ALBUM REVIEW: Chapter III – Downfall – Ad Infinitum
AD INFINITUM have momentum on their side as they release their third album. The Swiss four-piece have built up a solid reputation for their historically-minded symphonic metal over the past few years and they’ve quietly evolved into a very capable band. Vocalist Melissa Bonny’s scene-stealing appearance on the recent KAMELOT release turned a few heads as well. Chapter III – Downfall could well be their breakthrough. They’ve been underdogs so far, but this has the potential to make them into heroes.
Heavily inspired by the history and mythology of Ancient Egypt, Chapter III is an album where every track is a potential single in waiting. Anyone that enjoys symphonic metal but found the last XANDRIA record a bit overwhelming would do well to check this out; it’s a lean, efficient and finely-tuned machine. It’s three-quarters-of-an-hour packed with pop choruses, bouncy rhythms and catchy melodies, with just the right amount of grit under the fingernails.
And it must be said, Bonny sounds like an absolute star. AD INFINITUM started as her solo project so it’s not surprising that she takes centre stage, but it’s more than justified. She has a powerful and charismatic voice with an impressive range. She makes hitting high notes seem easy, but can also do death growls in a way that would get Angela Gossow nodding in approval. Her harsher vocals are used sparingly, but on the rare occasions they appear, they leave a lasting impression.
Not that this is a one-woman show however, as her bandmates do a great job too. Guitarist Adrian Thessenvitz in particular deserves a lot of praise for the sheer number of riffs he has up his sleeves. The whole album is full of confidently executed instrumentation, opening track Eternal Rains instantly raising eyebrows and Upside Down being the sort of upbeat euro-metal that is just a joy to listen to. It might be looking at the radio with expectation, but this track will please anyone that wants to like BEAST IN BLACK but finds them too overbearing.
From The Ashes is already an earworm before Bonny opens her mouth, and takes a brief but memorable left turn into djent territory in the second half. Architect Of Paradise meanwhile is heavier than most of its fellows and features what can only be described as a symphonic metal impersonation of a MALEVOLENCE breakdown. And yet it manages this without sacrificing one iota of accessibility; you could play this on a long drive and there’d be no risk of upsetting your seven-year-old daughter. Unless she’s really picky and insists on arguing. Yeah, might as well put Mary On A Cross by GHOST on again and get some peace. It’ll stop her moaning all the way to Warwickshire.
Elsewhere, Somewhere Better is AD INFINITUM’s lighters-in-the-air moment, and Ravenous has some folky touches that make it very easy to like. But truth be told, you could print out the track list, throw a dart at it and be guaranteed to hit a recommended song. If you wanted to be picky, you could argue that AD INFINITUM aren’t doing anything that numerous other bands haven’t done before, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t very good at it. Chapter III – Downfall is symphonic metal at its most streamlined; there are no extended intros or needless orchestration, just 45 minutes of irresistible melodies and big hooks.
Rating: 8/10
Chapter III – Downfall is set for release on March 31st via Napalm Records.
Like AD INFINITUM on Facebook.