Teodoro Gomez de la Torre
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The T's PA Review...
It's so unfair when bands like these are virtually unknown. This is a class act.
DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA’s music is incredibly original. In their album, “The Butcher’s Ballroom”, they go over a lot of different territories. Metal, avant-garde (though not in the same vein as more extreme bands like Unexpect), symphonic (more in the sense of their choice of instruments than in their choice of structures), jazzy, but always, always unique.
The band play a metal style that at times may remind us of bands like THERION (specially in their latest album, “Gothic Kabbalah”) but also of completely different bands like AYREON (some riffs and ideas make me say that). Though metallic, the music never gets extreme or difficult to listen to by the non-metal fan. As the band’s name implies, they can carry a rhythm, as well as a tune, and they do. Imagine the soundtrack for a burlesque, grotesque infernal theater, full of little puppets dressed in red, staging sarcastic, ironic plays that require an insane, almost sickly perverted musical joke for soundtrack. That’s not to say that this music is a joke: the complete opposite is true. This is some really serious art. With room for melody but also for violence. With
That is also accomplished with the original orchestration that may be this group’s biggest achievement. Besides the traditional guitar-bass-drums set-up, the DSO adds all kind of keyboards, strings (but not in the common synth-like sense but as individual, single musical units with more than just harmonic/background duties) and winds. As I just mentioned, all of these varied instruments have a reason to be there. Unlike other artists who just add non-traditional colors to their palettes but just as some kind of reinforcement for the typical metal line-up, DSO makes this new voices matter. When you hear a cello, it’s no in the background, but on the forefront, playing a riff or a melody.
Another one of “The Butcher’s Ballroom” ‘s great success stories is the leading vocals. Annlouice Loegdlund’s operatic voice steals the show with its warmth (yes, warmth, amidst furious metal riffs) and the heights it is able to reach. There are some growling vocals here and there, but they are almost unnoticeable and completely swallowed by the weight of Loegdlund’s art. This is not your typical “beauty and the beast” band where the female part is just but a shadowing contrast to the prevalent male guttural one. Here, the “beast” side of the equation is almost reduced to zero, while the “beauty” (and it is a beautiful voice) leads the way for more than 90% of the album.
The skill of the musicians needs not be questioned. Throughout the whole disc we’re constantly marveled at the quality of the playing, by either the gifted drummer, the precise bass player, the virtuosic string instrumentalists, or the incredibly creative, innovative guitar players. Though the linear notes don’t contain the names of the members of the band, they’re listed here.
Without a doubt, one of the most overlooked albums of 2006 (I can’t believe that this album wasn’t even mentioned in best-of lists while experiments in noise got all kinds of recognition). A gem that you should try to discover. These Swedes deserve your time.
Recommended for: Every fan of progressive metal. Fans of non-extreme avant-garde metal Fans of experimental/art rock in general.
…the Diablo is waiting to dance a swing with you. With the most infernal, seductive of soundtracks.
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Ornus
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Beautiful and passionate sounds that beseech a vast variation of musical influen
When I first came upon the band Diablo Swing Orchestra, I was introduced to the song “Balrog Boogie” via Sonic Cathedral’s “Siren’s Radio”. Immediately, the riveting, operatic vocals of DSO’ s front woman, Annlouice, caught my attention. I was taken somewhat by surprise when the song finished playing, since the music seemed to be more daring than other femme metal bands out there. I was skeptical though, and ignorantly cast them off as being just another band that was only good for one trick or so and that had an album stuffed with as many raging guitar solos and overused choral effects as Splenda has artificial ingredients. I was soon to find out, however, that to pre-judge this band was utterly stupid of me.
When curiosity became irritating enough, though, I finally got myself to listen to the song “Heroines” posted on DSO’s myspace. The song started off with an eerie feel to it…almost like someone had taken the infamous theme song to “Jaws” and seasoned it a bit. Suddenly however, the song burst into what seemed to be a tango-like beat and was followed by the vocals of Annlouice who had been singing in a mellow tone at the time, seemingly teasing the listener with the notion that at any moment she could unleash her vocal power. About a minute or so in, the song began to pick up a bit- and unleash her vocal abilities Annoulice did. The song still seemed to tease a bit though- for the amazing vocalist dotted about every note in between her incredible range and yet still pursued in her mellow tones during certain spots in the song in an impeccable way. Finally, the song ended with its recognizable tango-esque beat and the beautiful overtone of a strong violin. The song was magnificent…and I was hooked.
