TARDO PEDE IN MAGIAM VERSUS

This second album from "Jacula" capitalizes on their great and debut effort: heavy keyboards, dark themes, even satanic as some might say. Although, the latter aspect was also suggested without much reasons from a band which I quite like ("Black Widow").

There are still some moving organ parts available like "Praesentia Domini". A dark crescendo piece of music which goes from the most sublime church organ play one can imagine. But I honesty have to tell that once the "vocals "enter the scene; the whole is quite falling apart. Same applied to the opening track as well. It reminds me of some collaboration of Klaus Schulze with some vocalists if you see what I mean...

I quite preferred their debut album to tell the truth. This one holds too many dull vocal parts. The band did say it all during their very good "In Cauda Semper?" and I really can't stand these vocalize lines from Doris Norton. Such a piece as "Jacula Valzer" could have been fine as a soundtrack for a horror movie. But you won't get any picture here.

If this album would have been an all instrumental one, no doubt that it might have ended with a better rating. I really don't like the "singing" words of the lady in charge: passionless, talent less. In one word: useless.

I was quite impressed with their debut which was rather adventurous. But this one somewhat kills the spirit IMHHO. A song as " Long Black Magic Night" is a pure and long lament with little interest.

This album is quite a let down and a huge deception. Some good moments felt while listening to "In Old Castle" won't avoid the two stars rating. Stick to their debut one is my only advice.