UNDERWORLD

Adagio’s 2nd release „Underworld“ was released in 2003 after a successful debut-album “Sanctus Ignis”. It features 8 tracks (+1 bonus track), which were all written by Mastermind Stephan Forté (music and lyrics) except “Next Profundis” (music by Kevin Codfert and Stephan Forté) and “The Mirror Stage” (lyrics by Bedos). Kevin Codfert, by the way, is the new keyboarder and replaces Richard Anderson.

His work on this album is amazing. I can just advise you to listen to the song “Next Profundis” you can stream above. Right after the fast guitar riff you get a short impression of him. If you pass the great melodies, you will come to a piano solo, a simply audible conversion of a Mozart piece first, an own and fast, Chopin reminding, part next. This is already a great track, just as the others, which are despite the fact that they are a bit more Symphonic, e.g. the next one “Introitus/Solvet Saeclum in Favilla” or the title-track “Underworld” (great Opera-part at the beginning). Each song, except “Promises”, counter-piece, since being a ballad, is a symphonic-metal- track, complex, heavy with great vocals (apart from “Nilfheim”, the only instrumental here), awesome solos, incredible piano-additions and slow/softer passages as well. But anyway it all sounds too similar. The musical quality is great. Each song features amazing and atmospheric melodies, etc. (see above), is varied and brilliantly elaborated. In each part you can find many different lines, which all perfectly support the song. But nevertheless, each song offers the same characteristics, the melodies sound too much the same, may being due to all the harmonic and melodic minor scales, but that doesn’t have to be a matter since you can be very creative with each kind of scale. So counting every song single this would be a masterpiece but regarding it as a whole, this is just a 4-star effort, since it lacks variation, but don’t forget the magnificence of each single song! The lyrics, just to name them, are not bad, but not really creative, a bit cheesy all in all. To name a highlight in this chain of great songs, I would choose “Next Profundis”, “Chosen”, “Underworld” (love the opera part and solo section, especially the Sherinian- sounding keyboard solo) and the ballad “Promises”. To get an impression of Adagio, just listen to “Chosen”. “Next Profundis” will do a fine job too, but I was a bit surprised while listening to the album (I just heard “Next Profundis” at that point in time)!

4/5 great band, definitely worth checking out