::: Klimt 1918 - Undressed_Momento_Walls_of

Klimt 1918 "Undressed Momento"

The fledgeling Italian label My Kingdom Music is beginning to establish a rather interesting roster for themselves. Having released the Deinonychus disc earlier this year along with the extremely impressive debut from Norway's Crowhead, their penchant for signing bands that pursue the dark wave, melancholic Gothic metal style is now gaining the label some well-deserved attention. Local Italian act 'Klimt 1918' are only going to solidify that interest.
'Klimt 1918' are a very new band having only formed in 2001 when Marco Soellner (guitar & vocals) and Paolo Soellner were the only members left of 'Another Day' a progressive death metal band they formed as far back as 1996. Having inked a two album deal with MKM on the back of a well-received demo-cd, 'Klimt 1918' are now and truly entrenched in the atmospheric Gothic rock sound. Having said that, this act (fleshed out by Davide Pesola – bass & Alessandro Pace – guitar) incorporate many other styles and as a result they are a little more progressive and inventive with their sound.
Listening to "Undressed Momento" recalls many outstanding melancholic metal acts – if you are at all partial to "Eternity"-period Anathema, the lighter introspective and minimalist persona of 'Katatonia' and Dan Swano's "Nightingale", you will find 'Klimt 1918' to be very adept in using such quality influences and weaving them throughout their dreamy, melodic laden compositions. The Goth element is of course a major aspect of their style, with the influences from the likes of Lacuna Coil and Novembre (particularly on "Stalingrad Theme"). The progressive element in Klimt 1918's music is via their use of the colder dark wave elements that is scattered throughout this nine-track affair. "That Girl" has a very 'The Cure' like introduction before plunging into an excellent Anathema like melodic riff. Add other elements that recall 'Depeche Mode' and 'Porcupine Tree' (particularly on the excellent title track - the Katatonia vibe is very strong in the chorus on this also) and this album is much more than a straight up Goth-metal disc.
The production of "UM" is rather warm (despite it dark melancholic musical stance) and clean in its shimmer-like guitar lines. The emotive and well-delivered vocals from Marco only fortify this aspect. As a result, "UM" is not a 'heavy' record sound wise (hell, your mother might even like it), however with some noted double bass runs and an underlying 'dark' feel, this disc still offers up its fair share of power. I'd be looking for the band to up the ante a little more on their next release.
The rather dull album cover is slightly troublesome, but overall, I am rather taken with the quality of the disc. And I did have some initial reservations about the 'Italian' angle as some of this country's Goth-metal acts can suffer with their quirky song writing and language wise. With their gamut of influences 'Klimt 1918' actually sound more like a Northern European or British act than anything representing their own heritage. Highly recommended for fans of emotive dark-wave meets Gothic-rock.