From The Vault > Grigori 3 - Exile
author: Jett Black / MusicArtery.com
Industrial, Goth-Metal
Chicago, IL: Thrashing guitar-driven intros ignite an incendiary oil slick beneath the haunting vocals of Gwen Bartolini with music most certainly destined to complete the next cinematic gothic-horror soundtrack. Fans of Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, Bile, Hanzel & Gretyl, and Genitorturers will be most intrigued by this quartet's artistic blending of ostentacious dark metal music stylings. Grigori 3 compose and execute a relentlessly aggressive gauntlet of anthemic ballad overtures amid pervasively danceable deliveries. Bartolini allures and taunts with a honey-smooth Celtic lilt in her vocals. Pulsating beats turbo-energize each track for maximum stomp'n groove effect.
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author: brian jones
excellent cd
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surprisenly heavy
author: NIckolaus Pacione
This is a cult fav in the Chicago area, and they've played with some of the most brutal acts in the business and the most complex -- to be able to share a stage with Mushroomhead and the next year with Sonata Artica is a testament for this young act. They are heary with the guitars and the thing that will shock you the most is how the keyboards are done.
I've been friends with the band for a few years now and I remember when they had their demos. I've even managed to get SHADOWS played at my class reunion. Started by Gwen Bartolini and Ray they've set out to do industrial the way it was meant to be in Chicago. Rooted in Lacuna Coil and Nightwish, then maybe some Fear Factory and Rush for good measure. They did something new with Industrial giving it a progressive metal vocal. Gwen is the only vocalist who did this so far.
I've seen them rise to where they are and I've shared the bill with them on both GOTHICFEST billings. they got a power to them that if Ray actually did the solos it would make them one band that could even match SAVATAGE in the tenacity. SHADOWS is the track that can actually get a mosh pit going if given the right crowd , and Silently Breeding I joked to Gwen saying "this must be something you have to get to M. Night Shamalan." I am thinking the film Unbreakable when I see this one. An industrial act who is surprisenly rooted in thrash/speed metal because Ray cites those influences with his guitar work.
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author: Leslie Regier
This is a wonderful, powerful album. The music and the lyrics strike chords within me, and Gwen's voice is beautiful. I like all of it, and I especially enjoy The System, Feast, and Silently Breeding. I eagerly look forward to more music from Grigori 3.
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