review: Drops of Heart

Drops of Heart

Stargazers

22 July 2020

One advantage on the side of Drops of Heart’s contemporary take on melodic extreme metal is that the songs can be understood on the first or second listen. There is something appealing about how the music works so well upon first hearing it. Maybe it’s the sense of sophistication that comes across quickly. Whatever it is, there is an energy that sounds good. The melodies don’t hurt their cause, either. Their songs depend on melodies; sad, melancholic vibes are an important part of the sound, even though the music is uptempo and at times very fast.

The vocals are both a low death growl (pleasant, smooth; not a screechy, irritating voice) and melodic singing. This latter element features a softer singing; it’s not a high-pitched typical metal singing but more like a softer, gentler tone. The guitar style varies: traditional melodic death metal riffs (thrashy); chunky galloping segments; a bit of chugging heaviness; some tremolo parts. In terms of drum sound, it is a contemporary sound, like sampled or programmed drumming. Fans that want the sound of real drums might object. As far as melodies, the guitar melodies are indispensable to the band (Ufa, Bashkortostan, Russia), the melodic singing to a lesser extent provides melodies through vocal lines, and the keyboards/synths/background sounds fill out the vibes, although at times they are more than just a “background” element. Overall, the album is memorable and the contemporary production makes the music softer and easier on the ears for a more pleasant listening experience, a type of poppy extreme metal. FYI: The lyrics are in Russian.

Stargazers by Drops Of Heart