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Artist: DOL THEETA
Album: The Universe Expands
Year: 2009
Another release coming from the gates of the Electronic Art Metal Records label, and it´s not a big surprise that it involves multi-talented composer Thanasis Lightbridge once again. Having released some great albums with his other project Dol Ammad (check the 'Ocean Dynamics' review elsewhere on the page), the Dol Theeta project was formed - according to the biography to fulfill Thanasis' 'needs to create more sides of his music in order to fully materialize his musical freedom.' After beeing treated to a very nice teaser already, with the release of the Goddess EP, the cold and early days of 2009 brought us a full-lenght named 'The Universe Expands'. Next to Thanasis, Dol Theeta as well exists of Kortessa (Vocals) and Dim (Guitars), as well members of Dol Ammad.
The release opens with the 'Which Are You' intro, to be followed by 'Silver Air'. It has quite a long instrumental start (moving from electro to progressisve and gentle electro metal), followed by an accessable and mostly electro based track. It includes gentle though strong drumming, innocently and sometimes nearly whispering vocal lines and welladded guitars. 'Nighttime' opens with gentle electro/future pop tunes, to explode in an outburst of heavy drumming and excellent guitarwork. The gentle vocal lines and the innovative electronic sampling give the song a very accessable and recogniseable touch. The orchestral keyboard solo/intermezzo within the track is a refreshing one. 'Mud' is a song with two faces, that are perfectly melted together. On the first part, the song is build on a dark electro spine, while gently added soft vocal lines and experimental guitar picks. After about 2/3, the song explodes into a heavy sounding gothic metal track, including diverse vocal lines and wellhidden minimal electronic sampling. 'In The Forest I Sound' is an instrumental intro, melancholic and electro/ambient based, for the song called 'Something Called Tomorrow'. This song, including vocals of Thanasis himself, is a kind and gentle one, including soft electro sampling, heavy drumming and welladded guitar parts (take special notice of the little progressive solos). 'Afterlife Crescendo', the longest track (over nine minutes!) of the release, comes up next. It's a very diverse song, going from sailing and gentle electronic parts to outbursts of midtempo gothic metal and experimental progressive passages - with a special mentioning for the synchronized soprano and guitar solo little after six minutes. 'Every Goodbye' is a mostly instrumental track, with experimental electronic and keyworks mixed with whispering vocals, easy drumming and a refreshing approach, to be followed by 'Goddess'. Already knowing this song because of the preveriously mentioned 'Goddess' EP, I knew what was coming to me. 'Goddess' is an easy listening track with powerful riffing, gentle and soft electronic works and the kind of vocals making the two opposites melt perfectly together. The vocal lines are somewhat recogniseable, which probably explains why this song was chosen for an EP. 'And Through a Dream' is an instrumental, mostly ambient and classical based intro for the final track; 'The Universe Expands'. The title track turns out to be a mix of old school and modern riffing, orchestral keylines and recogniseable sampling - accompanied by the diverse and great vocal lines that we heard all over the album.
When we compare this full-lenght to the works of Dol Ammad, I think Dol Theeta is a bit more accessable for the masses. This doesn't mean that the great complex electronic passages dissapeared. Like described in the track by track review, 'The Universe Expands' is filled with experimental, gentle and exceptional sampling, as well the diversity within it. Even the most accessable track of the record, 'Goddess' in my opinion, hides wicked parts of sampling and keylines. The production of this album is the same killer one as we had on the EP and on the Dol Ammad album, meaning a perfect balance inbetween metal and electronics. For the people who want to take a little advice from a naughty reviewer: listen to this one with earphones (or an eartrumpet if you prefer) to hear sampling parts that are hidden when you blast this one through your speakers. Every time it seems like you hear something new and undiscovered!
'The Universe Expands' results in an extremely high and nearly perfect score, while adding the note that each time you listen to it, it gets even better. A unique and essential release for fans of the electro and gothic metal genres, as well for the metal and electro fans which IQ's allows it to recognise the beautiful compositions on it!
Vote: 98 / 100
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1. Which Are You
2. Silver Air
3. Nighttime
4. Mud
5. In the Forest I Found
6. Something Called Tomorrow
7. Afterlife Crescendo
8. Every Goodbye
9. Goddess
10. And Through a Dream
11. The Universe Expands
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