Melencolia Estatica is an unusual entity in metal for a number of reasons. First of all, this is a black metal one-man-band consisting of a woman. She's Italian. And she certainly does things her way by the sound of 'Hël'. The album is inspired by Fritz Lang's dystopian film masterpiece 'Metropolis' from 1927. The cover artwork and booklet is a clue!
It's not quite like anything I've listened to before, mixing ripping black metal riffing and screaming growls with dream like female vocals and ambience. The sound of the album is crude, raw and simple, yet holds a fascinating beauty at times.
As you will have noticed, my grade is in the luke-warm territory. This is not because I don't think Climaxia, the woman in command here, is untalented, on the contrary. I think she has loads. The luke-warm reception is entirely subjective: there's too much black metal for me. I'd rather want more of the ambience, more beauty rather than catharsis, simply because it, in the for shape of 'real' black metal too easily becomes downright unnerving.
I believe much interesting music can be expected from the hand of Climaxia in the future!
