REVIEWS

In Tenebris
In Tenebris

Cortege Recordings

Posted: Wednesday, August 08, 2007
By: Matthew Johnson
Features Editor

Technically, Virginia's In Tenebris are brash young upstarts, having just released their first full-length album. Musically speaking though, their self-titled debut is a mature, professional-sounding effort that belies their newcomer status. Much of this is no doubt due to the classical backgrounds of lead singer Christina Fleming and guitarist/programmer Jdavyd Williams. Fleming's versatile soprano serves her well on piano ballad and rock anthem alike, but she's at her best on such quieter pieces as "Torch Song," where she evokes a deep sense of melancholy without resorting to the affectations so prevalent in the goth scene. Williams, for his part, uses orchestral synth arrangements to give the band's heavier tracks an added sense of majesty; they're songs that you'd expect to hear in small clubs, but the grandiose sweep of strings following the guitar line on "Chrysalis" can't help but conjure up sights of Victorian concert halls. Despite the classical touches though, In Tenebris is most certainly a rock band. "Holy Ghost" gives Williams the chance to show off his chops with a blistering guitar solo, and the thumping electronic beats and chugging power chords of "Havoc" would do KMFDM proud. It's no accident In Tenebris has been playing regularly with The Last Dance and Bella Morte; they haven't been around as long, true, but they've got that same perfect blend of rock attitude, catchy hooks, and hard-to-resist electronics. It won't be long before they build that same devoted following.