CalatrilloZ
The Marionette's Theatre

From the world of theatre is where British Calatrilloz has collected their inspiration for this marionette's theatre. One can be forgiven for having a few doubts about the band when looking at how they've spaced out in black and white make-up and victorian clothing but it's all part of the concept in the band that say they should make a show out of their music - and they take this show all the way, not just in how they look but also the sound of their music, their lyrics and everything else. It might sound ambitious and like they've gone for the bombastic sound of Avantasia and similar acts but fact is that this deathship has a captain with completely different coordinates than Mr Sammets swamp in mind.

Callatrilloz play some sort of neo gothic doom metal, I suppose would be the best way to describe it. The songs on 'The Marionette's Theatre' are no more than five if you count them but actually two of these are radio edits form two of the three other tracks on this album, making the number of tracks three. Despite this humble number of song I must say I find this sail mysteriously good and had it only been a few more tracks of this quality I would literarily hunt people and chase them to the nearest Calatrilloz store because this is nothing but dramatically poetic musicianship of highest calibre.

The problem in my book is the sparse number of tracks. Plenty of bands can make three good songs, that doesn't make them great because everything else they do might be of junkyard quality. With Calatrilloz we can identify the qualities from far in their recording quality, sound, instrumental handling and vocals - which all sounds amazing - but if the rest of the songs they do sounds completely the same or plainly dull that counts for nothing more than these three songs. I've encountered so many bands with a couple of great tunes, similar to those on 'The Marionette's Theatre', but that can't withold this quality when it comes to full-length. I'm not saying Callatrilloz will do that and the intelligence the band shows in these three songs suggest they won't because these vocal harmonies in choirs in the choruses and wild mix of instrumental ideas as well as the number of small details with tricks up their sleeves are nothing but genious.

So even if this release only have five tracks, where no more than three are unique, I think 'The Marionette's Theatre' hints something really great is about to be released upon us. Can they make another five of seven songs with this quality it will be one of the greatest albums from this genre! Until then we just have to settle with what we got - three fantastic songs you really should check out as soon as possible!

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