Do you remember which metal genres had a spectacular growth during the '90s? Yes, progmetal, black metal for sure, swedish death metal, the whole Pantera/Machine Head sound, and also, the atmospheric genre, from doom/death to gothic metal. Well, Antiqua come from Mexico, and they seem to be influenced by the groups that played a major role in the atmospheric part. Being a quintet, with a female lead singer and the two guitarists growling, I guess they give you the material to imagine everything about their style. Beginning from Paradise Lost of the "Shades Of God" and "Icon" era, adding some elements from the first works of Moonspell, continuing into the early Theater Of Tragedy vein, and adding some black metal and straight heavy metal riffs, solos and rhythms, they make an album that could make you possibly say "oh no, not again!". Fortunately, they don't fall into the mind trap of being totally predictable and thus, extremely boring. Maybe because of the melodic, technical, even folk sometimes, parts they tend to use. Or maybe because of the female vocals, which sometimes remind me of early Anneke (and this is the absolute credit for a female singer, I think). So, if you're not into that genre at all, you won't find the album of the month here. But if you'd like a pessimistic and yet melodic album, for the cold days of winter that are coming, you won't be disappointed. Contact their label, Luna Negra, at lunanegr@sjr.podernet.com.mx.

7/10

Yiannis Vidiadakis