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SCREAMACHINE
Church Of The Scream

Frontiers (2023)
Rating: 7/10

There is no denying that ScreaMachine vocalist Valerio Caricchio has somewhat of a bombastic and commanding approach to his role on what is the second full-length outing from this Italian combo. The Rome-based quintet unleashed their steely self-titled debut two years ago but this follow-up is far more potent even with its contemporary edge.

Church Of The Scream is extremely polished, which enables each instrument to be heard clearly. The result is a sort of crisp mix of Judas Priest and a lesser evil King Diamond doused with flashes of Iron Maiden and Metal Church and further sprigs of epic Euro power metal. The more theatrical elements have hints of Savatage all delivered with a mid-tempo groove in that modern traditional metal design.

ScreaMachine do inject occasional bursts of pace but a majority of the time this is an album that is very much in its comfort zone, remaining consistent yet powerful through the confident strides of ‘The Epic Of Defeat’ (featuring guest vocals from Elvenking frontman Davide “Damna” Moras), the varied ‘Deflagrator’ and the energetic title cut with its Megadeth sneers. The double axe attack of Edoardo Taddei and Paolo Campitelli adds extra weight to proceedings and the bass of Francesco Bucci likes to rattle with intensity, but after a handful of listens I’ve not returned to this album, suggesting that while ScreaMachine might do well propping up the European festival bills, the album through all of its theatre, just doesn’t stick.

Neil Arnold

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