Italy’s Tragodia are not doing anything new in the realms of romantic Gothic metal, as their synth backed, catchy yet despondent riffs and male/female vocal trade off has been perfected by the likes of Thalarion, Beseech and Lacuna Coil, but it’s an acceptable entry into the genre.

An expected, crisp clean (Finnvox Studio) production delivers the crunchy, somber riffs while Carlo Belanni croons and occasionally growls with the assistance of Valentina Turati’s operatic lungs. It’s a formula that’s all too common on European shores, and Tragodia are hardly re-inventing the wheel, but it’s not completely worthless as a few riffs here and there are certainly worth your time if you are fan of the genre.

Turati’s and Belanni’s vocals (growls and croons) and the low key synths are never over the top or domineering as the riffs take center stage, with a sound and pace reminiscent of the Finnish doom/death scene (above and beyond the Finnvox production) due to their chunky but layered and despondency filled trot (think Rapture). . Tracks like “Forsaken Dreams”, “Icons in a Wasteland”, “Elegy of the Restless” and “Downfall of The Ancients” have a thicker, deeper presence that’s a bit more hefty than the Napalm style of Gothic metal. However, expected dramatic ballads like “Love Among the Ruins” and instrumental “Deep Space Confine” deliver softer, more delicate moments of Gothic mood.

A solid release, and the better of the recent Dark Balance Gothic metal efforts.

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