COMEDIA - INFERNO

'Pervy Perkin' is more than just an interesting name. It is a progressive metal band that comes from Spain that was founded in 2011 by Alvaro on guitar and Carly Pajaron on drums. Their band line-up has changed somewhat from then and they have released 1 EP and 3 studio LPs, the third one called 'Comedia: Inferno' released in April of 2019. It makes you wonder if the name has anything to do with the current vocalist and guitarist Dante 'The Samurai' since it seems to be based on a portion of the classic book 'The allegorical Messages of The Divine Comedy by the author of the same name. As a matter of fact, it is a journey around the nine circles of Hell according to the band's Bandcamp page. Alejandro Macho also sings and plays keyboards; Carly Pajaron is on drums and vocals; Juan Tides is on guitars and vocals; and Pablo Aks is on bass and vocals. The album has a total of 9 tracks and the album has a duration of 67 minutes.

As expected, this is a dark album, and this is immediately proven by the first track 'Abandon All Hope' which starts with howling wolves, hooting owls and a breathless narration in Italian. Suddenly, the music begins in full force with a speed metal style and growling vocals which soon become clean and then the music calms as thick organs and chiming guitars begin to support calmer vocals. This is also a good example of all of the musicians lending their vocals as various vocal styles are noted, and this tends to separate characterizations. Immediately, you will be hooked by this dynamic sound. 'The Tempest' features 2 guest vocalists; Kheryon from Eternal Storm and Blue from Bones of Minerva. That probably explains the deep, evil growling that starts things off and appears throughout the track along with clean vocals. As before, the singers take on characters from the book. After another speed metal beginning, the track takes on a less heavy side with a dramatic and intriguing section. After a while, things build up again as a swirling guitar brings back vocal layers and then erupts into an instrumental section with a great guitar solo. More character vocals continue later as the music continues in an ever changing kaleidoscope of styles like they are running the entire gamut of metal in one 8 minute track. It's actually quite amazing. If anything can be considered progressive metal, this is it.

The album continues in this vein. You will never get tired of the vocal styles presented here as the singers continue to take on various passages, usually singing solo sections, but also harmonizing in some very unique ways. The music also never settles on anything that could be called a standard structure as it is all highly progressive and dynamic. While the overall sound of the album is heavy, dark and metallic, there is still plenty of time devoted to explore quieter, atmospheric passages, and some unique sounds that you normally won't hear in a straightforward heavy metal album. There are even some electronic effects (as in the end of 'Three Throats') and there is also a lot of organ to help with the creepiness of the album.

This is quite an ambitious undertaking for a band like this, and for the most part, they pull it off quite well. The characterization and dynamic of the album is excellent. But, in pulling this off, there are some weaknesses that are mostly apparent in the flow of the music and a bit of a choppy feeling in the utilization of so many voices. These things are not too distracting in the overall enjoyment of this album. Of course, it's not to be expected that things would flow as smoothly as they do with the band 'Aryeon' who constantly utilized many different vocalists for characterization, as that band is definitely a lot more experienced. However, it is still quite impressive that Pervy Perkin can pull this off as well as they do anyway.

The utilization of some musical styles might turn off some metal heads that have banged their mental doors closed permanently, as the dynamics of this album will require open minds. The dynamics of the music is one of this albums greatest strengths. An example of this is the ever changing musical landscape of 'All for Gold' which quickly moves from doom metal to speed metal to atmospheric metal very quickly. It also ends with a long ambient section that follows some electronic experimentation, all in the name of translating the Dante book into a musical journey. So yes, an open mind is required for this album, but an open mind that loves progressive metal.

Now for those prog lovers that don't like abrasive music. This album can get very abrasive and has some growling and screaming sections. What do you really expect during a trip through Hell anyway? But don't worry, it's not a constant barrage of extreme metal, there are more clean vocals and nice harmonies than there are dirty vocals. And the best part, this is undoubtedly progressive, so you shouldn't let the occasional dirty vocal turn you away from this excellent and dynamic album. For example, there are sections of some of these tracks that venture into a jazz fusion territory, like 'Open Casket' with its unique harmonies built off of jazz chords and instrumental progressions, for one example. There is also a cool synth solo in this track. Anyway, as is the case for metal lovers it is also the same for prog-heads, an open mind is required.

Further along in the album, 'Cult of Blood' begins with a jazz piano section before a wailing scream wakes you up to more progressive metal. This track also utilizes Blue as a guest vocalist, but also features Endika (from 'Anteros', not the English Pop band) as another guest vocalist. After this almost 9 minute tour de force, you get hit with another epic track over 15 minutes called 'Malebolge'. If your jaw hasn't hit the floor after hearing this track, then you must be deaf already.

