The 90s Symphonic Black Metal sound has returned to the fore in recent years, a style that still divides opinion among fans and critics alike. Some successfully revive the magical sound of yore with captivating songwriting, while others miss the bullseye for now… or for good.
Nekromantas from Italy are doing their utmost to recreate that sound through their melodies, synths, and female vocals, which were often a staple of that era. You can clearly hear the influence of early Dimmu Borgir, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Ancient’s ‘The Cainian Chronicle’, or old Siebenbürgen were also among their influences. While I have nostalgic sympathy for what Nekromantas is trying to achieve, the female operatic and theatrical vocals are a real issue for me in terms of quality and how forced they feel. It simply doesn’t gel into a cohesive whole.
It remains to be seen how Nekromantas will present themselves on a future release.
