Deathless Legacy – Mater Larvarum

Deathless Legacy
Mater Larvarum
Label: Scarlet Records
Out: December 9^th, 2022
Playing time: 53:19

Deathless Legacy from Tuscany (Italy) have existed since 2006, originally under the name “Deathless”. As a Death SS tribute band. They changed their name in 2013, the year in which their debut album “Rise From The Grave” was released. The press release speaks of the “sixth chapter in the band’s haunting Horror Metal saga”. However, the Encyclopaedia Metallum only lists four albums released so far and a few singles. Thus, “Mater Larvarum” would be the band’s fifth album. The album was recorded in the Italian Eden Studios. The songs were mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio (San Marino). Drummer Andrea Falaschi is responsible for the artwork and the video clips. In the band the musicians use stage names, the real names below I also found on Encyclopaedia Metallum.

“Ora Pro Nobis” starts with sacred choir vocals before the drums start booming and the rhythm section kicks in. Steva’s vocals are powerful and in the mid-range. The genre description “Heavy Metal” from the already mentioned Encyclopaedia Metallum fits it quite well. In “Nightfall”, the distorted guitars fry at first. This is followed by rhythmic drumming, underpinned by keyboards that are clearly audible but do not seem intrusive. The song is much quieter. Steva sings here with a pleasantly dark timbre. With “Hollow”, the Italians pick up some speed again. And the singer shows how changeable her voice is. Sometimes scratchy, sometimes slightly poppy. “Fade Into The Dark” starts with piano sounds, but also here it gets much harder a short time later. But without neglecting the catchy melodies. The omnipresent keyboards make sure of that. “The Coven” then offers high-speed metal, with driving drumming and fast riffs. The singer easily keeps up with this tempo. After so much unbridled energy, the rhythmic “Moonless Night” sounds almost restful. While the musicians gallop forward again on “Queen Of The Infernal Pantheon”. The vocals are also a bit rougher again.  But “Altar Of Bones” seems majestic, even anthemic. The song title “Run” lives up to its name. Frenetic and hectic like a middle-distance sprint. Deathless Legacy have saved the title track “Mater Larvarum” for last. Once again, sacred chants can be heard, accompanied by clean guitars. This hymn forms the crowning conclusion. And is rightly the eponym of the album.

With “Mater Larvarum”, the Italians have released a very good album. You can feel and hear the experience and skill of the musicians in every corner. The band seems well-rehearsed, as most of the members have been with the band for many years. The Heavy Metal, spiced up with various Symphonic elements, is more than just worth listening to.

Deathless Legacy – Moonless Night (Official Video): https://youtu.be/KS3Pd7G1AQ0

Lineup:

Steva (Eleonora Steva Vaiana) – Vocals
Sgt. Bones (Gianni Capecchi aka El “Calàver”) – Guitar
Alex van Eden (Alessio Lucatti) – Keyboards
Deadwood Nick (Nicola D’Alessio) – Bass
Frater Orion (Andrea Falaschi) – Drums
Revyla (Revyla Zirael) – Performances

Track list:

• Ora Pro Nobis
• Nightfall
• Hollow
• Fade Into The Dark
• The Coven
• Absolution
• Moonless Night
• Queen Of The Infernal Pantheon
• Altar Of Bones
• Run
• Mater Larvarum