Coronatus - Porta Obscura
End of 2004 / early 2005 Coronatus found itself a stable lineup, which resulted in a deal with Massacre Records. This collaboration resulted in a late 2007 release of Coronatus’ debut record Lux Noctis. A little over a year later, with two substitutes in the lineup, they already hit the market with their second full-length, Porta Obscura. The German band, fronted by two ladies, at least shows us that they don’t have the intention to drown in the overcrowded pool of gothic metal bands.
Unfortunately I am not in the position to compare Porta Obscura with its predecessor, so the effect of adding a second guitarist to the lineup isn’t clear for me. What is clear however, is that this seven-piece definitely made a decent album. Every element in their music sounds as it is supposed to sound and both the singers have a beautiful voice that fit the music well. On the other side it also sounds exactly as you would imagine after reading about a German gothic metal band with two front ladies (classical soprano and rock singer) that plays songs which include lyrics in German, English and Latin.
Besides this predictability some songs on this record would probably be better off with a small amount of male backing vocals. One of the bonus tracks, ‘Volles Leben (2002)’, is primarily sung by a male and although it isn’t world class, it fits the music (better). All in all this is a fine record to buy for you gothic metal fans. Other metalheads will probably think this is just another 13 in a dozen band and although they’re partially right, Porta Obscura is definitely entertaining.
67/1001Details Massacre Records
Released on Friday Nov 28th, 2008
Gothic Metal
Writer @Gilles on Tuesday Apr 28th, 2009
Tags: #Coronatus
Tracklisting
01. Prologue
02. Exitus
03. Fallen
04. In Silence
05. Beauty In Black
06. Cast My Spell
07. In Your Hands
08. Mein Herz
09. Am Kreuz
10. Der Vierte Reiter
11. Strahlendster Erster
12. Flos Obscura (Bonus Track)
13. Volles Leben (2002) (Bonus Track)
02. Exitus
03. Fallen
04. In Silence
05. Beauty In Black
06. Cast My Spell
07. In Your Hands
08. Mein Herz
09. Am Kreuz
10. Der Vierte Reiter
11. Strahlendster Erster
12. Flos Obscura (Bonus Track)
13. Volles Leben (2002) (Bonus Track)
Line up
Carmen R. Schäfer - Soprano vocals
Ada Flechtner - Vocals
Johann Frey - Guitars
Jo Lang - Guitars
Fabian Merkt - Keyboards
Chrizdi Anno -Bass
Mats Kurth - Drums
Ada Flechtner - Vocals
Johann Frey - Guitars
Jo Lang - Guitars
Fabian Merkt - Keyboards
Chrizdi Anno -Bass
Mats Kurth - Drums
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