Embedded Files
DARK CHAPEL “Spirit in the Glass”
DARK CHAPEL “Spirit in the Glass”
By Dark Starr
Guitarist Dario Lorina is probably best known as the “second guitarist” in BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. He’s also been in LIZZY BORDEN. This is his project. There is really quite a range of sound here, and everything works well. Some just works better than others.
“Afterglow” drives out with ferocious metal fury right out of the gate. The vocals have a real stoner metal sound to them. The opener has some particularly tasty guitar fills and soloing. There is almost a SOUNDGARDEN vibe to “Hollow Smile.” That’s merged with intense metal and other sounds. It is another driving powerhouse.
That SOUNDGARDEN thing is definitely in play on “We Are Remade.” It really sounds like it fits well with that kind of music. There is a wonderfully creepy piano dominated instrumental section at the end that is one of the coolest things on the whole album. “Corpse Flower” is next, and classy riffing and some grunge metal jamming drives the stomper. It has some great twists and turns. It’s meaty and one of the highlights of the set. There is some shredding guitar work on the tune, too.
“Glass Heart” drives in as intense metal. It drops down to more of a bluesy, classy mainstream rock vibe for the entrance of the vocals. While it does get more metal in the mix later, it’s more melodic rock. It makes me think of what you might get if you merged SOUNDGARDEN with KING’S X. On “Dead Weight” we get a soulful piano and vocal tune. It’s a nice bit of variety and an intriguing song.
A guitar and vocal based balladic type number, “Dark Waters” is another that makes me think of KING’S X. “All That Remains” is a rocker that has plenty of blues rock in the mix. It has a real classic sound in that regard, making me think of bands ranging from DEEP PURPLE to BAD COMPANY. That said, it also has more of a metallic edge in place. Of course, it has some of those KING’S X like sounds, too.
The meaty hard rocker bearing the title “Gravestoned Humanity: also has some of that KING’Ss X thing at play. It is built on both metal and alternative rock, and it is a real stomper. There is plenty of melodic blues rock in the foundation of “Bullet in Our Chamber.” I’m not sure I’d call it metal, but it is an intriguing and unique cut. There is some positively inspired guitar work on it.
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