Unlike other bands, Septicflesh don’t release their albums quite often, one in three years at an average. Their last album Codex Omega was released in 2017 but the new album can’t be expected earlier than 2021, Christos Antoniou talked about this in interview. Nevertheless, three years already passed and in the end of July the band releases a live DVD called Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX.
Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX was recorded in Metropolitan Theater in Mexico City with Symphonic Experience Orchestra, Enharmonía Vocalis Choir and National University of Mexico Children’s and Youth Choir, overall more than 100 musicians on the stage and expected sold out. And this darkest and heaviest magnificence is greatly shown in DVD.
There are lots of metal bands who performed with symphonic orchestras (it was some kind of trend at some moment). The most well-known are probably Metallica‘s notorious S&M or Moment Of Glory from Scorpions. Some more “extreme” bands like Dimmu Borgir or Satyricon had also made great shows with orchestra. But Septicflesh are standing out on this background: if most of bands firstly make Metal music and then join it with orchestra, Septicflesh initially make some monumental music with orchestration and after that produce it into the form of Metal. This is Christos Antoniou’s merit: he has classic musical education and besides Septicflesh he also writes the music for movies and video games. Therefore Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX is the real Septicflesh, how it should be, not constrained with some limits of clubs and timing.
“Monumental” is the most appropriate word to describe this piece of art: a huge scene, filled with musicians entirely, choirs on the second tier, huge statues in the hall and no empty seat – this is truly majestic image. A contrast between the band in their stage outfits and musicians’ elegant clothes is also great.
Septicflesh make an excellent show. Christos and Dinos “Psychon” Prassas are fully given to their playing, Spiros Antoniou interacts with crowd greatly and Sotiris Vayenas is magnificently infernal here. The drummer Kerim “Krimh” Lecher, former Decapitated member also deserves a special presentation: symbolically sitting in the center of the scene (probably it is because of acoustic issues, but anyway), he delivers technical and solid drumming turning into real core of the band not only visually.
There are no complaints about the sound: all instruments, the orchestra and choirs can be heard very well and legibly. Nevertheless, there is no “presence effect” because the huge crowd in a place with great acoustic is very silent, but you can trust me, it’s not the problem at all; Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX is not just a live DVD, but something very outstanding and I really hope Septicflesh will do such concerts again. The picture, from my layperson point of view is great also: lots of cameras, color correction and pretty good shots. However, my friend George Lazurenko, professional videographer and director, noticed some minor lacks like people out of focus from time to time, but this is on his professional view, which notices every little thing. And, in my opinion, it’s a really good thing to show excited fans in the line near the entrance in the beginning and also show leaving fans after the concert and talk to them, to hear their thoughts about what they saw.
Anyway, Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX is incredibly deep, atmospheric and, like I said earlier, monumental piece of art. You immerse deep into it and can’t get enough of it. It’s that case when picture’s worth a thousand words. Spectacular work!
DVD Infernus Sinfonica MMXIX will be released on July, 31 via Season Of Mist
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