THE BEAST

Intaglio - II - Reviewed At Keep On Rocking ! Check it out here at this link: https://keep-on-rocking.com/2021/12/31/intaglio-ii/

More than fifteen years ago, the Russian Langsamheimer Intaglio released their self-titled debut album. A year ago, a newly mixed version was published. In the time in between, the band was probably non-existent. Although "Band" is a bit exaggerated, there were only two names on the line-up list. No lineup was even included for "II". The members that can be found below I found at the Encyclopaedia Metallum. So I can't guarantee the correctness. But I think the crucial thing is the music. And I will comment on that in the following.

The album starts with the three-movement sonata "Midnight Sonata". After a quiet and quiet beginning with minimal instrumentation, the bitterly evil singing of Evander Sinque can be heard in the first movement "The Night Sky" after more than one and a half minutes. The use of the cello (Nadia Avenosova) should be emphasized here. This adds a new, invigorating component to the sound of Intaglio. Later, clear vocals are added. Also in the second and third movements of this epic, the cello plays a very important role in the sound paintings of the band. It doesn't really need to be mentioned that slowness is the basic principle of all songs. This is also the case with "Subject To Time". Lower tuned guitars and accentuated drumming also dominate here, together with the string parts. Despite the strong sound pressure in the bass range, "The Memory Of Death" sometimes sounds very contemplative. And so the last two songs pour out of the boxes with leaden heaviness. In "Depths Of Space" the singing partly becomes a chant, as if the singer were telling a story. A child's voice can also be heard.

Two things stand out when listening to the album. On the one hand, the really brutal sounds are missing. Nevertheless, the woofers are still dominant. And on the other hand, the cello has obviously taken over the part of the lead guitar. An interesting evolution of the genre. You can tell that there are more than fifteen years between the debut and "II". Mastermind Evgeny Semenov has matured musically during this time. Of course, this benefits the quality of the music. Let's hope that the band stays together for a long time in this line-up and that we don't have to wait another fifteen years for the successor. - Keep On Rocking

Release Date: October 29, 2021

FFO: Evoken, My Dying Bride, Ahab

After many years of silence, Intaglio has released a new full-length album called “II”. The album can be described as a "doom opera" and will not only amaze old fans of the band but should also interest new listeners with the contributions Intaglio has made to the development of the style.

Check out the video!

A large form was used on "II", which is exceedingly rare in metal and rock music. Only live instruments were used in the recording, including classical ones such as cello and upright bass, and professional vocalists with voices varying from basso profundo to soprano have created a unique palette of sounds. The album is a conceptual work with compositions and lyrics united as a single large piece, and for the full experience should be listened to from beginning to end in order to completely immerse the listener into its atmosphere. 
"II" was recorded and mixed at Slow Burn Studio (When Nothing Remains, Woe Unto Me), was mastered by Mika Jussila (Shape Of Despair, Isole, Unholy, Moonspell) at the legendary Finnvox studio in Finland, and includes stunning cover art crafted by the Polish artist Mariusz Lewandowski (Bell Witch, Atramentus) and designed to highlight and complement the album's unique music. Both massive and sophisticated Intaglio’s creation is a brand new and exciting take on the doom-death genre.

Check them out on Spotify and add them to your playlists!

Credits:
Evander Sinque - Lead Vocals
Evgeny Semenov - Acoustic, Baritone, Electric Guitar, Bass, Korg MS-20
Alexey Batrakov - Double Bass, Bass
Nadia Avanesova - Cello
Roman “V” - Drums, Percussion
Tres Hunter - Bass Vocals
Andy Grig - Tenor Vocals
Reverend B. - Spoken Words, Baritone Vocals
Maria Balakina - Soprano Vocals, Chimes
Artur Shaura - Basso Profundo
Dmitry Litvintsev - Baritone Vocals
Anna Semenova - Spoken Words
Alexander Tretyakov - Additional Guitars
Aleksey Samoschenkov - Flute
Sergey Sevastyanov - Mouth Harp

Written & produced by Evgeny Semenov
Arrangements by Intaglio
Lyrics by Evander Sinque, Sergey Terentjev, Evgeny Semenov, Reverend B. & Jeremy Lewis
Artwork by Mariusz Lewandowski
Layout by Sergey Terentjev

Recorded at Slow Burn Studio during 2019-2021. Additional vocals recorded at Skylark Studios in 2020-2021.
Mixed by Evgeny Semenov at Slow Burn Studio in April-May 2021.
Mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in May 2021.

Follow the band at these links:
https://intaglio.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClwNBIBuQglLOYKz9TWXCcA
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5XvICCI5M8pj9Go9asCgeS
https://www.facebook.com/solitudeprod