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Kimaera : Ebony Veiled

Kimaera is living proof that the peripheries of the metal world map can hold treasures of at least equal value to those releases made in the heart of it. You'd never guess that 'Ebony Veiled' was made in Beirut, Lebanon - a so-called developing country (who, I might add, has a lot to teach many gothic and symphonic death metallers the world over). Kimaera maintains a more than decent English in their vocals, although this compliment is mostly directed towards the male growler as the female vocals are done by none other than the Australian enchantress Sabine Linfoot-Hamad of Lycanthia fame. She left the band after this album, but the soultouching effect of good female vocals cannot be underestimated. Nor should the description of the vocalists give the reader any impression that the remaining musicians are any worse. Musically this album is almost unflawed.

If Theatre of Tragedy ever returns from their musical journey into Scooter-land and decides to make an album that outdoes all their previous ones, then they might compete with Kimaera. The music found herein is mainly symphonic gothic/death metal. The band has been claimed to be doom/death, but despite short sections of heavy riffage in the Winter-vein the pace is far too high most of the time and even the calmer sections feel more like darkwave than doom metal. This band is for those who liked Ashes To Ashes' 'Cardinal VII', Therion's 'Vovin' or Lepaca Kliffoth', Penumbra's 'Emanate', Lacrimosa's 'Inferno', and Mythological Cold Tower's 'The Vanished Pantheon'. But most of all Kimaera draws on the eulogy of Theatre of Tragedy's gothic era. Even so, Ebony Veiled' is a work which stands firmly on it's own feet. It's original, varied, catchy and "genuine".

I guess all that's left to say is that even if this doesn't fall very close to the doom metal realm, it's still a recommended album for those who don't mind their symphonic gothic/death metal with a higher pace.

Reviewer's rating: Unrated


Tracklist :
1. Disarray
2. Among The Dead
3. Idyllic Illusions
4. The Day Innocence Died
5. In A Dying Embrace
6. God's Wrath
7. Mess of Hostility
8. Ebony Veiled

Duration : Approx. 52 minutes.

Visit the Kimaera bandpage.

Reviewed on 19-08-2010 by Arnstein Petersen
Vanha - Black Lion
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