Symptoms III by Maladie

The disease has many faces, which makes it likewise dangerous and fascinating in a unique way. At the same time, the symptoms are as diverse as the later manifestations.

The etiology dates the initiation of MALADIE to the year 2009. Since then, four albums have been released as well as two EPs under the banner “…Symptoms“. The third cycle “…Symptoms III…” follows the path of its predecessors, but it also surprises all along the line. From beginning to end, the band from the German city Ludwigshafen named their style “plague metal”. This genre will be enriched a lot by the new songs while they also redefine it in a way. They only give a hint via the melancholic mood that they are rooted in avantgarde black metal, because this time the songs are presented in a fully acoustic manner, which makes them even more intense. ‘Excidium – The Innocent Child’ starts with an Italo Western vibe until the saxophone kicks in to build a bridge with its dreamy melody for the fragile vocals, that sing about leaving the impartiality of former days behind. In ‘Nihilum – The Shield Effect’ and ‘Tenebrae – No More Pain’ you can hear the piano that creates the heavy fundament for lamenting lyrics about searching and self-accusations. One can seek the exit in ‘Inanimentum - One Last Farewell’, an intriguing interplay between acoustic guitars and saxophone which makes a desire for darkness audible and noticeable. The final ‘Decretum - The Passage’ marks the end for this emotional piece of art with its haunting orchestrations.

This collection of songs could not fit any better into current times, because it is introverted and self-reflective. As a result, an intimate atmosphere emerges, that impossibly could get any denser.