Italian band Ponte Del Diavolo arose in the winter of 2020 during a jam session that was intentionally eclectic, and it led to two of their key traits – focusing on female vocals and including two bass players.
The band – featuring Erba Del Diavolo (Elena Camusso on vocals), Krhura (Alessio Caruso on bass), Kratom (Andrea L’Abbate on bass), Segale Cornuta (Stefano Franchia on drums), and Nerium (Rocco Scuzzarella on guitars) – has released several EPs between 2020’s Mystery of Mystery and 2022’s Ave Scintilla! Each building interest among a growing bunch of listeners, now we prepare for their forthcoming debut full-length album, Fire Blades from the Tomb, arriving through Season of Mist on February 16, 2024.
The obvious next step for the band, Fire Blades from the Tomb offers an expansive sound built on a foundation of classic Doom elements, but also while reaching towards Post-Punk introspection and song structures. Complete with seven tracks, the album shows quite a range of sonic approaches. Some of the songs have English lyrics, while some have Italian lyrics… making for an intriguing back and forth.
Another aspect that is particularly notable is that Ponte Del Diavolo often includes female characters and perspectives in their songs. In some cases, it is relatively subtle. It is like noticing that the occult figures who cause the greatest fear and awe happen to be female; for example, as heard on “Demone.” There are also some cases it is more overt; like their ode to the color red and all its associations, “Red as the Sex of She Who Lives in Death.”
As a whole, the music itself is not focused on female-related horror ideas, rather the ‘void’ that seems to conquer all, and that depth of cold despair runs throughout Fire Blades from the Tomb. Explaining matters further, “Covenant” is one of the singles from the album with English lyrics that also boasts a video with a stunning location shot in black and white. The song’s theme traces the rising of different elemental forces, capturing their energy and expression, and then allows them to return to the void, the final silence. Driving opening guitars create a cyclical feeling to these elemental movements.
The band have commented on the video for “Covenant” acting as a tribute to their hometown of Turin, and its ‘romanticism’ and the video definitely brings home that darkly celebratory feel. The song itself is also ambitiously full, bringing in synthesizers (by Kratom/ Andrea l’Abbate), clarinet (Vittorio Sabelli), and even theremin (Lucynine). That in mind, the song was the first recorded for the album and it really sets the tone for the richness of the album.
Another major single from the album with its own gripping video is “Demone” (with Italian lyrics). The crime story of the song is intriguing, and once you have seen the video, it is nearly impossible not to see the heist, carjacking, and kidnapping in terms of Italian cinema traditions, down to its ’60s-’70s vibe. But its occult elements are the real highlight of the song and the video, bringing a reversal of expectations to the story. Musically, layered vocals highlight this “ascension” to the twist in the story.
Lastly, the unusual final track “The Weeping Song” is also worthy of notice. It is quite a universal idea; looking purely at the lyrics that cite all the different walks of life that are ‘weeping,’ despite age or station. But the sound of the song and the use of repetition make this a towering track with heavy, sharp rhythmic drums, and lyrics delivered in a confessional tone. Bringing in dual vocals, both male, courtesy of Davide Straccione, and female, creates a global sense of suffering that is equally epic and poignant.
While ideas of void and existential emptiness are almost required in Metal music, Ponte Del Diavolo handles those ideas with a range of approaches that are, at times, romantic, but also deeply emotive. Through incorporating both male and female perspectives and broadening their musical palette without losing Metal energy, they take a bold approach to Fire Blades from the Tomb. For that reason, Cryptic Rock gives this album 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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