CalatrilloZ - A Glimpse At A Fool's Destiny

CalatrilloZ - A Glimpse At A Fool's Destiny (song review) |self-released, single, 2014| 5/5 metal neo-classical opera

Founded in UK in 2009, CalatrilloZ quintet offers much more than just heavy metal music. Their songs are composed around a tale entitled The Marionette's Theatre. Their live performances include special outfits, make up and stage design as well.

The CalatrilloZ' line-up consists of Zahyin (Mr. Z), Mobius (bass), Count Viktor (guitar), Azriel (guitar) and Mattias (drums). Diverse musical inspirations such as Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Rush or Tool enrich their music with many flavors.

With the newest track, "A Glimpse At A Fool's Destiny", CalatrilloZ prove they're extremely talented and well educated musicians. Not only do they play instruments very well but also write professional metal opera compositions.

The song describes a one way trip to Hell, where an evil boy named Johnny is to suffer eternally due to the wrong choices he had made, as explained in a verse: "Hell is a place we all go / If you walk on the wrong side / Forever you shall remain (…) And now that you’ve seen where this path may lead you / Are you ready to choose between right or left?" If you read between the lines, a bit of politics may be at play here, as well. Johnny is one of many bad people to share the punishment along with "backstabbers, thieves, murderers, greed pigs, rapists", as listed in the song.

The overall dynamics brought by a fast paced mix of drums, guitars and bass are accented with Zahyin’s high voice. You'll hear many spots where his full vocal scale is exposed. The tempo slows down or speeds up where necessary throughout the composition, creating a specific, tense atmosphere. Various well-matched arrangements are brilliantly connected through smooth bridges. They easily manage to keep one's mind continuously occupied with every new part of the track. The mood is definitely epic, thanks to diverse and uplifting instrumental motifs.

It's a complex symphonic composition, where metal & progressive rock influences are splashed with abstract art. To me, this song is begging for a music video. It could be a production in the vein of David Lynch’s (or Marilyn Manson’s) video work - based on contrasts, absurd, horror, irony and distorted reality. I can see a circus arena rather than a opera hall, filled with opulent decorations, uncanny items, memorable outfits and lively supernatural characters - all wrapped in fiery colors mixed with sepia or black. The band themselves surely have a best visual concept for this on their minds.

Whether or not Jesus Christ Superstar is the most famous work that kind, the next piece about Lucifer may become even more successful with CalatrilloZ' involvement.

(Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz, Fabryka Music Magazine, January 28th, 2014. Proofreading: Mike 'Vesper' Dziewoński)

This review on Fabryka Magazine: http://industrialrock.net/php-files_en/articles.php?article_id=522

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Reviewed by Fabryka Music Magazine

CalatrilloZ - Lords of Misery

CalatrilloZ - Lords of Misery (song review) |self-released, single, 2013| 5/5

Founded in UK in 2009, CalatrilloZ offers much more than just heavy metal music. Their songs are composed around a tale entitled The Marionette's Theatre. The story, written by Mr. Z (vocals), speaks of supernatural beings searching the world for the possessed string puppets and their power within. The musicians recreate the characters of the story on stage. Visually, they can be compared to a breed of vampires mixed with vile magicians wearing a mischievous "expect everything" Joker-esque smile.

"Lords of Misery" is their latest single. Based on neo-classical arrangements, the track brings a fresh breeze of memorable audio to the listeners. The beginning sounds like the introduction to an opera composition. The leading drum beat makes it heroic, then a duo of violin and keyboards brings forth the symphonic atmosphere. Soon, it gains heavy metal accents such as graded guitar riffs, fast-paced drum beats, groovy bass lines and explicit lyrics encrusted with one of the rock’s golden-oldies - a strong 'yeah!' ending the track. The guitars collaborate with drums and bass very well, dotting the composition like a Morse code message. The core of "Lords of Misery" sounds as if it was living its own life. Yet the musicians keep the composition within a certain frame, so the soundscape does not spread in too many directions.

In most cases you would hear a female voice (i.e. Epica) doing vocal parts in similar symphonic or neo-classical metal compositions. However, here the male singer successfully ties up arrangements with a high pitched voice that never goes out of tune. The lead vocals are at moments supported by background vocals with a high epic feel. The melody of the chorus ("Burn, Burn, Burn / We don't care we don't mind / Close the gates") is very memorable. The audience could well be singing along with the band during a live performance and get more involved into the show as a result.

The CalatrilloZ' line-up consists of Zahyin (Mr. Z), Mobius (bass), Count Viktor (guitar) and Mattias (drums). Thanks to their various musical inspirations (Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Rush, Tool, Alice in Chains, Korn, Nine Inch Nails but also Muse or Bjork), their music isn't focused on one theme.
CalatrilloZ introduces several very intense artistic and dramatic concepts that cover music, theatre and opera. Their live performances include special outfits, make up and stage design as well. In addition, each of their songs is like a separate chapter of a book - just like King Diamond did with his plot-orientated albums.
An interesting storyline with matching music means much more action than just a regular metal show. Take a chance and see CalatrilloZ live if you can.

(Katarzyna 'NINa' Górnisiewicz, Fabryka Magazine, January 4th, 2014. Proofreading: Mike 'Vesper' Dziewoński)

This review on Fabryka Magzine: http://industrialrock.net/php-files_en/articles.php?article_id=516

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Reviewed by Fabryka Music Magazine