Band: Stigma
Title: Concerto For The Undead
Label: Pivotal Rockordings
Distribution: Bertus
Release date: April 30th 2010
Review: CD

Italian Horror-combo Stigma was formed in 2000 out of the ashes of a Hardcore-formation. During their first years of existence, the members recorded two EP’s (Metamorphosis-2003, and Epitaph Of Pain-2004), and besides touring in their home country, they were able to perform on Wacken Open Air and Metal Camp.
After signing to the American label Pivotal Rockordings, Stigma released their debut full length, called When Midnight Strikes! (2008; review posted on February 2nd 2008), which got praised by the international media, and which gave the band the opportunity to perform live on stage all over Europe.
Recently the quartet (Stefano ‘Vlad’ Ghersi-v, Stefano Ghigliano-d, Flavio Magnaldi-b, and Andrea Bailo-g) entered the Fear Studio with producer Jona Weinhofen (guitar player of Bring Me The Horizon) to record this second full length, which got mixed and mastered by Scott Atkins (Behemoth, Savage Messiah, Sylosis, Cradle Of Filth etc).
The album comes, again, with, horrific artwork in a pure comic-style, done by Andrea Berton, which perfectly translates the lyrical approach of Stigma’s metalized Horror-soundtrack. It does give the whole a rather gore old school-touch!
However, the tracks aren’t that ‘gore’ at all, at least not when it comes to the sound. This one is very decent, modern and nicely produced. Especially the groovy approach and the modern progression take advantage of this well-balanced sound.
The diverse Death Metal tracks, with duration of forty two minutes, consist of many hooks, breaks and tempo-changes, a subtle relationship with modern Thrash Metal, and lots of refreshing ideas. The members are technically experienced and their song writing has improved since the former album. Also the international point of view (meaning: this album doesn’t just sound like any Italian band) is a surplus. Stigma bring something that penetrates the same spheres as worldwide highly anticipated acts as At The Gates, Darkest Hour, The Black Dahlia Murder, Unearth or Heaven Shall Burn.
The album features guest appearances by Jamie Hope (ex-The Red Shore), and Jon Hunt (ex-Dead To Fall).

85/100

Ivan Tibos.