tracks

Refugees In Wasteland
The Great Plague
Mind Flayer
Need No Guidance
Flames Of Black Fire
Eradicate
Parasite
Nothing Changes
Eye Of The Thunderstorm
Epitaph

notes

From Metal Observer
Negacy sure boast some aberrant qualities, amplified by commonplace expectations of Italian power metal. Just like Drakkar whom I reviewed a couple of months back, there are more than a few heavy/power acts from the region showcasing a more grounded approach, with an ability to carve themselves out of the bedrock the ubiquitous weight of the rhythm section buries them under. Italian power metal bands often lack this emphasis on the rhythm, which is sinewy and capable but eternally playing second fiddle to the gleaming lead. Negacy haven't totally inverted proceedings, but definitely hope to make an impact with an album that sounds as much American as it does European in Flames of Black Fire. The guitars feature pent-up, volatile riffing patterns and a processed, ultra-modern tone that flies in the face of convention, pirouetting in unison with Marco Piu's dissonant caterwauling.

The end result is a reasonably gloomy and brooding listen, as the guitarists fire off a multitude of open-note chugging alongside compact and sparkling leads and solos that beam like a supernova. In fact, I found myself pining for more leads, as Negacy seems to have the tendency to lock into a grumbling groove that rotates between rhythm-driven verses and admittedly catchy refrains that showcase Piu's capability to polish his inflection accordingly. Songwriting is penetrative and savage when it wants to be, yet there is just enough variety to keep one invested throughout. "Mind Flayer" is the first true take-home tune of the litter, featuring one of the stronger choruses. The title track is a pounding and authoritative clinic of harried grooves and leads dowsed in technical leverage, and "Eye of the Thunderstorm" is a startlingly potent fusion of styles not too far removed from Finland's Kiuas.

Flames of Black Fire is far from a perfect listen, however. In isolation, most riffs fail to elucidate much head bobbing, which in the end comes as a result of the manner in which the vocal melodies intertwine within them. While it fits the atmosphere of the record and the final product, the guitars do sound cripplingly modern at times, chugging and skittering about not unlike a Meshuggah album. The acoustic bits are always a welcome deviation like on "Epitaph," and the use of pinch harmonics always feels fresh in such environs. Marco Piu's vocals are going to result in more than a few lines drawn in the sand as well. His grumbling is decidedly gritty and boasts drudging contours atypical for this style of power metal. It isn't that he lacks the capability to sing in a more traditional manner (which he proves on more than a few occasions), but the sincerity of his performance will be lost on many listeners who expect more melodic vocals.

At least the songwriting holds up, and save for the jam-infused "Parasite," which feels like a dumping ground for the ideas that wouldn't or couldn't fit elsewhere, Flames of Black Fire is a consonant and agreeable heavy/power metal record with a very modern aesthetic. Part of this modernity comes from the record's loud and concussive production job, and the groove-infused riffing patterns redolent of less creative brethren hardly does the band many favors. Still, I found Negacy to be an interesting counterpoint to the wiry and lightweight fare that typifies the Italian power metal scene. Just like Drakkar, Negacy have hardly struck gold with their approach, but for a style that is certainly still a work in progress, this is a good album and worth most individuals' time.

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Distributed By – Goodfellas

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