First steps for La Cerva.
Formed in Italy by Dani P. (guitar, Dismal), Steve Pan (vocals), and Stefano D.L. (bass) to honor Peaceville’s Melodic Doom/Death Metal, the band signed with Masked Dead Records for the release of their first EP, La Cerva.
The musicians immediately hypnotize us with Cosmic Down, a majestic and melancholic opening track where hoarse roars arise naturally but which are also replaced by soothing clean vocals. The sound remains heavy as it accelerates, borrowing its devastating blast from violence before returning to these cold tones and then giving way to New Eclipse, a more energetic and catchy composition that uses dissonant harmonics to create airy tones to contrast the groovier and rawer basis. Clean vocals add a more plaintive dimension to the song, which continues its progression by alternating its elements before reaching Stardust, which starts very slowly before bursting into flames without warning and sinking entirely into a striking and uncontrollable violence that brings a whole new dimension to the composition, making it the real highlight while still allowing itself a little breath of fresh air in its clear sound and Italian lyrics to finish.
Although rooted in a heavy Old School universe, La Cerva knows perfectly how to handle its melancholy and violence, combining them as the titans of Melodic Doom/Death would have done. La Cerva will undoubtedly find its audience.
90/100
