The Gothic genre has come to encompass every band ranging from Paradise Lost to Nightwish, so vast is the perception as to what constitutes the Gothic sound. When in fact it appears that the bands shoe horned into this particular genre have nothing more in common than they choose to employ orchestral arrangements and play upon the notion of music atmosphere in their music. So a health warning should be emblazed across any release carrying such a mockier as Goth Metal.

One such band who has found themselves being labelled with the ill fitting Gothic tag is that of Silentium. A name that isn’t likely to roll off the tough of many despite the fact the band producing their own brand of Dark Metal since the mid nineteen nineties. ‘Amortean’ is the bands fifth full length release to date and while the album includes all the above characteristics of a traditional “Gothic” band, Silentium do offer up a little more variety than perhaps they are given credit for.

The vocal balance between lead singer Riina Rinkinen and the back up male vocals, while prevalent in many “Gothic” Metal bands does offer an interesting contrast to their songs, and Rinkinen’s vocals do thankfully steer clear of over used operatic styling’s that have come to dominate female vocals over recent years. Instead the crisp clear vocals play the perfect contrast to the heavy riffing and complex song arrangements to produce a very slick end product.

The album does have moments of self indulgence, none more so than the nine minute epic "The Fallen Ones with You Tonight" which runs through the whole spectrum of musical tempos, but does command a level of respect if for nothing more than the precision of the songs execution. I’d argue more Dark Metal than “Gothic” but a sure winner with all those who favour their Metal with a hint of theatre and majesty about it.