driven number with watery guitar arpeggios, emotive vocals, and melodic lead guitar soloing backed by lush keyboard strings and piano. "Sudo Sangue" opens with mysterious synths and wobbly guitars before turning into a slightly heavier slow-paced moody keyboard-anchored piece with delay-ridden deep growled vocals over distorted rhythm guitar riffing. "Di Notte" is a beautiful album-closing eight-and-a-half minute melancholy epic that begins as a clean rock number with snaking piano and a lovely keyboard solo before slowly building intensity but remaining fairly light and moody.

Overall, Metharia's 2001 promo is an extremely impressive debut release. Suitably heavy and intense while constantly melodic and emotive, it's consistently excellent and well executed. Whether they speak Italian or not, fans of moody melodic metal and alt rock will probably find it worth a trip to the band's website to look into getting their hands on a copy of this CD.