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Hell Ouverture by Rival Skulls
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fave it Punk | Gothic Metal
13 tracks | 57 minutes
Released Oct 2006
on Blood and Guts Records
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- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 00:55 L'enfer lyrics BUY MP3 00:55 L'enfer lyrics "GIFT MP3" 00:55 L'enfer
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:41 Luciferian Path lyrics BUY MP3 03:41 Luciferian Path lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:41 Luciferian Path
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:46 Ghost of Louvre lyrics BUY MP3 03:46 Ghost of Louvre lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:46 Ghost of Louvre
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 03:39 A Vampyrism Theory lyrics BUY MP3 03:39 A Vampyrism Theory lyrics "GIFT MP3" 03:39 A Vampyrism Theory
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:39 Thing W/out Sun lyrics BUY MP3 05:39 Thing W/out Sun lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:39 Thing W/out Sun
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:30 Sublime Dead Next Dawn lyrics BUY MP3 04:30 Sublime Dead Next Dawn lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:30 Sublime Dead Next Dawn
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:12 My Succubus lyrics BUY MP3 04:12 My Succubus lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:12 My Succubus
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 06:38 Carpathian Night lyrics BUY MP3 06:38 Carpathian Night lyrics "GIFT MP3" 06:38 Carpathian Night
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:30 The Horned Angel lyrics BUY MP3 04:30 The Horned Angel lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:30 The Horned Angel
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 06:12 When My Life Will End lyrics BUY MP3 06:12 When My Life Will End lyrics "GIFT MP3" 06:12 When My Life Will End
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:03 Spiral Dance lyrics BUY MP3 04:03 Spiral Dance lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:03 Spiral Dance
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 04:13 Alone lyrics BUY MP3 04:13 Alone lyrics "GIFT MP3" 04:13 Alone
- sample lyrics "DOWNLOAD" 05:11 Ravenchild lyrics BUY MP3 05:11 Ravenchild lyrics "GIFT MP3" 05:11 Ravenchild
Italian Horror Punk with a flair of metal, Singer "Deadendguy" croons and howls changing back and forth flawlessly. Like the Misfits yet so much more.
Editorial review
Although an abundance of dance-pop has come out of Italy in the '80s and '90s and in the 21st century, the country has plenty of rock as well -- and the Italian rock world has offered everything from punk to gothic metal to adult alternative. Some Italian rockers write in Italian exclusively and concentrate on the Italian-language market, while others write in English in the hopes of having more international appeal; the Rival Skulls opt for the latter on Hell Ouverture, which favors a goth-tinged blend of metal, punk and hard rock. This hard-driving yet melodic disc isn't goth rock or gothic metal per se, although it does incorporate some goth spookiness that works well on Occult-themed tracks such as "Vampyrism Theory," "Ghost of Louvre," "Sublime Dead Next Dawn" and "My Succubus." An album that has song titles like "The Horned Angel" and "Luciferian Path" isn't going to be endorsed at the Southern Baptist Convention anytime soon, but truth be told, the Rival Skulls' brand of horror rock comes across as an exercise in campy entertainment more than anything. In contrast to Slayer or the infamous Norwegian black metal combo Gorgoroth -- two bands that can be genuinely unsettling -- the Rival Skulls bring a sense of irony and fun to their work. Stylistically, Hell Ouverture is not a major departure from the band's previous recordings; Danzig, the Doors, Alice Cooper, the Misfits and the Stranglers are still direct or indirect influences, but this time, the Rival Skulls go for a cleaner, sharper production style. The garage-like rawness that can be heard on various tracks from their previous albums, The Death Masks and Something Macabre This Way Comes, has greatly decreased, and Hell Ouverture does sound more polished and focused. Nonetheless, this 57-minute CD is mildly uneven, although the material is memorable more often than not -- and overall, Hell Ouverture is a likable, entertaining effort from these Italian horror rockers. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
Bio / Background
It's not easy for an Italian band to break out into the international music scene, but in Venice, since 1999, Deathrockers Rival Skulls have been hailed for being the One and Only Horror Rock band from Italy to do just that.
After releasing two successful self-produced full length albums (the Death Masks and Something Macabre this way comes...), some demos, and a fistful of compilations, the quintet did a couple of European tours and supported some big names in the horror-scene such as the Misfits, Meteors, Nekromantix and the Spook.
Many of the most popular music magazines and webzines reviewed the Rival Skulls's production as the most legitimate offspring of the Misfits and Samhain's work in the entire worldwide. The band has just unleashed its first label debut, Hell Ouverture, on Blood and Guts Records.
The album’s sound shows the evolution of how the band has changed over the years, without losing their macabre vein and underlining their passion on the esoteric themes.
↓ more ↓Average Customer Review:
I am ECSTATIC with HELL OUVERTUREbradd wrote on June 08, 2007
Oh yes my fiends, I dare say to pull the velvet drapes back and prepare yourself to be shocked and amazed by the latest offering from Italy's very own-Rival Skulls! If you cannot tell already, I am ECSTATIC with HELL OUVERTURE because this is where I knew the band could be, even way back when I was listening to THE DEATH MASKS for the first time. And while this may only be their third full-length album, I feel comfortable in saying that the Rival Skulls have found their niche. They sound extremely comfortable and the result is not only the band's greatest release to date, but also my favorite horror release of the year and that's saying a lot because there have been some really good releases this year (The Crimson Ghosts, The Vladimirs, Ghoultown, The Horrifics, The Other, Blitzkid, etc.). One thing that makes HELL OUVERTURE so appealing to me is that it doesn't become predictable. You have songs like "Luciferian Path" and "Vampyrism Theory" that are in your face, jaw-breaking rock tunes with huge hooks and melodies while there are others such as "Alone" that's set up around an acoustic atmosphere and "The Horned Angel" with as much energy it has, contains a beautiful intermission-like breakdown. Another thing is that every song stuck with me after I stopped listening to it. Every song has memorable riffs or has parts where Michelle just leaves a burning impression on you with his bombastic vocal styling. For you AFI fans out there, "Spiral Dance" and "Ravenchild" are strongly influenced by the band and could easily be in the their catalogue. As for favorite songs, that'd be tough. That's like asking which of your fingers you'd want to keep but the answer is easy; all of them! I wholeheartedly suggest picking up HELL OUVERTURE because I guarantee that it will have you moving and will keep that horror rock fueled fire in your heart growing and engulfing all that is around it with every track. Reviewed by TJ @ BlackAngelPromotions