WHITE SKULL - The Dark Age

Frontiers Records

Posted: 11/2/04

Reviewed by: Dirt

Category: Epic Power Metal

Released: 8/26/02

Label URL: www.frontiers.it

Band URL: www.whiteskull.it

White Skull formed in Italy at the beginning of the 90s.  They’ve released a number of albums over the years, but received their greatest exposure in 1999 when Nuclear Blast released Tales From The North.  Female singer Federica De Boni attracted a bit of attention due to her tough, yet melodic delivery (Metal Dreams even did a feature on her in MD #4). 

This 2002 release was the first to feature new singer, Gustavo ‘Gus’ Galbano, an Argentinian.  Obviously, the dynamics of the group have changed, as well as the relatively original niche that they created with Frederica.

Musically, the band is a precise power metal unit that flirts with epic/symphonic structures.  The album is a concept album about the Middle Ages and the crimes of the Inquisition.  The problem is that nothing is distinct here.  The songs run into each other, there are no choruses, Gus’ voice is average and too throaty (similar to Grave Digger’s Chris Boltendahl), and the band offers very little to distinguish themselves from any other group in the crowded power metal genre. 

The Bloody Truth: While The Dark Age certainly is not the worst album I’ve ever heard, and the musicians are competent, I’m bored by the material.  Maybe that’s why I never wrote the review when it was released.  I feel like I’ve heard this album before from a million other power metal bands.  This is uninspired and unoriginal songwriting and delivery, and Gus does nothing to take the band to the next level.  If you enjoy mediocre power metal, then be my guest on this one…otherwise give your listening time to someone else.  The band recently released a new recording, The XIII Skull, which we will review soon.  Maybe they’ll surprise me.