Search - Diablo Swing Orchestra :: Butcher's Ballroom

Requiem, invite them all in...

S. Esin | New York, USA | 09/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"We have a unique piece in our hands. I'm pretty sure that for an average metal listener, operatic female vocals and male/female dual vocal combination is nothing new (Lacuna Coil, Nightwish, anyone?). For the experimentor, splicing together different and irrelevant genres is nothing new also.



Diablo Swing Orchestra, on the other hand, is new all around.



The Butcher's Ballroom consists of thirteen tracks and each track, while following pretty much the same pattern, manages to amaze and stupefy. The musical influences of D:S:O include but are not limited to dark cabaret, at times disco (Balrog Boogie and Gunpowder Chant), flamenco, opera, classical (or neo-classical, more appropriately), rock (hard rock) and metal (heavy metal) and jazz. The vocals, whether screaming or moaning, are a perfect fit to it, never once losing their charm; for each of the songs, this part cherishes that part. The music is unique and often times challenging with harmonies layered atop each other - and not to mention ''Pink Noise Waltz'' where they managed to squeeze 4-4 beat riffs and melodies into a classical 3-beat waltz rhythm. The guitar work is at times pretty well-known, using classical hard-rock/heavy-metal structure (save for the Spanish guitar partitions where they use mariachi styles); however, the guitars, while an integral part, only serve to emphasize the other instruments - that of cello, some wind instruments (trumpet, for instance), and the glorious keyboards using the term versitality to its fullest.



Lyrically, while along the same line with avant garde metal's abstract and often nonsensically painful (and often dark) lyrics D:S:O shares a tender side - the writing is skillful enough to at times make you feel the silky tenderness sliding across the songs.



Now; who will this album satisfy? Pretty much everybody - those who like experimentation, those who like unique stuff, those who want to hear something wicked, rock, metal and general music fans alike."

I'm flabbergasted.

P. Walczak | 10/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First I'd like to start off by saying that I'm actually pretty good friends with these guys (online, that is) and they are extremely wonderful people and are truly sincere. Okay, now for the review (it intertwines a bit of background information, so just bear with me):



When I first came upon the band Diablo Swing Orchestra, I was introduced to the song "Balrog Boogie" via Sonic Cathedral's "Siren's Radio". Immediately, the riveting, operatic vocals of DSO' s front woman, Annlouice, caught my attention. I was taken somewhat by surprise when the song finished playing, since the music seemed to be more daring than other femme metal bands out there. I was skeptical though, and ignorantly cast them off as being just another band that was only good for one trick or so and that had an album stuffed with as many raging guitar solos and overused choral effects as Splenda, most likely, has artificial ingredients. I was soon to find out, however, that to prejudge this band was utterly stupid of me.



When curiosity became irritating enough, I finally got myself to listen to the song "Heroines" posted on DSO's myspace. The song started off with an eerie feel to it...as if someone had taken the infamous theme song to "Jaws" and seasoned it a bit. Suddenly however, the song burst into what seemed to be a tango-like beat and was followed by the vocals of Annlouice who, during the beginning of the song, had been singing in a mellow tone, almost teasing the listener with the idea that at any moment she could unleash her ultimate vocal power. About a minute or so in, the song began to pick up a bit- and unleash her vocal abilities Annoulice did. The song still seemed to tease a bit though- for the amazing vocalist dotted about every note in between her incredible range and yet still pursued her mellow tones during certain spots in the song. Finally, the song ended with its recognizable tango-esque beat and the beautiful overtone of a strong violin. The song was magnificent...and left me addicted.



About a week later, I received the DSO CD...and, now, I was expecting to really enjoy its contents. The first song I listened to was entitled "Poetic Pitbull Revolutions" which started off with sort of a Mexican atmosphere and the subtle sound of a Spanish horn of some sort, followed by a strong trumpet effect. I was again amazed. The song's middle consisted of Annlouice and Daniel, the other vocalist of the band, exchanging their wonderful vocals that flowed in perfect harmony with one another and gave the listener a nice preview as to what was to come. You could almost hear the deep inhales of Annlouice before she went to resonate another passionate and intense verse in the song. It was truly extraordinary. Between the instruments and bombastic feel of the voices, the song surrounds you in cloud of atmospheric sounds that is not of this world and completely pulls your mind into another place of unique unfamiliarity and serenity all in the same.



The rest of the CD basically follows up to the great potential of the first two songs, and even gives a few slower songs, such as "D'angelo" to ease the listener a bit before launching them back into the world of stunning, intense, and unearthly music that DSO has seemed to create. I promise you that this CD is nothing like you have ever heard...and to even call it femme metal (as some do) is an offensive statement- for this band has birthed something that definitely exceeds the expectations of any other femme metal band out there. I strongly advise anyone to get this CD, for not only is the music wonderfully complex but it is far beyond just another work that shocks the listener with its beginning passages and then wears down after four or five listens. No, this CD never tires- and that is why DSO has to have one of the greatest album of this year, even excluded of the fact that they have founded something that is guaranteed to have never touched the ears of any music fan before. Congratulations to them...they've done a wonderful job."

Great!

aikanae | scottsdale, az | 12/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm just listening to the first time and I love them. Every song is a surpise. Like one reviewer said, the lead does have a very operatic style but it works so well with the music I can't imagine anything else. They have the heavy metallic beat (and I'm not particularly a fan), suddendly breaking into more of a ska sound, or marachaci, or country rock, or eastern, and yes there's a digaroo, followed by straight progressive. I like Within Temptation, but Diablo Swing Orchestra is more experimental, they throw more into the mix. They remind me more of Symphony X or System of a Down."