Deathless Legacy - Damnatio Aeterna Review • Strah

I used the term album of guitars many times here to refer to an album where the guitars were far from the expected even from a style where they are the lead, however, I have never used the term album of keyboards which is what Deathless Legacy “Damnatio Aeterna” is. The keyboards have the spotlights here not only because they are prominent, but because they assume different clothing in order to fit the mood of the song they are into. So, there are all kinds of keyboards sounds here, from the 1960’s inspired ones to the most modern of them.

Well, Deathless Legacy themselves are not the kind of standard Metal band one would wonder by their name. I have seen lots of bands like they are. I guess Alice Cooper and Lordi might be the best examples as their iconography is far heavier than their music. So are Deathless Legacy. The thing is that they go deeper into their Rock and Blues influences delivering tracks that reflect all this. That’s why the keyboards are so important. As the press release tells “‘Damnatio Aeterna’ tells the thrilling story of the lesser demon Malchrum, who is challenged by Lucifer to ensnare a priest in an unspeakable sin, thereby ensuring his eternal damnation.”

“Damnatio Aeterna” acquires the facete of a multi mood album from the mutanting keyboards. It is incredible how they change to fit into the story Deathless Legacy wish to tell. “Damnatio Aeterna,” as aforementioned, is also an album of stories. From the electric piano of “Sanctified“ giving some kind of The Doors mood; to the 1960’s church organ of tittle track “Damnatio Aeterna” that gives an ethereal mood and eternal feeling to it. The same kind of keyboards are used with “Miserere“ whose initial guitar riffing reminds Pantera’s “Cemetery Gates,” – just a little. “Get On Your Knees” has that bluesy lascive mood where the guitar sounds to be making love with vocals. One delicious song with the keyboards’ tone taken from The Animals’ cover of “The House of the Rising Sun,” a known song about lasciviousness. The mood in “Indulgentia Plenaria” goes so far, but so far, that I feel like I am listening to a much improved No Doubt. So sorry for that, but it is the impression I get.

We are talking not only about a versatile album, but also versatile musicians. I talked about Alex van Eden’s keyboards, but Steva’s voice is also very fitting, what proves her ability and vocal range. It is not easy to go throught asll the twists and shifts in tempo and in mooding “Damnatio Aeterna” goes. It takes a lot of ability and prowness. And courage, lots of courage, because a Metal album that celebrates the keyboards is not that easy to find.

Deathless Legacy “Damnatio Aeterna” was released on May 07th via Scarlet Records.

Track Listing: