Album Review: Ponte Del Diavolo – Fire Blades From the Tomb (Season of Mist)

Fire Blades from the Tomb is the debut album from blackened doom metal band, Ponte Del Diavolo. It will be released on February 16th, 2024, via Season of Mist.

What a unique offering this album is. Ponte Del Diavolo do the impossible on Fire Blades from the Tomb, and give blackened-infused doom metal a fresh coat of gloom. Done via a clever combination of having two basses, ethereal-style vocals that have plenty of power too, and those vocals being sung in Italian at times. All of this, with its old school black and doom flavour makes this album feel sound quite special.

It is a very strong start with Demone, as Ponte Del Diavolo unleash a hail of black noise, but flip the script with these thumping doomy tempo drops. All while the vocals wrap around the mind like a death shroud. It’s a great start to this album, and all the proof anyone needs that this album has a bit more to offer than the standard blackened doom fare.

How about Covenant though? Ponte Del Diavolo adding in thick layers of dark atmosphere, and really showcasing what two basses can bring. This is a track that worms its way under the skin, with an allure that can only ever come from quality doom. Then there is the discomfort created by Red as The Sex of She Who Lives in Death, Ponte Del Diavolo crafting a deliciously wicked sound here. Before La Razza turns the tone even darker, as the band take a more measured approach to things, and start to flex a more ‘epic’ side to their doom and black sound. Here, the word experimental certainly applies.

Although it’s fair to say that the whole album has an experimental flavour. Ponte Del Diavolo continue to find new ways to make an old sound interesting. Consistently surprising as the likes of Nocturnal Veil adds thicker sounding instrumentation that pulls directly from the withered soul of black metal and Zero adds a massive amount of dark and doomy drama. Beyond lovable heaviness.

Which is why there is a slight sense of sadness that the album wraps up with The Weeping Song, even if 40+ minutes of music is more than enough. Ponte Del Diavolo have done such a great job of captivating with this album, why would anyone want it to end? However, end it must and they sure go out with a bang. A brash and brilliant showcase of the blacker side of the band’s sound, with moody tempo shifts that retain the doom flavour, while also being thick with atmosphere. The vocal switch-up here is unexpected, but it really refreshes things and makes this one of the strongest tracks overall.

Ponte Del Diavolo – Fire Blades from the Tomb Track Listing:

1. Demone
2. Covenant
3. Red as The Sex of She Who Lives in Death
4. La Razza
5, Nocturnal Veil
6. Zero
7. The Weeping Song

Links

Apple Music | Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Season of Mist