10 Incredible Metal Albums You May Have Missed In 2021
3. Swagger & Stroll Down The Rabbit Hole - Diablo Swing Orchestra
A cursory glance at the album art whilst listening to opener ‘Sightseeing In The Apocalypse’ would make many wonder what an album such as this is doing on a list of Metal albums. Although ominous, the cartoonish image does have a whiff of The Magic Kingdom to it, whilst the opener sounds more like a West End soundtrack than anything resembling even rock music.
As soon as the intense percussion of follow up ‘War Painted Valentine’ hits, however, all preconceptions are pushed to one side. A forceful rager, backed up incongruently with brass and strings, the song gives you an idea of what kind of avant-garde madness you can expect going forward, even if it is just the tip of the iceberg.
The album carries on through every iteration of music madness you could expect; swing bands, salsa, folk, power metal and industrial are all name checked on a musical journey which befits the album title. Even the very un-Metal doo-wop stylings of ‘Speed Dating An Arsonist’ contain subtle references to immolating your lover, and the album lynchpin, ‘Malign Monologues’ is a rip roaring show tune of savage lunacy akin to hearing Danny Elfman writing music on bath salts.
It’s the versatility of co-vocalists Daniel Håkansson and Kristin Evegård that make the experience. Sounding like Les Claypool has joined Die Antwoord one minute, then shifting to a wartime showgirl, a vaudevillian ringleader and a growling Death Metal beast the next, this is one rabbit hole we’re glad to be lost in.
Listen To: War Painted Valentine