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It’s not news that Italy is known for more than pizzas, pastas and a great, ancient culture. They also have a vivid Metal scene with many great bands.

One of the newer extreme Metal acts from Italy that has crossed my path is this 4-piece symphonic Black/Death Metal band named Cruenta Lacrymis, comprised of two men (Daniele and Teo) and two women (Erika and Elena). To their credit these dark, Gothic lords and ladies have rather ambitiously tried to put together an album that they can be proud of after years later. Sweetness and Blasphemy, their 12-track debut album, is full of well-executed and tightly-played symphonic Black/Death Metal that owes something to Cradle of Filth, something to Dimmu Borgir and even Arch Enemy due to Elena’s vicious and diabolic vocals which remind me of Alissa White-Gluz.

However, despite many rewarding moments, Sweetness and Blasphemy isn’t flawless. At times it sounds like they have tried to fit too much into the whole and that makes some of it incoherent as if ideas didn’t quite make it to the finish line. The album sounds a bit too stuffed in my opinion. Sometimes less is more when trying for a big sound.

Cruenta Lacrymis is a promising act and perhaps they will sail on more favorable seas with their next release. Time will tell...