I don’t devote entire reviews to EPs typically, but some of them spawn words that demand it. Some of them are long enough to be a full album, too. That is the case with Persefone’s new EP Lingua Ignota: Part I—no word on when Part II will arrive. This EP is launching on February 2nd through Napalm Records.
Persefone hails from Andorra. Their current lineup includes Daniel Rodríguez Flys on harsh vocals, Miguel “Moe” Espinosa on keyboards and clean vocals, Carlos Lozano and Filipe Baldaia on guitars, Toni Mestre on bass, and Sergi “ Bobby” Verdeguer on drums. I’ve been a fan of the band since their 2013 album Spiritual Migration, but they’ve been making music since at least 2001. For me, their 2017 album Aathma is a masterpiece of progressive death metal, and fans of the genre need to hear it.
The band plays progressive death metal, but it is far more melodic than that might sound to most people. The band includes a plethora of effects and keyboard melodies that enliven and invigorate the prog death sound that is their foundation. So, you will hear punishing guitars and technical wizardry, but also towering melodies and gorgeous atmospheres.
One thing I’ve noticed is that Persefone’s music tends to connect with lots of people, but their harsh vox do not. The single “One Word” is deeply divisive for this reason, seeing as how the music is cinematic and exciting, but the harsh vox are absolutely demanding. Some people can handle that, and some cannot. I feel like I’ve only recently acquired the ability to handle this level of harsh vox to the point where I enjoy them.
But the EP itself is far more balanced than the single betrays. The harsh vocals aren’t unrelenting, and they mix quite well with the beautiful clean vocals. However, notice how grooving and rhythmic Daniel’s harsh vocals are—how much expertise and talent they require. And sometimes they just sound downright cool. Miguel’s clean vocals slice through them with effective melody, and at times they seem to merge into one.
Lingua Ignota is a great five-track EP that lasts around 30 minutes. It feels like an album in that way. Tracks 1-2 go together, so “Sounds and Vessels” is like an introduction with plenty of flair, and “One Word” drops like an atomic bomb, and if you can last through the first few minutes, you might just catch the vision. The title track comes next and is probably the most balanced song overall; you will hear a great contrast between the vocal styles, and the main riff gets my blood moving.
My favorite tracks are the last two, though. “The Equable” has my favorite chorus, and is led by the clean vocals, but Daniel’s harsh vox add the punch and the grit that make the song so good. The closer “Abyssal Communication” is a serene and beautiful piece that is more about ambience and color than metal. I love how it eases us into the ending with peace and tranquility, at least musically.
Honestly, I like this little EP better than the band’s 2022 album Metanoia. This EP has vibrancy and commanding flow, and it is a blast to hear. I think fans of the genre will adore it, and those who struggle with harsh vox could learn to appreciate the balance if they give the whole release a try. I love how vigorous and heavy it can be, but also how calm and lovely it can be, too. If you like experiments in dynamism, this is for you.
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Find Persefone online:
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The PROG Mind 