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Reviews

Azazello — Black Day
(Moonchild 34926, 2000, CD)

by Mike McLatchey, Published 2001-03-01

Black Day Cover art

The electronic drum kit will undoubtedly make or break one’s opinion of this release by Russian prog-metal quartet Azazello, depending on your tolerance for such a mechanical backbone. And if that wasn’t enough, the vocals can be hard on the ears too, especially in falsetto range. So be warned. The band sticks to a mostly melodic, symphonic hard prog rock format, and thematically it is both a bit naïve, yet carrying with it a promise of better things. The style reminds me of A Piedi Nudi’s approach, with its linear sequence of events that includes breaks with solo piano, dramatic, epic vocal segments and metallic chugging sequences. Azazello also bear resemblance to Magna Carta bands like Magellan, especially style- and tone-wise, yet are still well enough behind rookie lines to not compare favorably. Azazello are just not quite at the level to make what is essentially a good faith effort work right just yet, and the loud, obnoxious drumming really makes it difficult to listen around. Too ambitious a bit too soon.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 21, 2000 releases

Related artist(s): Azazello

 

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