Despite the minor flaws with flow from time to time, and the fact that some of the vocalists are better than others (and some have heavy accents), this is an excellent album, and I would expect that after an effort like this one, that the band is ambitious enough to only get better, so I'm sold to watch for future releases. This is definitely an album worth checking out, especially if you love progressive metal that isn't afraid to go places you wouldn't expect them to, and this music explores all extremes too, so be ready for that. This is impressive music, especially if you want the progressive side to be has heavy as the metal side. 4 stars easily.

Pervy Perkin is a prog metal band to Spanish opera conceptual trend, which I knew by chance in 2014 with "Ink". They played before under the name HYBRID BLOOD. The cool trends blend with those more "nags" (I like that word!) That you can find easily on metal CDs strong, kind and dark death metal. However, I was surprised by their compositions drawers where the same prog gasoline should be sought throughout the album. In terms of influences, I see a bit of CASPIAN, of Arcturus, of FAITH NO MORE, from COMMUNIC and MEGADETH for the characteristic rhythmic and nervous. As for the texts, "Comedia: Inferno" is a concept album based on the first part of "The Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri, "Inferno"

"Abandon All Hope" starts with a wild intro, sounds of animals in the background and then an explosion sound equally wild, not far from death-heavy movement and a more basic tirade, the opposite of the first draft; a crescendo with guitar and organ gives a solemn tone. "The Tempest" drives the point to the death-doom-heavy metal, one of the PROG fans prefer not to listen: this is the grape for each sound. This is an opportunity to divert us with an acoustic limit almost hovering break up a development overlooking memories of that FAITH NO MORE, MEGADETH or Disillusion could do in their time. That is varied on a metal prog forceful rhythmic line; female voices give a little more cachet. "Three Throats" continues on a more groove line and it becomes vanguard made with sheared guitars. Voice hardly chopped spoken then a big riff evolution and fruity solo and rhythmic metal, synthetic in the end! "All For Gold" explores a singular composition combining many kinds of metal but always with alternative rock passages, fusion or jazz drifting moments. It is not far musical follies ASPERA, the same IHSAHN FRANK ZAPPA. It raked off. The end to the planing limit throwing even more trouble on their musical projects or trends, one of the most beautiful in my opinion anyway. "Row" takes us on an almost danceable rhythm with soft voices returning the ball to a heavy acceleration; MERCYFUL FATE is not far away at that time! Voice hardly chopped spoken then a big riff evolution and fruity solo and rhythmic metal, synthetic in the end! "All For Gold" explores a singular composition combining many kinds of metal but always with alternative rock passages, fusion or jazz drifting moments. It is not far musical follies ASPERA, the same IHSAHN FRANK ZAPPA. It raked off. The end to the planing limit throwing even more trouble on their musical projects or trends, one of the most beautiful in my opinion anyway. "Row" takes us on an almost danceable rhythm with soft voices returning the ball to a heavy acceleration; MERCYFUL FATE is not far away at that time! Voice hardly chopped spoken then a big riff evolution and fruity solo and rhythmic metal, synthetic in the end! "All For Gold" explores a singular composition combining many kinds of metal but always with alternative rock passages, fusion or jazz drifting moments. It is not far musical follies ASPERA, the same IHSAHN FRANK ZAPPA. It raked off. The end to the planing limit throwing even more trouble on their musical projects or trends, one of the most beautiful in my opinion anyway. "Row" takes us on an almost danceable rhythm with soft voices returning the ball to a heavy acceleration; MERCYFUL FATE is not far away at that time! "All For Gold" explores a singular composition combining many kinds of metal but always with alternative rock passages, fusion or jazz drifting moments. It is not far musical follies ASPERA, the same IHSAHN FRANK ZAPPA. It raked off. The end to the planing limit throwing even more trouble on their musical projects or trends, one of the most beautiful in my opinion anyway. "Row" takes us on an almost danceable rhythm with soft voices returning the ball to a heavy acceleration; MERCYFUL FATE is not far away at that time! "All For Gold" explores a singular composition combining many kinds of metal but always with alternative rock passages, fusion or jazz drifting moments. It is not far musical follies ASPERA, the same IHSAHN FRANK ZAPPA. It raked off. The end to the planing limit throwing even more trouble on their musical projects or trends, one of the most beautiful in my opinion anyway. "Row" takes us on an almost danceable rhythm with soft voices returning the ball to a heavy acceleration; MERCYFUL FATE is not far away at that time! The end to the planing limit throwing even more trouble on their musical projects or trends, one of the most beautiful in my opinion anyway. "Row" takes us on an almost danceable rhythm with soft voices returning the ball to a heavy acceleration; MERCYFUL FATE is not far away at that time! The end to the planing limit throwing even more trouble on their musical projects or trends, one of the most beautiful in my opinion anyway. "Row" takes us on an almost danceable rhythm with soft voices returning the ball to a heavy acceleration; MERCYFUL FATE is not far away at that time!

