Band: Manic Movement
Title: Dark Glitter
Label: Shiver Records
Distribution: Metal Zone – LSP – Music Shock
Release date:
Review: CD

The Belgian band Manic Movement was originally formed in 1993. In 1997, the band released its first album, Discipline (Asterion), followed by Thousand Sufferings (Suburban) in 1999, and Future Dreaming Self (Megalomanious Records) in 2001. Then it went calm for a while, but in 2006, when vocalist Virginia Fantoni joined the band, the band was sort of reborn (even though I think she didn’t do the vocals on this album???). Manic Movement worked with Attie Bauw (Melechesh, Judas Priest, Mystica, Gorefest, The Gathering) for mixing and mastering duties, and last year the band signed to one of the most important labels from the Lowlands, Shiver Records (and is now, I think, the most mainstream band on the label). This fourth album is different from all former material, not only because of the female lead vocals, but also the musical approach and song structures are more atmospheric and symphonic. The Death Metal-elements have completely gone (grunts and riffs) and a more poppy / symphonic approach is now maintained. The songs are pretty energetic and catchy, and it gives me a certain radio-hit-alike feeling. Dark Glitter isn’t just another commercial Goth-release, but the whole is safe, predictable and over-polished. And to be honest, covering a Sting-track (Russians), isn’t it a risk?
Anyway, in spite of the lack of being innovative or renewing, this album isn’t badly played. The compositions are decent, and so is the performance, so Dark Glitter is (highly) recommended to most fans of (female-fronted) Gothic / Symphonic / Atmospheric Metal.

72/100

Ivan Tibos.