Release Date: July 06th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD
Alienum: Tracklisting
1.Ruins of the Past 01:36
2.Ancient Visitors 04:50
3.Melodies from another Dimension 05:07
4.Alien Crown 03:39
5.Yuggoth 04:15
6.Towards the Starlight 04:15
7.They come at Night 04:17
8.Great Race of Yith 05:25
Members
Roberto Biasin: Guitar/Vocal/Bass/Synth/Drum Programming
Review
Alienum is the new album from Doom Metal collective Starspawn of Cthulhu which continues the Lovecraftian journey that’s appeared throughout Roberto Biasin’s epic and impressive discography. Taking an old school HEAVY METAL approach with the music and merging it with all the best aspects of the DOOM METAL sound with rich storytelling and splendid GLOOMY vocals. This record offers the thrilling storytelling aspects of 80’s Doom Metal with the absolute splendor of modern day Cosmic Sounds with a surreal Psychedelic sound that can be quite vivid and progressive at the same time.
The record works best when Roberto allows his BAUHAUS inspired persona fully take control on the brilliantly majestic Ancient Visitors and Melodies From Another Dimension. The song is so gloriously HIP at times with the GOTHIC overtones and subtle flashes of Doomed Out guitars which is elevated by Roberto’s wonderful vocals. The song captures Lovecraft’s world so well and transforms into a Post-Doom or Gothic Rock OPERA where the music can be quite multi-layered that offers different styles of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.
There are moments of Thrash, Stoner, Groove and Sludge on certain parts of the album with Starspawn of Cthulhu not fully being part of those scenes at all. The record is quite experimental which is a common theme within the records that Starspawn of Cthulhu has released over the last few years.
There’s a lot of sonic experimentation and different styles of storytelling appearing within the lyrics of the record which can be quite confusing at first especially if you’re not fully aware of the legendary works of HP Lovecraft. However, Roberto has a great talent of writing a record that ultimately stands on its own creative merits that should appeal to the whole Doom Metal underground community.
The later stages of the record feels more dramatic and inspired by RAMMSTEIN in places especially on tracks such as Yuggoth and Towards The Starlight. Well it does to me but I mean that in a good way especially with the exquisite vocal techniques that Roberto provides on these tracks.
Alienum is a true original with outlandish Sci-FI themes that offers first rate and highly melodic Doom Metal instrumental passages. Starspawn of Cthulhu has released another wonderfully epic and surreal album that could easily be their best work yet.
Words by Steve Howe
Links
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