The Projec�onist - The Stench of Amalthia (Moribund Records) Review by Miloš Šebalj OK, ‘the first ever black metal opera’ sounds way too preten�ous to me. Cannot really put my finger on it, but it may not be true. However, I have decided to trust the Canadians and treat this record as such. Even if this is the third album (if I understood correctly) following the storyline. Perhaps it can be called ‘act 3’ of the first black metal opera ever recorded. Just to men�on, this is the fi�h full length album overall in The Projec�onist’s career. Spanning just five years. Along with three split releases, an EP and a live album. Incredibly rich discography, you must agree. So, quan�ty or quality? Haven’t heard the previous records, but fromwhat is presented on “The Stench of Amalthia” the former takes a decisive advantage. One ques�on needs to be addressed right at the beginning. Why is this album even pronounced as an opera? What makes it an opera? A concept behind the lyrics? Hardly. A couple of different voices ac�ng out the characters of the story? I don’t think so. The samples that connect the tale throughout? Not a chance! Perhaps the musical theatricality? Sure, if there was any! Probably the correct answer to the first ques�on would be all of them together. But the last one is almost completely absent. Arrangements should be the key. Similar to what the master of metal theater, King Diamond does so perfectly. You have all, no doubt, heard Queensryche’s classic “Opera�on: Mindcrime”. It would also sit along well as an example of full blown theatrics. Listening to The Projec�onist, one does get a feeling they have tried to mimic them both. Unfortunately they have failed. But there is definitely an interes�ng story which makes “The Stench of Amalthia” a decent concept album. I say decent, as there is not much to the record that would make it excep�onal. The Projec�onist uses the basics of black metal to create their soundscape. Though dark melodies carry a por�on of the album, most of it is s�ll rela�vely raw. Lead guitar parts, which are capable of sliding into an occasional solo, are what makes for most of the interes�ng moments here. Some instrumental parts are taking me to some mid-career Behemoth, though mostly we are dealing with Scandinavian black metal in its finest tradi�on. While at that, the Canadians missed out on a chance for a be�er produc�on which would certainly breathe more ‘life’ into the sound of the record. This way, there is a hollow feeling surrounding the majority of the recording. Add to all of that the unconvincing shrieking vocals and you will get a fairly weak background to this story. By the way, the story itself is somewhat similar to “Them” by the King himself (no, not Elvis!). Though I can’t be a 100% sure since all I’ve got is a short plot line. In spite of all the influences I’ve men�oned above, I keep thinking of Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth (maybe even Emperor and the la�er Ihsahn’s works). And not as musical influences, as this is clearly far away from both their designs. I’m thinking how close both of them came to actually crea�ng a real black metal opera. Haven’t quite followed their careers as of late, so it is possible they actually did create one. If not, they are on the right track. The Projec�onist s�ll needs to learn. Perhaps it is a good idea to have some �me between the releases, so they can evaluate their efforts. h�ps://www.facebook.com/theprojec�onist666/
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