Review Summary: The Dark Times of Gothic/Symphonic Metal, Part 13
I need something different to wash away the sappy and cheesy taste of Lunatica, but what? Here’s a nice idea: how would you like to watch Macbeth go from pretty good Theatre of Tragedy-like band to just another Evanescence rip-off?
Indeed, not even Macbeth, who started in the 90s making ambitious Shakespeare-inspired gothic metal, could resist the Fallenmania, as proven by their awkwardly titled 2007 album “Superangelic Hate Bringers”. That album turned out a little better than anyone expected. It's obviously a huge disappointment if you expected something like their 90s albums, but it might be one of the more more enjoyable Evanescence rip-offs.
There is both good and bad on that album. “Don’t Pretend” is a nice opening track. Obviously it’s not very authentic gothic metal, but it’s a nice rock song, pretty catchy and fun. The call-and-response between the two singers is a nice touch. The heavier riffs and occasional dark synths are another nice touch, but there isn’t any of them to make the song more interesting.
While the first song is pretty good, the second track, “To My Falling Star”, makes the album’s problems more apparent. It’s too similar to its predecessor, but as a more straightforward rock song. While Morena Rozzi’s high, nasal singing is definitely unique, it can get a little annoying on this song. Then, “Without You” uses the same riffs and melody as the other songs, showing how repetitive this album can get. I also have mixed feelings on the vocals: Morena’s just as nasal as usual, and Andrea Cislaghi’s low-pitched singing can get a little shaky, and something about the way he screams “Without you! Without you!” feels kind of silly, but something about it works because it’s so over-the-top and passionate. Basically, this is everything about the album that works and doesn’t.
Other songs are also repetitive, so it’s hard to find something distinctive to say about each song individually. However, there is still some creativity to be found. “Veils” is the only instrumental, with nice and eerie guitar effects. “Grey Skies” uses similar guitar effects and industrial touches, and some strange but pleasant singing from both Andrea and Morena. “Break the Circle” is even more industrial-tinged, and pretty catchy, but not that interesting otherwise. “The World in My Mind” is another symphonic and industrial duet, maybe one of the most ambitious songs on the album but still not great, you get the idea.
“Watch Us Die” is at least a heavier take on the Macbeth formula. The heaviest song would have to be “H.A.T.E”, mostly sung by Andrea who goes for a full Chester Bennington-Dave Williams impression. If the idea of goth-tinged nu metal isn’t too much of a deal-breaker for you, this one is a pretty good example of it.
“Don’t Include Me In Your Dreams” feels more symphonic, as its main riff is from a keyboard rather than the guitar. The bass is also more audible, and the drums play an interesting solo in the middle. You really don’t hear a lot of drum solos in that kind of albums. However, the rest of the song is just one more duet between the two vocalists, not as catchy as the others. I guess the album’s mostly meant to be a collection of duets, with the background music not being that important.
Again and again, this series isn’t just for albums I hate, it’s also for those I have mixed feelings about, and this is another example. It’s not Macbeth’s best, and yet, there is something about it. Macbeth have kept their sense of peculiar melodies and even more peculiar vocals. The music is pretty catchy, and really, it’s the best possible outcome for a band trying to make an album that sounds like Evanescence if they only made songs like “Bring Me To Life”. This album overuses the clichés of poppy gothic/symphonic metal, but it does it with enough creativity and talent to be somewhat memorable, and enjoyable. I could see some of you hating it, and some of you enjoying it. But make sure you hear their album called "Vanitas" first.
