|
THE ARCHIVES
|
Morrigan's Pit has closed down as of November 2006. The site and its articles will stay online as an archive until September at least, but probably longer.
The Archives
2002-2006
» CD REVIEWS
» INTERVIEWS
» LIVE REVIEWS
» SPECIALS
|
|
|
|
|
BENEDICTUM
|
Uncreation
2006
Locomotive Music
http://www.benedictum.net
|
1. Uncreation
2. Benedictum
3. #4
4. Misogyny
5. Ashes To Ashes
6. Wicca
7. Heaven And Hell
8. Them
9. Two Steps To The Sun
10 Valkyrie Rising
11. The Mob Rules
|
When I heard about the female-fronted Benedictum from San Diego I was immediately curious. I've got a thing for female rock voices.. but many are not aggressive enough for metal (and please, with all due respect don't even mention all the operatic singers out there, a no-go for me personally). So then I receive "Uncreation" and nervously I put the CD in.. to be immediately blown away, get goosebumps and start headbanging. Roawwwk! Yes, the voice is metal, and how! The beautiful Veronica Freeman is capable of anything melodic to anything aggressive, regularly (esp. in the screams) even reminding me of the late Dawn Crosby (Détente). Her voice is darker though. Producer Jeff Pilson (ex-Dokken, Dio) calls her a female Dio, and I'm wondering if it was his idea to cover the Sabbath classics "Heaven And Hell" and "The Mob Rules". They easily pull it off and put their own stamp on it! Pete Wells' soloing at the end of "Heaven And Hell" is pure gold too! "The Mob Rules" starts with a bloodcurdling scream and features a guest appearance by Jimmy Bain (a.o. Dio, Rainbow).
But to go back to their own songs: the overal songwriting is very good, songs are heavy, bombastic and innovative but also catchy. The music is often thrashy, but still has a lot of melody as well. Dio, Chastain, Détente (voice), Nevermore, Savatage and Within Another (an at the moment still unsigned NY band they maybe never heard of) are names that come up. Great musicianship overall, but guitarist Pete Wells (no, not the one from Rose Tattoo;)) stands out, what a talent! Keyboards don't play a big role, but sometimes stand out like the violin sounds at the end of "Misogyny" or in the epic "Valkyrie Rising" with an amazing guest appearance by yet another metal icon: Dio guitarist Craig Goldy.
The record was produced by the aforementioned Jeff Pilson and mixed by him and former Warlock bassist Tommy Henriksen. My favorites? "Uncreation", "#4", the dragging "Misogyny" and the ultra heavy "Them" - how can you go wrong with lyrics like "I'm your backstreet filthy whore! I'm the bitch you can't ignore!" or "They tell me I can’t cuz I’m a chick, I tell them kneel down and suck my dick!" haha!!! I also like both Sabbath covers a lot and of course any of Veronica's screams!
submitted by Marlies 06.02.2006
|
|
|
|
rating 1 - 5 Morrigans
5 = awesome, 4 = good, 3 = average, 2 = keep practising, 1 = sell your gear!
|
|
|
|
|
