Traditionally, metal’s reception of classical antiquity has privileged the male heroes. Yet this may also be due to many of the plays’ focus on the heroism and plight of women, such as Trojan Women, Hecuba, Andromache, Hippolytus, and Iphigenia at Aulis. Most of Euripides’ plays remain too obscure to grab the attention of metal bands. However, this potential remains largely untapped. Given Euripides’ iconoclastic and irreverent approaches to the tragic stage, one would think his plays readily adaptable to heavy metal music. He was an artist and thinker ahead of his time, who despite his inclusion among the Athenian intelligentsia, led a lonely, introverted existence, and his unpopularity eventually drove him out of town, to where he spent his final days at the court of the Macedonians.īust Euripides. Finally, Euripides’ portrayal of the Olympian gods as petty, brazen, selfish, and immoral beings earned him accusations of blasphemy and atheism. Showing the influence on Euripides of contemporary philosophers and sophists, these characters used this language to engage in highly rhetorical debates over the nature of justice and religion. Rather than sticking to the elevated language of the tragic genre, his characters spoke, and looked, more down to earth and identifiable with the everyday citizen rather than as larger-than-life, noble heroes and heroines. Euripides experimented with poetic meters, playing something like jazz or prog rock for those used to classic(al) styles. Such elements in and of themselves did not necessarily alienate Euripides’ audience and critics, but they were combined with a creativity and novelty that many were not ready for. Indeed, his plays are packed with strong emotions, violent death, a sense of helplessness both against the cruelty of gods and mortals alike, and against the irrational instincts that overpower our rational faculties. His popularity in the remainder of antiquity, which persisted well into the Byzantine era, partly accounts for the fact that while only seven complete plays apiece survive of Aeschylus and Sophocles, 19 of his 95 total plays have survived the ravages of history.Īristotle, while preferring Sophocles, nevertheless calls Euripides “the most tragic” of playwrights. However, it was only after his death that his genius came into vogue, and his dramatic technique would inspire subsequent tragedy and comedy both. His innovative approaches to the art of Attic tragedy were little appreciated during his lifetime, and even mocked by comedians such as Aristophanes, and he earned few first-place victories in the tragic competitions at the Dionysia festival. 406 BCE) is the Vincent Van Gogh of Greek literature. I am almost positive that we will be hearing much more from this talented French band in the future.Euripides (c.
“Start from Scratch” is a strong debut and an album that should resonate with fans of Power and Prog metal. Highlights include: “Ticking Time Bomb” (my favorite track), “Wrong Reflection”, “Stranger Me”, “My So Called Friend” and the album closer “No Warning Signs”. By changing tempos and speeds, Benighted Soul are able to insure that “Start from Scratch” rarely gets boring, to the contrary, despite its length there is plenty here that kept me interested for the duration. Throughout the course of “Start from Scratch”, Benighted Soul offers up several songs in the 7-8 minute range. The male vocals are full-on aggressive in style and create a big contrast with the sweet, semi-operatic tone brought forth by Geraldine.
BENIGHTED SOUL ANESIDORA FULL
“Broken Icons” gets things off to a bombastic start and the duel male/female vocals are put on full display on this very strong opener. Benighted Soul is able to switch from a heavy approach to a more melodic style throughout the CD, with Geraldine Gadaut providing some impactful vocals. “Start from Scratch” is a concept album centered around the little doll Anesidora and features a 20-person choir. Bassist Jean-Gabriel Bocciarelli also supplied some male vocals throughout this 11-song 70-minute disc. The band is fronted by the powerful vocals of Géraldine Gadaut. Some great crunchy riffs and technical, intricate musicianship are the order of the day for this bunch. Their style a bit Symphonic mixed with elements of Progressive and even some slower doomy stuff. Now Benighted Soul has released their debut full-length album, “Start From Scratch”. After the bands inception, they released two Demos, a DVD and an EP.
France’s Benighted Soul began their career in 2003.
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