If you miss the Melodic, Bombastic and Symphonic Black Metal of the end 1990s, where the keyboard was an essential part of the music, you can add UK-based Formicarius on your “maybe I have to check this one out”-list. Without doubt the melodic guitar lines accompanied by the keyboard, has early Children of Bodom (“Something Wild”-era) written all over it. Throw in some Stormlord, Skyfire and Dragonlord and you will get the picture what Formicarius tries to paint here. I can’t say I’m overwhelmed by “Black Mass Ritual”, but some parts and leads are well played. The thing that makes me a bit nervous are the many ideas they fuse in one song. Hopefully they will stick more to one or two ideas during a song on their next album, I think it will make the compositions stronger. (Ricardo)
Formicarius – Black Mass Ritual
Info
- Bands: Formicarius
- Labels: Schwarzdorn Production
- Release Formats: CD
- Release Years: 2017
- Review Date: January 21, 2018
Random Review
Eucharist – A Velvet Creation [Re-Release]
review | February 21, 2023