Cadaveria

I was listening to this record at least 12 to 15 times over the X-Mas days, but somehow the spark did not want to jump over right. Again CADAVERIA offer a blend of styles I would like to call terrific but it sounds rarely harmonic and well-combined. But this is exactly what makes Far Away From Conformity and the aimed concept behind – a mix of classic Heavy Metal and Black Metal with the elements from Death Metal and many other fields (e.g. 70‘s Rock, Nu Mtela, Dark and Gothic stuff ...) – stand and fall.

Too often these combined elements sound too constructed, so that only the singing of Cadaveria (ex Opera IX) hold the things together. But this again she accomplished in a very impressive way and very flexible, vocal wise. Her vocals range from ultra-evil gurgles, aggressive shoutings up to very nice and clean singing and mysterious whispers. Sometimes I feel remembered of the late but not unforgotten Dawn Crosby (Fear Of God, Detente), although Cadaveria still can’t reach her level, but she’s doing a good job. Nevertheless, the praised „gloomy“ atmosphere does not want to emerge. The musical basic is solid, but that’s all.
Most tracks range in midtempo fields, apart from a few eruptions like in Eleven Three O Three. Just a few tracks are really well done, first of all the somber semi ballad Irrelevant Elegy, where all described trademarks could be put over. With deductions I also like opener Blood And Confusion and Out Body Experience, while the rest has some great riffs but the complete tracks cannot convince as entities.

One thing worth mentioning - beside the good production (which can score a few points again) – is the really strange version of Blondie’s Call Me, that is miles away from the charm and charisma of the original. Normally I’m open-minded to cover versions, but this times it does not work at all.
Altogether I doubt that CADAVERIA will gain more ground with this release. As I said: musical approach and concept is quite good but it needs to get elaborated much more.