This is almost an unexpected record for me when I first
heard it. Luca Mazzotta, who has performed in various bands along with the
talent he has brought along with the classical studies in his roots. Helfir,
when I first heard the title, it had a dystopian vibe, and a darker title that
fits Luca’s solo project. He has complete control and free rein on what he
wants to do. So if you have a soft spot for Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, and
Anathema, this might be worth exploring.
Still Bleeding is
Helfir’s debut album released this year on the My Kingdom Music label and it’s
very interesting in the darker and ominous sounds with melancholic and
ambient/atmospheric music. At times it’s almost as if it was recorded in the
late ‘70s/early ‘80s of the electronic music and having the acoustic sounds
thrown in to see where Luca is going with Helfir.
There are nine compositions on here that Luca wrote. And
when he sings, the expression is a raw and powerful vibration whenever he sings
as the music takes him into those darker areas. The moment the notes that he
goes into, you could feel his pain and inside his heart. And the compositions
are; hard, sad, eruptive, and structured.
Portrait of a Son is
an electronic/futuristic acoustic ballad that begins with an ambient introduction
that has a reminiscent of Anathema as Luca himself carries and walks into the
footsteps of Daniel Cavanagh’s lyrics while Alone
carries an emotional weight and the lyrics being with one’s own. And the
guitar itself carries an echoing resemblance of the Floyd sound.
Meanwhile, My Blood
has this gothic sound that has an early ‘80s structure as if Katatonia could
have recorded this thirty five years ago with the synths, drums done by Angelo
Buccolieri and carrying the post-rock movement with the moody clean guitars and
the gentle voices to give it a spooky feel. Dresses
of Pain goes into more of the guitar lines between the heavy electrical
format followed by the clean acoustic midsections that the two elements have a
waltz in the two areas.
Night & Deceit closes
the album with a thunderous yet heavy thumping roar in the rhythm and the lead
section almost sounding like a haunting version of Haken. And it’s a very
strong punch between the prog, dark, and post-metal momentum to close the album
off. This took a few good listens to get into and I was impressed by Luca’s
compositions of what he had written.
And I hope he gets a chance to take those aspects of Prog,
Post-Rock, Metal, and Goth by pushing all of his might to see where he would
take Helfir next into. My Kingdom Music has done it again. Recommended for fans who admire; Anathema, Pink Floyd, and Katatonia, Luca Mazzotta and Helfir’s Still
Bleeding is a journey into the darker and heavier worlds that he will take you on.
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