I wasn’t quite familiar with the Belluno based death metal act Delirium X Tremens, other
than having emerged in 1998 and with one EP and two studio album in their repertoire. Quite
frankly, as I dove into their latest release ‘’Troi’’ by I was already headfirst at listening to the
same old boring stuff that thousands of underground acts tend to re-enact, complacent at best
and no innovation whatsoever. Boy I was wrong with this one. As soon as I went through the
whole album, my first reaction was that Troi is an obscure odyssey filled with forceful
blackened death influences, accompanied with an energetic dosage of folklore, making it
rather eloquent, outside the norm and rest assured, worth the time given whilst listening to it.
As emphasised in Metal Underground.com, Troi is a concept album ‘’…..dedicated to the
legends and real stories of the Dolomiti mountains: stories of men, enchanted and at the same
time dark landscapes, an absorbing story which can transport the listener in another epoch,
that age in which everything had its own real colour. The frantic tale continues from the
death of an Alpine soldier on the cold mountains: his spirit will reincarnate in an owl who
will guide a young boy through the woods and paths up to his old house, where an old picture
album is preserved. The concept will move between past and present, in a solemn, gloomy
and melancholy atmosphere.’’
The album doesn’t waste time in terms of intensity and shock value. As soon as “Ancient
Wings” kicks in, I immediately jolted from my chair as soon as the first couple of seconds
went by. ‘’Are those back pipes which I’m hearing?’’. Indeed, the rather unusual yet
convincing opener, coupled with fast tempo riffs, it already alludes to the listener that this
album is a journey of heavy, majestic and ritualistic goodness. The trigger like riffs
conjugated with a melodic bridge makes the track stand out on its own. This was indeed a
good start for the Dolomites!!
“Col do Lana, Mount of Blood” kicks in with a choir like symphony in Italian as it
interweaves with a hefty shot of tremolo picking, and as the palm muting strikes back, it
leaves you breathless and ravishing for more. An equally fervid track that shoes in for best
track in the entire track, as it fades out once again with the aforementioned choir, this time
joined in with a wistful acoustic riff.
“Spettri nella Steppa” is perhaps the most dramatic and profound track from the album. The
use of spoken word within the intro simply adds more suspense and before you know it, one
gets hit with an altruistic intertwine of harmonica and guitar riffs. In addition, the growls in
this one keep adding that woeful touch behind the concept of the album, as it absorbs the
listener into the torrid prairie narrated within the track. Song to Hall Up High is a two and a
half minute interlude incorporating an ensemble of acoustic and breath-taking choir like
vocals, this time in English. A thespian catalyst as it prepares one for the vivid ending of
Troi, as perfectly connoted within the track The Picture. Once again the use of a harmonica is
heavily appreciated within this one. Moreover, the incomparable blend of woodwork
percussions adds a more primitive nature to the album. Imagine yourself in the backwoods,
surrounded by crows as they chant along with the sinister blackened death riffs, fading out
with crickets chirping forth the final dusky yet clean guitar tone.
A surprising, well-needed breathe of fresh air. The sheer amount of diversity found within
Troi is insurmountable. Not your usual nagging death metal album. A very unusual act
Delirium X Tremens is. It was very hard to pick apart and trying to find faults with this
release. The blunt force trauma within the riffs coalesced with the crepuscular and agonizing
folk elements simply make Troi a worthwhile experience. A must listen to those are not
afraid to push the envelope and tend to embark away from tradition.
Magnifico!!!
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