Shifting Realities

After making a promising debut album in 1999, the Italian gothic metal band Dakrua returned with an even stronger sophomore effort. Released in 2002 by the same lineup (Eva Rondinelli on vocals, Alessandro Buono on guitars, William Quattrone on bass and vocals, Davide Sangiovanni on drums and Marco Lo Cascio on keyboards), their album Shifting Realities showcases the band's creativity and talent, but with a newfound maturity and focus lacking in their first record.

The decisive step towards a more accomplished LP consists in amalgamating the impressive array of styles the band explored on the debut (gothic metal, prog, blues/soul) into a more cohesive and coherent whole. This partly means they had to pare down the weight of some of these influences on their sound, firmly rooting it in gothic metal aesthetics. The guitars, previously dominating with leads and riffs, take on a more rhythmic role, providing a solid and groovy foundation for the songs. Marco Lo Cascio's synths play a prominent leading role, reducing the metallic component of the compositions and steering them towards a melodic and atmospheric direction. The song structures are tighter, with fewer twists and turns, and place more emphasis on the choruses. The interplay between gruff male vocals and melodic female vocals resembles the style of Lacuna Coil, as seen in tracks like "Ephemerae" and "Divine Masquerade". Both singers, Eva Rondinelli and Walter Quattrone, show clear improvement compared to their 1999 album, demonstrating better control of their pitch and delivery. While Eva may have remained the better performer of the two, the dual voice approach achieves a much better balance.

Despite the stronger emphasis on gothic metal, other influences are skilfully blended into Dakrua's sound, as well. Sophisticated instrumental arrangements display their passion for progressive rock/metal in songs like "Ephemerae," "The Waiting," and "Divine Masquerade". Eva Rondinelli's soulful vocals and Alessandro Buono's gritty riffs reveal a penchant for hard rock in "Of Life and Will". The album’s standout track, "The Outer Void", showcases a terrific Sabbathian guitar riff that propels the song into doom metal territory. Thanks to these diverse influences, Shifting Realities remains an enthralling and compelling listen from start to finish. Despite incorporating different styles, the album maintains cohesiveness, avoiding the mishmash present in their 1999 debut.

Shifting Realities also boasts excellent production by Giuseppe Orlando, the drummer of Novembre. The album has clarity without excessive polish, and the mix achieves a well-balanced sound, blending the various instruments and voices effectively. However, one aspect the album may lack is the presence of stronger, more memorable hooks. While all the songs features pleasant melodies, none are truly seared into one's memory. With the addition of two or three standout tracks containing stronger melodies, this album could have easily become a small masterpiece of European gothic metal.

Although it fell short of masterpiece status, Shifting Realities remains a strong album that injects originality and freshness into a genre that already by 2002 was already becoming inflated. It is unfortunate that Dakrua disbanded after this LP. One can't help but feel that their next album, had they ever released one, could have been the breakthrough record that propelled them to greater success.

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