"Open Casket" is the cheek with an air more ambient, yes! With a typical prog looking for energetic convolutions and built. A cool jazzy synth in the middle (innovative I tell you), but also singular! Comes together "Cult Of Blood" to the jazzy atmosphere bringing its flood of sound, éructées voice, frantic pace; then an instrumental atmosphere with nervous riff, successive solos; heavier final return. It is not far from Hell! "Malebolge" with its 15minutes difficult to review !!! We had everything from the beginning of the CD here it's just a pot boiling: the lava turns to the bottom and MEGADETH confused footsteps one feels for the similar voice and rhythm. The theatrics of ZAPPA and creating IHSAHN. the physical one feels the frenzied vocal jousting, delusions of FAITH NO MORE accelerated. This title is a drawer maelstrom, a summary of what the prog crossover can make more intense (extreme?) At the metal- prog! Please note, we do not come out unscathed! "Worm Angel" closing the album with a title more pompous and a crescendo with a hoarse voice and sound even crazy to ZAPPA (louder course)! Then an explosion which for me goes more in the prog world! A columnist speaks about a churning of different styles. I confirm. "Worm Angel" closing the album with a title more pompous and a crescendo with a hoarse voice and sound even crazy to ZAPPA (louder course)! Then an explosion which for me goes more in the prog world! A columnist speaks about a churning of different styles. I confirm. "Worm Angel" closing the album with a title more pompous and a crescendo with a hoarse voice and sound even crazy to ZAPPA (louder course)! Then an explosion which for me goes more in the prog world! A columnist speaks about a churning of different styles. I confirm.

To end a little more objective, I would say "Comedia: Inferno" is the most successful of this group album, mixing here and there all possible alternative rock sounds: the only subgroup that I do not have finally recognized the djent movement is already extreme in itself but keeps a normal frame in terms of sound. Here, the stage is finally planted with the title of the album. Some came sequences of Hell with tablecloths recalling that the heavens are not so far away. The musicians give heart-joy, beautiful same way, but the combination of verbal and musical floods also jerky can hurt an unprepared listener.

Literary references are nothing new in the fields of rock and metal. Grim writings, in particular, have provided musical inspiration to artists ranging from metal bands like Mastodon to acts as impressively-un-metallic as The Alan Parsons Project. The Inferno section of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy is one of the most-referenced works in the whole of the literary canon. In spite of this, Comedia: Inferno, is an inventive, original, and enthralling album.

Each of the nine songs represents one of Dante's nine concentric circles of Hell. Pervy Perkin's music has always been heavy, but they turned up the aggression sharply here to match the dark subject matter.

"Abandon All Hope" opens the album with rapidfire tonal and tempo shifts, ranging from ethereal sound effects to screeching black metal blastbeats to bluesy grooves. Perhaps a bit unfocused, this song nonetheless effectively sets the stage for the rest of the album, demonstrating the band's versatility and creativity.

Following this is the sheer brutality of "The Tempest". Between the breakneck tempo and guttural vocals, this song's opening could have easily been on a Cannibal Corpse album. As the piece progresses, though, the music becomes more structurally complex and varied, morphing into something surprisingly melodic. "Three Throats" is one of the lighter cuts on the album. Still, it's heavy in absolute terms, and the main riff is pretty big. However, the blues and jazz flavors here add some nice contrast to the preceding aggression.

With "Open Casket", the listener finally gets a moment to breathe as Pervy Perkin tone down the energy for a few minutes. It's not a ballad, but taken in the context of this album's onslaught, this is the calmest song here. This is also where jazz tones are the most overt. After that relative idyll, "Cult of Blood" enters as a roaring piece of thrash metal that sounds like it could have been pulled off some alternate-universe version of And Justice for All (with good production). The rhythm guitars chug forward with purpose, solos twist madly, and the percussion is furious.

The sprawling "Malebolge" suite opens in familiar death metal territory with bass-heavy aggression and growled vocals, but this eventually segues into melodicism reminiscent of Fates Warning, or maybe even Queensrÿche. It's really impressive how adeptly Pervy Perkin can jump between such disparate metal styles yet make everything feel coherent.

Comedia: Inferno is an impressive work of songcraft and musicianship. The constant, churning flow of different styles prevents this 68-minute album from ever bogging itself down, but it's not so overwhelming as to be like drinking from a firehose. Pervy Perkin struck a fantastic balance of complexity, depth, and breadth, undergirded by a ton of ambition.

Review originally posted here: theeliteextremophile.com/2019/04/14/album-review-pervy-perkin-comedia-inferno/