Walk in Darkness – On The Road To Babylon

Walk In Darkness
On The Road To Babylon
November 6, 2020
47:01

The only band member you know is singer Nicoletta Rosellini (Kalidia). The rest is in the dark. Or rather, hidden under black hoods. The musicians are better able to hide their identity than e.g. Ghost. In 2017 and 2018 the band released two albums exactly one year apart. This suggested that album number three could follow on February 17, 2019. However, this rhythm could not be kept. Among other things, because the singer and her main band Kalidia also released a new album in 2018 with “The Frozen Throne”. So the fans of the mystical band had to wait two and a half years. “On The Road To Babylon” was released in early November.

How will it go on with Walk in Darkness, I kept asking myself. The opener “The Sound Of Rain” gives the first answers. Piano sounds can be heard first, followed by vocalises by the singer. It’s almost a tradition. But the introduction is only short, hard riffs are already popping out of the speakers, accompanied by bitter growls (Emiliano Pasquinelli). But as soon as Nicoletta steps in with her clear but dark timbre it becomes clear. We are dealing with a classic symphonic metal song. Of course, this also includes the cliché of the interplay between “Beauty and the Beast”. But Walk in Darkness celebrate that very confidently, without any embarrassment, as is often heard. I’ve already written enough about the excellent guitar work in previous reviews. This can also be heard here again. The title track “On The Road To Babylon” is much quieter. Acoustic guitars initially dominate. The singer goes a little deeper in her voice. A first beautiful ballad. With bonds from Doom Metal. With “Walk On The Sky” the Italians are going to work heavier again. With this mid-tempo song, they impressively show that you can combine beautiful melodies with metallic heavyness. “On The Moon Or On Mars” sounds a bit darker again. Quiet melodic rock with a Gothic Metal edge then offers “Nothing”. Another resting point on the album. The following is also varied. Whether with a mixture of metallic heavyness and a lot of epic (“In The Mists Of Time”). Or the extremely melodic “My Restless Wings”. There is a guest appearance by singer Elisabetta Bettini. One of the first single on the album, “Time To Rise” starts as a (power) ballad. Thanks to the catchy melody, the varied arrangement and the musical tempo increase towards the end, this is probably the highlight of the album (next to the title track). The quietly grooving bouncer “Critical System Failure” is introduced by industrial sounds. Later, however, the powerful bass and the gentle voice of Nicoletta Rosellini dominate.

Walk in Darkness has once again managed to record an extremely atmospheric album. There isn’t much that is new to hear compared to its predecessors. But why should you fundamentally change a successful style? Of course, “On The Road To Babylon” also lives from the charismatic voice of Nicoletta Rosellini. And their colleagues know exactly how to musically put this voice in an excellent scene. The faceless musicians have mastered their instruments perfectly. And mastermind Shaman has once again managed to write varied and soulful music.

Walk in Darkness – On The Road To Babylon: https://youtu.be/PfNZbIdphgM

Lineup:

Monk Key – Bass
Arcanus – Drums
Shaman – Guitars
Nicoletta Rosellini – Vocals

Special guest:

Emiliano Pasquinelli – Growls, Vocals
Elisabetta Bettini – Vocals

Tracklist:

• The Sound Of Rain
• On The Road To Babylon
• Walk On The Sky
• On The Moon Or On Mars
• Nothing
• In The Mists Of Time
• My Restless Wings
• Time To Rise
• Critical System Failure