Some of the band members from Diablo Swing Orchestra from a promotional photo set for Butcher’s Ballroom

Track list

1. Balrog Boogie
2. Heroines
3. Poetic Pitbull Revolutions
4. Rag Doll Physics
5. D’Angelo
6. Velvet Embracer
7. Gunpowder Chant
8. Infralove
9. Wedding March For A Bullet
10. Qualms Of Conscience
11. Zodiac Virtues
12. Porcelain Judas
13. Pink Noise Waltz

Genre

Metal, symphonic metal, avant-garde

Release

August 17, 2006

Label

Guillotine Grooves

Background Information

I’m going to have to start this article by saying I’m usually not a big fan of metal music. I usually only go look at some artists, or get what is a byproduct or presents some influences. Symphonic metal is usually as far as I’ll go. Avant-Garde, however, is a genre I’m more familiar with. In this case, a band named Diablo Swing Orchestra was flung to my face, mixing both the genres of Symphonic Metal and Avant-Garde. I liked the album more than usual similar releases, so I decided to make you guys discover it via this review, if you’ve never heard about it before that is.

Diablo Swing Orchestra is a band from Sweden, a band who has won ‘The Biggest Surprise’ award in 2006 Metal Storm awards, ranking before Iron Maiden (source). They also pulled in second place in avant-garde metal. They’re 6 musicians, with one playing the cello, an instrument relatively rare in Metal.

The Butcher’s Ballroom is the band’s first real release, and it delivers. It’s a fusion of swing, flamenco, jazz, opera, orchestral music, all wrapped up in the metal envelope. Of course the opera singing can get cumbersome at times, but DSO manage to incorporate it efficiently.

My Opinion

The album begins with Balrog Boogie on a little drum line with cello. As the title indicates it, that song is a boogie, but with heavy distortion, making it contrast with regular boogie. The opera singing already begins here, but apart from being a woman singing in a high-pitched voice, there is nothing too annoying about it. Horns here and there add the salt and pepper of the piece, which has a bright, crazy tone to it. It’s one of the strongest tracks on the album (of course, this comes from a guy who likes the boogie style).

Heroines is mainly introduced via drums, cello and voice, with a dark and dramatic undertone. It quickly turns to some sort of surreal tango deviation, before being transformed to your regular metal-opera (haha, can this really be said?) song by the end. As a kind of progression in terms of genres, Poetic Pitbull Revolutions comes right after. It begins with the traditional flamenco guitar, but instantly becomes some shred fest interluded with Spanish-like trumpets. It’s a wonder Diablo Swing Orchestra managed to incorporate trumpets to metal, but damn, they did it. And they did it well.

This was not the end of surprises for me though, Rag Doll Physics follows, and has to be one of the best songs on the albums, with Balrog Boogie, from its contrast with the rest. DSO demonstrate their ability to make balanced music by using various movement, unified by what seems to be flawless musicianship. There are not many songs that sound like each other on the record, which is surprising for many avant-garde artists, who tend to follow the works of Mike Patton or John Zorn.

To me, it’s like Nightwish and Devil Doll mixed together, except it’s not annoying (oh God, this will not go well with the comments). Yes, I think Nightwish tends to be annoying. Devil Doll sound like they are trying hard to have a style, and it doesn’t have the same natural flow Diablo Swing Orchestra managed to find.

This is not exactly saying Nightwish and Devil Doll suck, it’s more that those who like them will be surprised and pleased by DSO. You have to keep an open mind in some genres, though, I’d say, especially since tracks like Gunpowder Chant borrow a lot to foreign music with themes sounding like they come from the East, and the use of instruments like a didgeridoo.

Other songs keep the same idea of originality and change through the rest of the album. Zodiac Virtues and Qualms of Conscience both go in slower, more emotional themes, although this doesn’t keep the former from touching the normal metal branches.

The Butcher’s Ballroom also ends in great way, with Pink Noise Waltz reminding of Balrog Boogie in a heavier form, more in the lines of Zodiac Virtues. It’s a decent example of what the band can produce. Just when you think it’s completely over, a slow jazzy tune comes up, and guides you to the end of the CD with class.

Conclusion

Diablo Swing Orchestra managed to surprise more than one with The Butcher’s Ballroom, mixing genres, intonations, moods and instruments in a way that seems to become rare today. Many bands will stick to the ‘tried and true’ approach, but DSO go further and bring new content to our ears. It’s definitely a good addition to the collection of anyone who enjoys symphonic metal and/or avant-garde music, although I’d not really call it a classic you must own. It’s Worth a try, though.

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