About a week later, I received the DSO CD…and, now, I was expecting to really enjoy its contents. The first song I listened to was entitled “Poetic Pitbull Revolutions” which started off with what reminded me of a Mexican atmosphere and the subtle sound of a Spanish horn of some sort followed by a strong trumpet effect. I was again amazed. The song’s middle consisted of Annlouice and Daniel, the other vocalist of the band, exchanging their wonderful vocals that ran in perfect balance with one another and gave the listener a nice preview as to what was to come. You could almost hear the deep inhales of Annlouice before she went to resonate another passionate and intense verse in the song. It was truly extraordinary. Between the instruments and bombastic feel of the voices, the song surrounds you in cloud of atmospheric sounds that is not of this world and completely propels your mind into another place of unique unfamiliarity and serenity all in the same.
The rest of the CD basically follows up to the great potential of the first two songs, and even gives a few slower songs, such as “D’angelo” to ease the listener a bit before launching them back into the world of stunning, intense, and unearthly music that DSO has seemed to create. I promise you that this CD is nothing like you have ever heard…and to even call it femme metal is an offense, in consideration of the fact that this band has birthed something that definitely exceeds the expectations of any other femme metal band out there. I strongly advise anyone to get this CD, for not only is the music wonderfully complex but it is far beyond just another work that shocks the listener in the beginning and then wears after four or five listens. No, this CD never tires- and that is why DSO has to have one of the greatest album of this year, excluded of the fact that they have founded something that is guaranteed to have never touched the ears of any music fan before. Congratulations to them…they’ve done a wonderful job.
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Janice Mullen
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A brilliant sound!
My son told me about this and I just had to buy it. I listen to it everyday and can't wait for their next album.
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Mario Murguia Cortes
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Great Album, but...
Well, the album was excellent.
I love the way the music is made, soprano voices, distorted guitars, trumpets, cello, everything mixed together, what a great concept!
All the songs have a distinct touch, the sound is completely different in each one, so the only thing they got in common is the avant-garde approach and most of the instruments. That said, the album is filled with creativity, you cannot predict how the song is going to end, or what's coming next, and the crescendos are excellent, they just fill you with energy.
A must have if you like progressive, experimental , or anything related to that kind of stuff.
What I didn't like is that this webpage was supposed to sell the digipack version, and I go the normal one...but it's not that big of a deal, it's just that I rather have the other one.
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B.
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Brilliant!
Few bands can mix styles to the degree DSO does and still sound good, but DSO pulls it off without breaking a sweat. They have a truly unique and addictive sound. Highly recommended!
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ben
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'tis good
most songs are really good. gets repetitive after a while though. even though all the songs are pretty unique.
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Mark W
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Mind-boggling good!
Butcher's Ballroom caught me by surprise! It was recommended from a Tristania purchase. I've never heard such an album.....original, tight orchestrations and then boom! something different.......digiridoo or jazz horns. The vocals are incredible! They play like they've been together for 20 years. You simply must listen (and then buy) to this album!
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Signilda
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An instant favourite!
It's just one of those things you press play to and get utterly hooked on.
The best way I've found to describe is as "Avant-Garde metal with a nostalgic twist". A masterpiece in which awesome vocals blend with a great instrumentation where none compete but compliment each other. An exquisite surprise for those fond of metal, opera, swing and all of us who long for the occasional vintage sound.
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Pascal Tremblay
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Perfect and refreshing
This album is simply amazing. It opens with Balrog's Boogie which is so unique and so entertaining. I wished that all tracks were like this one, but I got surprised to find tracks more classical, others more progressive. Some guitar works reminded me of Roine Stolt's sound and even the keyboard on one of the tracks reminded me of Tomas Bodin. To combine metal, jazz, progressive and classical music isn't new in these days, but no one ever dit it that way and it is why I highly recommend this album. Thanks and long live Diablo Swing Orchestra.
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Sardior
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Refreshing!!!!!!!
It is refreshing to find a metal group that doesn't wear my ears out. Love the music. Driving, Hard, Creative, Talented, Well worth having in your library. I am not a metal head, but I have worn virtual grooves in my mp3 files of this group.
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