Inner Wastelands

Dakrua was an Italian progressive gothic metal band that released two albums at the turn of the millennium via Scarlet Records. Their debut album, Inner Wastelands, was released in 1999, followed by Shifting Realities in 2002, after which the band went into hibernation and remains inactive to this day. At first glance, Dakrua appears to be a standard gothic metal lineup with two singers (male and female), keyboards, guitars, and drums/bass. However, Dakrua differs from many other bands in the genre at that time and is more challenging to categorize.

What sets Dakrua apart? The key factor is the wide range of influences they incorporate in Inner Wastelands. Gothic metal is an obvious reference, and the comparisons to their more famous compatriots, Lacuna Coil, are relevant. The atmospheres are velvety and melancholic, with Eva Rondinelli's dark timbre and William Quattrone's crooning style reminiscent of Moonspell's Fernando Ribeiro enhancing the somber melodies. However, Dakrua also ventures into styles that deviate significantly from the gothic genre's aesthetics. Progressive metal is one of those styles, evident in the intricate arrangements that revolve around the complex interplay of distorted guitar riffs/leads, bombastic keyboard orchestrations, acoustic guitars, and bass countermelodies. The song structures are fluid and intricate, featuring frequent tempo changes and dynamic swings, while the vocals shift continuously between growls, male cleans, and female cleans. The playing is highly proficient, and Alessandro Buono's fast and precise style evokes power and neoclassical metal influences. The combination of power/progressive metal elements with gothic/romantic aesthetics was quite unusual at the time (and still is today), making Inner Wastelands an enticing and refreshing proposition. Furthermore, slight blues rock and soul influences emerge, especially in Eva Rondinelli's passionate and soulful delivery ("Of Chaos"), pushing the album in yet another surprising direction.

The album's exploration of diverse directions across its ten tracks creates an exciting, albeit slightly chaotic, listening experience. As one goes through Inner Wastelands, they are uncertain about what the next song will bring, and there is a sense of adventurousness that many contemporary acts lacked. However, maintaining focus and coherence is a challenge that Inner Wastelands only partially succeeds in achieving. It seems that at this stage of their brief career, Dakrua lacked the maturity and sophistication to channel their multitude of ideas into a cohesive end-product that flows seamlessly from start to finish. The dazzling variation in styles and influences ultimately leaves the listener both puzzled and enticed.

There are also other drawbacks, such as the occasionally tentative vocal performances and the sound production. Eva Rondinelli is an impressive singer, but at times she can come across as unnatural and slightly pretentious when trying too hard to impress ("Amor, Vita, Mors," "To the Sun"). William Quattrone is not as strong a singer as Eva, and his performance is not always pitch-perfect and well-delivered. Overall, it’s fair to say that on Inner Wastelands, there is a noticeable gap between the instrumentalists' proficiency and that of the band's vocalists, ultimately dragging down the entire album. The production is also a detrimental factor. Maurizio Brioschi's choices in production seem more suited for a pop or R&B album than a metal record. The sound is excessively clean and polished, with the vocals pushed prominently upfront in the mix, and there is too much separation between the various instruments, to the point where they sometimes feel disconnected from each other ("Of Chaos"). The overall result doesn't work as intended, highlighting how the wrong type of production can undermine an entire piece of music.

For these reasons, it’s safe to say that Inner Wastelands is far from being a masterpiece. However, it is an interesting and impressive debut record that showcases a band with clear talent and creativity. In fact, considering the range of influences and directions explored here, one could argue that Dakrua were ahead of their time, embracing an eclectic ambition that may be considered commonplace today but was viewed with suspicion by diehard metal fans in the late 1990s. Eventually, Dakrua would realize their potential on their 2002 LP, Shifting Realities, which may in fact be an even better introduction to the band for those unfamiliar with them.

[Review written for the 11th Diamhea Memorial Review Challenge]