[Music Review] - Persefone - Core

[darkon]

Persefone - Core

Reviewed by: Chris Anderson

In 2004, Persefone emerged from the tiny nation of Andorra in the Pyrenees to become a cult favorite in the metal underground. As 2 years went by, the band was fortunate enough to build up a loyal following and more importantly build on the potential they had as a band. More complex and more experimental, Core takes what Persefone have been known to do to new heights.

Right from the first few minutes of the album it is possible to hear many different musical styles coming together. This is not just a melodic death metal album, it is certainly much more. Miguel Espinosa Ortiz’s masterful use of keyboards, synths, and pianos adds to the dark ambience the album bears, but this is still very clearly a metal album. Parts of the entire album break down into traditional metal riffs and solos with beautiful, yet harsh growls as the vocals. But at the same time, there are softer parts sung by females. There are even parts with narration. All of these can be seen in the first few moments of the album.

As one listens to the whole album, the theme continues. At no point does Persefone resort back to what they have been doing, each part of the album is new and different from what has been done before it. At points they hearken back to previous moments in the album, making it all come together. But at those same moments Persefone are clearly moving forward with Core. They implement sounds reminiscent of prog bands like Jethro Tull and Rush, jazz elements, and shredding guitar solos straight from the 1980’s. This constant evolution over the course of the album is helping them break down the barrier of progressive death metal, a label usually only attached to one of their chief influences – Opeth.

They are not Opeth however. Sure they will draw comparisons with them, and they are justified, but they are not an Opeth clone in the slightest. Persefone take the concepts of both clean vocals and fierce death metal growls as well as peaceful and acoustic parts of songs intermixed with chaos and mix them with their own breed of experimentation with just what one can do in the genre of metal. They are making efforts to completely redo the landscape of metal, like so many have tried before. This band from Andorra is not there yet, but they are well on their way to achieving something uniquely special.

Core has its great moments: its transition through all sorts of sounds and styles, its beautifully constructed acoustic parts, the riffs created by the guitarists, and the use of the keyboards. But Persefone do not do everything perfectly, parts of the album just do not grab you in the way they should. There sometimes feels to be a lack of emotion, very unfortunate since at other times Core is absolutely brimming with emotion. Sometimes the music itself just sounds boring and they have moments in which they carry parts out for too long.

However, Core is a release which nobody should even think of ignoring. Persefone’s potential is clear, and with the progress they’ve made since their debut in 2004 – Truth Inside the Shades, I can only imagine what the future has in store.

Final Score: 9/10

[Tanni Foemangler]

i think that review effectively killed any awesomeness in Matt and i joining in the metal judgement. but that doesn't mean we can't judge YOU

solid stuff. as a purely informational review it couldn't get much better short of going all crazy on technical aspects like how they tuned their guitars and shit

but maybe too solid. it's so clinical it comes off cold and detached. i mean...

But at the same time, there are softer parts sung by females.

i know you're not a robot, Chris Anderson

[darkon]

You have to keep in mind I've studied how to review for newspapers and only for newspapers. It felt weird writing paragraphs of more than 2-3 lines on Word honestly. So I'm used to not having a lot of fluff in reviews, news, etc. Which is bad on the internet I guess. Looks great in the newspaper though.

[Tanni Foemangler]

a lot of people probably dig the no-frills approach, but i can't get enough of reviews that people had fun writing. i direct you to the late great Gabe

[darkon]

a lot of people probably dig the no-frills approach, but i can't get enough of reviews that people had fun writing. i direct you to the late great Gabe

See, if I could do that and not come off as "trying to be funny" I would. But I don't know if I can implement humor well into a review. I'll work on it in the future though with whatever I review next.

[Wind]

Perhaps you can upload this cd for me bro?!

[darkon]

Perhaps you can upload this cd for me bro?!

I would, but my upload rate is abysmal. I don't like making them do stuff, but TCZ or Stranger would likely be a better bet with sending you the album.

[Tanni Foemangler]

don't lie, you KNOW you get off on playing innocent and luring men in with the bat of an eyelash

i've got the DSL of the house all to myself so my connection is pretty good. i'll hit it up tonight

[darkon]

don't lie, you KNOW you get off on playing innocent and luring men in with the bat of an eyelash

i've got the DSL of the house all to myself so my connection is pretty good. i'll hit it up tonight

:blush:

[Wind]

don't lie, you KNOW you get off on playing innocent and luring men in with the bat of an eyelash

i've got the DSL of the house all to myself so my connection is pretty good. i'll hit it up tonight

:cool: