XHAMAIN - NA ALMA - Reviewed At ADifferentShadeOfBlackMetalZine ! Check it out here at this link: https://darkdoomgrinddeath.blogspot.com/2021/12/xhamainna-alma2021-full-length-review.html
Xhamain are a band from Spain that plays a very melodic and symphonic mixture of black, death, folk and power metal and this is a review of their self released 2021 album "Na Alma".
Celtic folk instruments start off the album and also mixes in with the heavier sections of the songs at times. When spoken word parts are utilized briefly they also give the recording more of a ritualistic feeling along with the harsh vocals being a mixture of black metal screams and death metal growls.
When clear vocals are brought into the music they also bring in elements of power metal while symphonic sounds are also added on some of the tracks. Melodies are also added into some of the guitar riffing as well as one song also introducing clean plating onto the album, when guitar solos and leads are finally utilized they are also done in a very melodic style and the whole album also sticks to either a slow or mid tempo style.
Xhamain plays a musical style that takes the melodic and symphonic sides of black and death metal and mixes it with folk and power metal to create a sound of their own. The production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover nature themes.
In my opinion Xhamain are a very great sounding symphonic and melodic mixture of black, death, folk and power metal and if you are a fan of those musical genres, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Eterna Soedade" "Xunto A Ti" and "Plenilunio, Pt. 3 (Amencer)". 8 out of 10. - ADifferentShadeOfBlackMetalZine
Release Date: October 31, 2021
FFO: Nightwish, Epica, Eluveitie
Location: Spain
Label: SUSPIRIA RECORDS
Currently, Xhamain is focused on the release of their new album Na Alma. This is the first part of a more extensive work already written in its entirety called No Ser. For this album, the Galician sextet has hired the prestigious mastering engineer Tony Lindgren ( Dimmu Borgir, Opeth, Blind Guardian, Eluveitie ...) from the world-famous Swedish studios Fascination Street ( Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, Sepultura, Moonspell ...). The cover design and all the artwork has been designed by the Bulgarian artist Georgi Georgiev from Moon Ring Design. This comes right after releasing the promotional video of the first single of the album, Soño de Inverno, which has been well received by the public. All of this is the pinnacle of a detailed process created through several years in which the band has been working hard since its inception.
At the end of 2014, Rubén Alonso, a teacher at dZetta Music Center (official Rockschool Center), was commissioned by Mariah Fosado, a student at the center, to record and arrange a song she had composed. After several tests, and reaching an agreement on the stylistic part, they decided to create a band with more components and agreed on recruiting some of the most students in the academy. Anxo Jorge joined on guitar and Michelle Dopazo on bass. At the very beginning, Brais Jorge joined on drums, but after a few months, he was replaced by Alex García, who was also a student of dZetta Music Center. Xurxo Fernández, a well-known bagpipe player and teacher in the city, also joined the band as a bagpiper, and also contributed with his skills as a keyboard player.
Having composed several songs for a couple of years, singing in Galician and still without releasing any album, Xhamain had their first performance in 2017 in front of more than 200 people, being headliners of a concert in which the group ArcangeluS also performed. A year later, they were invited, along with Aquelarre , to share the stage with Leo Jimenez's band in another great performance in front of 350 people. At that time, Anxo Jorge was no longer part of the band and had been replaced by David Zarandón. In 2019, after several unsuccessful recordings and not having achieved the level of quality that the band intended for their debut album, the group decided to take an indefinite break. At that point, David Zarandón wasn’t already part of the band and had been replaced by Jairo Daponte. In early 2021, Rubén Alonso informed the band that he had achieved a mix with the sound the the band was looking for and proposed to return to the activity. In this new line-up, Xurxo and Jairo would no longer be in the band. This very same year the band signed up with Suspiria Records for the promotion, management and distribution of the album.
Check out this video!
Check them out on Spotify and add them to your playlists!
LINE UP:
Mariah Fosado - Vocals
Rubén Alonso – Vocals / Guitar
Alberto Fernández – Guitars
Michelle Dopazo – Bass
Alex García – Drums
Follow the band at these links:
https://www.instagram.com/xhamain/
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