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Siebenburgen: Revelation VI

Siebenburgen: Revelation VI

Melodic Goth/Death/Black Metal
Rating: 2.75/5.0

Recently reunited from a short hiatus and fresh from the studio, Swedish metallers Siebenburgen return with their aptly titled sixth album, 'Revelation VI.' Like their stablemates and metal cousins, Crematory, they come to America from Massacre Records via Blistering Records. Siebenburgen brings their own brand of melodic goth and death metal within a distinctive context. As with many others, most notably fellow sinister dwellers Dimmu Borgir, this band easily mixes melodic and symphonic arrangements with strong riffs and bright keyboards. The vocals, as you would suspect, are primarily growling and guttaral, yet comprehensible from Marcus Ehlin. They are tempered, with often good results, by the stunning voice of Lisa Bohwalli, a sort of lighter dark angel among the other fallen souls.

Most songs on 'Revelation VI' seem to be built upon more of a thrash or speed metal foundation. But most times you have ordinary melodic death metal as on 'Rebirth Of The Nameless' or 'The Oaken Throne.' Additionally, after passing through the intro, it doesn't take long to tire of Ehlin monotonous and unvarying vocals. He is best ignored and can only be ignored when Bohwalli is given opportunity to appear in the forefront as on the better song 'The Souless' or the later, yet not so significant, 'At The End Of Twilight.' Siebenburgen shows strength and listenability when to things happen. The first is when Ehlin is either shut up (not often) or shut out (sometimes) by Bohwalli's beautiful voice. The second is when they drop the strict melodic metal motif to pursue more melodic metal as on 'S.I.N.' and also add some true solo guitar work (very little is found elsewhere).

Fans of melodic gothic and/or death metal will love Siebenburgen's 'Revelation VI.' Despite the monotonous and annoying dirty vocals of Marcus Ehlin (which made it difficult to get through this work), the music is rather appealing and interesting when it pursues more melodic metal rather than the rote formula of their chosen genre. However, though present, this approach is limited on this disc.
  - Craig Hartranft


In Short

Fans of melodic gothic and/or death metal will love Siebenburgen's 'Revelation VI.' Despite the monotonous and annoying dirty vocals of Marcus Ehlin (which made it difficult to get through this work), the music is rather appealing and interesting when it pursues more melodic metal rather than the rote formula of their chosen genre. However, though present, this approach is limited on this disc.

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