Album Review: ExpiatoriA – Shadows – Live (Diamonds Production)

Carl Fisher 2 min read

ExpiatoriA, the Italian heavy doom band present ‘Shadows – Live’, a live recording of their debut album. Performed in the band’s hometown of Genoa, at a show that took place at L’Angelo Azzurro on 16th March 2024.

The live recording will be released digitally and as a limited-edition hand-numbered cassette (111) on September 6th, 2024, via Diamonds Prod.

It speaks volumes about the quality of this recording that it feels like this is the next best thing to actually seeing them perform live. Not just because of how enjoyable their retro heavy doom sound is, but because this live recording is imperfect in a number of ways. Which might sound like a negative, but it’s not, provided you’re not after a live recording that mimics a studio release. If you want to hear Shadows as a pristine recording, the album exists. This is a rawer rendition that gives each track a totally different vibe.

That’s fun and while the album doesn’t have the ‘crowd’ side of a live recording (There is noise, but not a lot), it really does capture the power of ExpiatoriA’s sound. They might be an even more impressive force live than they are on record.

 

 

Is this your first time experiencing Shadows though? Welcome to the dark side and the sound of delectable sinister doom metal. Where immense heaviness can sit so comfortably alongside dramatic melodies. Shadows has a lot to showcase and ExpiatoriA’s talents are on full display across its substantial runtime. Reflected, of course, in this live recording.

There are many standout moments but few are as brilliant as what Ombra offers, a track that combines everything brilliant about this band and sounds even more intense live. Then there is peppier moodiness of Sublicius, a track that conjures up horror-infused images, and the excellent doom sermon that is Chairs and A Portrait. ExpiatoriA really do sound fantastic here.

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ExpiatoriA – Shadows – Live Track Listing:

1. Intro
2. When Darkness Falls
3. Ombra
4. The Wrong Side of Love
5. Sublicius
6. Chairs and A Portrait
7. The Asylum of The Damned
8. Krieg
9. Outro
10. Bonus Track




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ExpiatoriA – Shadows – Live (Diamonds Production)
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