This album was originally released in 2006, but did not get the publicity it deserved. It was my first exposure to this Andorran band, and it’s now a pleasure to immerse myself once more in this long and epic prog metal interpretation of a Greek mythological story.
The production has been ramped up as you’d expect. Broadly rooted in death metal, it sweeps us along with its heavy, moody and flamboyant metal which enters majestically from all sides like wind rushing through cracks in a window. Here and there moments of beauty emerge – a female voice, haunting Opeth style intrusions – but the winds swirl constantly, and gruesome growls and aggressive riffs are never far away. It’s far from formless but “Core” is the most progressive of progressive music in the way that it consciously explores moods and extremes. A mellow classic piano piece on “To Face the Truth” is interrupted by belligerent and imperious guitar work. The continuity that Persefone developed by the time that “Spiritual Migration” (2013) was released does not seem to be there in the turbulent opening passages but it develops over the course of the album. The indulgence level is high as Persefone fly over grooves with their lofty and diverse musical statements. It’s urgent. It’s frantic. It’s complex. It’s not always easy listening.
Yes, it’s mighty stuff but when you’re dealing weighty matters like the Light punishing the Earth and Zeus trying to stop Hades, so it should be. The delivery still reminds me of Dimmu Borgir in the growling intensity and of Borknagar in the loftiness. And then as “Dark Thoughts for a Dark Heat” prevail, there’s melancholy which leads inevitably to a defiant march. The drama is compelling. As Hades asks Core to be the queen of the Underworld, the response comes from a vulnerable and beautiful voice. Hades returns with power and force to make his offer. The themes are supremely represented in musical form. Confusion, darkness and fear are here in this turbulent atmosphere. Tensions heighten. An imperious guitar solo, one of many, is accompanied by uncompromising drumming and leads to another passage in which the mood is deep and the instrumental work is luxurious. Persefone linger and maximise each passage, extracting every drop of emotion. This is big. Drums, keyboards and guitars combine to add to the maelstrom of “Core”. The atmosphere is frantic and immense as the principal character Core then eats the forbidden fruit and “the darkened walls of hate and fear” take over. Yet Core’s fine vocals and an acoustic backdrop end the section in recognition of her release to meet the light. Amid swanky jazz and continued acoustic tones, a devastatingly sad song follows. Core is trapped and alienated from her mother but the song still portrays a child-driven ray of hope. Darkness then re-appears as the music explodes. Violent blackened death metal is supported by ferocious vocals and an ominous keyboard line as “Doubts are Seed” begins, then in a trick of genius, the plaintive female tone of Core re-appears, recalling the “ray of hope” from her childhood. But the atmosphere is dark and turbulent. The band now embarks upon a scintillating heavy prog passage. Boundless flamboyance is the only way I can summarise “Dark Inner Transition”. Epic, majestic, bombastic and with frissons of excitement, there are shades of Symphony X. The Dimmu-style vocals return again as we race unstoppably into “The End”, another piece which is characterised by more complex solos, dark passages and another whirlpool of exotic metal. Spoken words tell us that Core, now in perpetual darkness, is given a ray of hope and has the opportunity to share Light with Darkness. But Core is no longer innocent, and the album’s Epilogue conveys another twist and development in this constantly developing tale of human doubts. Persefone’s response is to turn the conflicting forces and swaying emotional responses into a transforming musical feast. So there is darkness and sadness, and this most epic of epic albums ends on a melancholic note.
There is a bonus track on this re-release: a Star Wars medley! It’s fun and quirky, and contains the epic elements while showcasing the imagination of this incredibly talented no-holds barred band. I am aware that this medley is part of Persefone’s live set, and it’s great, but after the overwhelming gravitas of the previous 70 minutes, this would probably be more appropriate elsewhere.
“Core” is a massive album and testimony to the band’s skill in musical technique and interpretation. It was good before but with even bigger production, it is now breathtaking.
(9/10 Andrew Doherty)
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