DELIRIUM X TREMENS – Belo Dunum – Echoes From The Past

The Italian band DELIRIUM X TREMENS likes to play music in quite complex manner. During the opener I Was, we come across many changes in measure and speed, including some progressive and jazzy intermezzi as well as dark, powerful Death Metal elements. Mighty, orchestral influences in the style of Septic Flesh enrich the bunch of ideas additionally.
This mélange shows up quite demanding and needs your full attention; only sometimes, simple tracks like the traditionally influenced Artiglieria Alpina loosen up the album with bombastic choir arrangements and stomping basis rhythms. Oriental melodies in the background flash through conveniently and raise this piece to an intense joy in listening.
After the pure instrumental track The Guardian, blast beats and staccato chords dominate the heaviest song 33 Days Of Pontificate (Vatican Inc.), which attracts attention through choirs anew and added dark vocals.
A little while later, the progressive monster breaks through again and the mood turns to hectic and haunting emotions during An Old Dusty Dream, ere a flute melody cares for some harmonious elements. Surprisingly, an accordion shows up in the course of Life Before Nothing and brings melancholy and nostalgia. This feeling changes again, as abysmal voices and rhythmic alternation come into operation during the cudgeled song Scream Of 2000 Screams, which offers no melodic peculiarity unfortunately.
Conveniently floating acoustic guitar chords and a folky melody conclude this variable and comprehensive release. Many details and instruments wait to be discovered, although the song writing is not at all easy to consume, but this ambitious album sounds self-contained as well as artistically demanding.