Italian prog metal veterans Eldritch return with their thirteenth studio album, “Innervoid”, only two years after the previous one. The main difference between this one and prior releases is the vocals. Terence Holler, the band’s original vocalist, had to step down due to retirement reasons; thus, the guys needed to find a new vocalist that would match their style above all. And they didn’t have to seek far cuz their co-patriot Alex Jarusso (Silver P., Heavy Blues Fondation, ex-Shining Fury) was the best possible replacement. Alex’s voice is nothing like Terence’s, as his vocals are more powerful and gritty. Other than this, the other members are the same: Eugene Simone on guitars, Rudj Ginanneschi on guitars, Oleg Smirnoffon on keyboards, Raffahell Dridge on drums, and Dario Lastrucci on bass.
The band delves into darker and more aggressive areas on the new album while maintaining their characteristic melodic sensibilities. The production is dynamic, tight, and punchy. The album was recorded and produced by Eugene Simone and Eldritch at ES Studio & Magnitudo Studio, and mixed & mastered by Simone Mularoni (The Ferrymen, Elvenking, Secret Sphere, Temperance, Thorium, etc.) at Domination Studio. The guitars are razor sharp, the drums pound away with relentless ferocity, and the keyboards provide a lush, atmospheric background. Alex’s passionate and emotive performances round out the band’s sound, making it even fuller. Needless to say, the musicianship is excellent.
“Innervoid” is a bold and ambitious album that pushes Eldritch’s sound to new heights. The darker and more emotive approach of the album is not a departure from their roots but rather a natural evolution of their sound. There are lots of tracks to delve into, but my favorites are: “Born on Cold Ash”, “Elegy of Lust”, “To the End”, “Wings of Emptiness” (an amazing & emotional semi-ballad), “From the Stars” (which has a “strange” dance-like intro), and “Black Bedlam”.
“Innervoid” is a must-listen for fans of prog metal and heavy/power metal music in general. It’s a well-crafted and cohesive album that shows Eldritch’s ongoing evolution as a band over the years.
