The mastermind behind Black Yet Full of Stars, Carlo M. Dini, an Italian composer living and working in The Netherlands, breathed life into Dark Wing Gospel to explore the dynamics of orchestral sounds in a metal setting, and to create a challenging production of what he has learned since settling in to the role of a film scoring professional in his own company in Amsterdam.
A collective contribution of 15 musicians in total, the album creates a dark playground with elements of power, symphonic, orchestral, progressive, and heavy metal, powerful riffs, blasting drums, and strong vocals in clean and harsh spheres.
An opening of quiet indecipherable whispers building into an ominous instrumental arrangement and chorale chants, Dark Wing Gospel begins with the track Halom Shacor, an arrangement of heavy metal blended with soaring vocals from Davide Penna and gravelly growls from Ludovico Cioffi (Delain, Modern Age Slavery, Nightland), and a giant wall of symphonic sounds, which sneakily blends into The Great Work – displaying a huge haunting choir over chugging riffs (all guitars written and performed by Dini), and slotted double bass drums from Michiel van der Plicht (Pestilence, God Dethroned, ex-Carach Angren), while portraying a lyrical story of rituals and spiritual necromancy.
According to Dini, the dichotomy and contrast of clean and harsh vocals represent the split personality and internal arguments between a person’s intents of good VS evil, and was inspired when Dini discovered psychologist Carl Jung’s writings on alchemy.
“Nigredo, Foulest Servant” (which was released on video in November 2024, see above) opens suddenly with a dramatic wall of sound, playing into an apocalyptic and dramatic energy, and includes a guest guitar solo from Yannick Sieburg.
Like an ominous fairytale, “Albedo, Ancient Heart” is introduced with a humble and enchanting movie soundtrack-esque instrumental leading into a catchy power-metal inspired arrangement; the protagonist of the story harmonising clean vocals and shrieks in duality against the antagonist – himself. “Rubedo, The Artist” displays a strong synth overtone and a higher focus on clean vocals and an extremely catchy sing-along outro, before what is possibly the strongest song on the album, “King of Salt”, kicks in for a finale of initial down tempo angst and elements of progressive metal.
If horror/fantasy cinema soundtracks and an essence of unease and symphonic dread is your thing, Dark Wing Gospel is just what you’re looking for. 4/5
Pick up a very limited vinyl copy here.
Similar artists:
Symphony X,
Septicflesh,
Nightwish,
Carach Angren,
Ayreon,
Nevermore
Carlo M. Dini
Nora Kivlehan
www.overdrive.ie 2025
