The Old Garden Geranium - The Old Garden Geranium (2011) - Great classic and experimental melodic death metal - 75% (27/05/14)

The Old Garden Geranium is a young melodic death metal band that hails from Italy. Formed back in 2010, the band released its first five-track self-released and eponymous EP in late 2011. Fans of Scandinavian melodic death metal with a modern sound and twist should definitely give this first strike a try.

The band shows off a few solid technical abilities in the form of depressive riffs, as can be found in the atmospheric and bleak "Sunblast," but also beautiful melodic guitar solos as is in the vivid "One Step Inside." Mid-tempo and classic fast parts but also slow and atmospheric passages are well performed by the five musicians. The vocals vary from hissing melodic death metal vocals to guttural death metal growls which add some diveristy to the album.

In general, the band skips unnecessary keyboard sounds, acoustic guitars or other experiments without sounding all the same throughout the entire record. The only exception is the melodic album closer "The Road Not Taken" with its melancholic feeling that reminds me of the recent efforts by In Flames. This track shows a few atmospheric sample sounds and/or short and well employed acoustic guitar parts in the opening moments, in the progressive middle part and in the appeasing closing moments as well. For open-minded fans of the genre, this promising EP closer is surely the album highlight while metal purists might prefer the first four efforts. All five songs are quite enjoyable to listen to and there is no such a thing as a true stinker on here.

In the end, traditional and more experimental melodic death metal fans should both keep an eye on the band. On a side note, the band has already released a new single entitled "Rise And Fall" earlier last year and is about to put out its first full length release "Illusion / Reality." Before the 13 new tracks see the light of day, you can do as I did and give this EP a few spins on the official Bandcamp page: http://theoldgardengeranium.bandcamp.com/

Originally written for The Metal Observer