Luna Obscura produces a unique kind of metal that is difficult to categorize. The synthesized symphonics and dark lyrics are purely Gothic, but the sinister nature of the other musical elements clearly shows doom and death metal leanings. Aris Potonos’ deep, savage vocals conjure up images of the Grim Reaper, and Gogo Melone offers a mystical female presence. Her pleasant mix of melodic wails and delicate mezzo-soprano lines is an unlikely cross of the voices of Lacuna Coil’s Cristina Scabbia and Epica’s Simone Simons when both women began singing with their respective bands. All of these contrasts sound overwhelming, but upon first listen it’s evident that Luna Obscura has honed their sound down to its marrow.

The result of that honing is "Feltia." It’s not a concept album, but the band members have said in interviews that this release "defines the human psychic situation when melancholically and emotionally charged." That’s a fairly accurate summary. The songs are full of forceful riffs, dramatic soundscapes, and psychosomatic tales that walk the fine line between dreams and nightmares. Without a full-time drummer, Luna Obscura uses loose, powerful drum programming that’s not a bad substitute for the real thing. The album’s final mix seems to favor these drums, too – they’re the dominant instrument on "Feltia," sometimes pushing the guitars (an equally important instrument in metal) into the background.

"Feltia" rides mostly on hard-hitting, uptempo numbers. The first four songs take this format, from the battering "Burden of Solitude" to the rich and anguished "Symphony of Sighs." This part of the tracklisting feels like a running of the gauntlet – it’s rather vigorous, making it difficult to absorb the songs in one sitting. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the fast tracks aren’t any good. "Symphony of Sighs" is the quintessential Luna Obscura track, with choral atmospheres interlaced with Dimitris Papachristos’ robust guitars. Aris and Gogo trade off vocal lines quite smoothly in this song.

Two particular uptempo tracks usher Luna Obscura into symphonic territory. "Oronar" is Gogo’s showcase for her vocal range, and the synths are so quick and playful that they could be mistaken for actual strings. "Dance of Forsaken Souls" also has some epic, orchestra-inspired passages. The typical "B&B" approach of female-led choruses and grunt-driven verses is used in this song, as well as on others in "Feltia"; and here, it starts to feel stale. Perhaps if Gogo and Aris had switched their vocal lines to match the shifts in lyrical tone, it would have been a courageous step and a welcome break from tradition.

There is more variety as "Feltia" passes its halfway point. The aptly titled "Waltz into Darkness" charms the listener with groovy guitars, Gogo’s oneiric soprano, and lyrics of longing mingling with lines from French poet Charles Baudelaire’s famous collection "Le Fleurs de Mal." "Away" is formulaic with its alternative metal chugging, but the raspy guest vocals by Mencea frontman Andreas Giolmas injects terror into the song’s vein. Then there is "The Ancient One," a spellbinding legend of evil and fear. With a plodding tempo and quietly rousing keyboards, it’s strangely engaging and one of the most salient tracks in recent female-fronted metal music.

The instrumentals on "Feltia" are also quite impressive. "Enochian Chant" has an uncanny beauty, due partly to Gogo’s layered incantations. Steve Dickins’ ominous narration on "Codex Daemonicus 1516" in spine-chilling, and "5 Visions" closes the album by capturing the album’s wistfulness and brooding in less than three minutes.

Such contrasts between dark and light are what makes "Feltia" a solid debut album. There are moments when the "B&B" elements are too predictable or the songwriting doesn’t flow smoothly, but most albums have their flaws. However, what sets Luna Obscura apart from other relatively young bands is their intensity and musical conviction. Its members know what they want to achieve with Luna Obscura, and "Feltia" is a well-crafted definition of their sound. Fans of "B&B" bands should follow this band as it continues on its mission – a mission that seems to be rather intriguing.

7.5 / 10

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