Fictio Solemnis – (A)ster Review

The listener is thrust into the intense world of (A)ster when the play button is pressed. The opening piece, Intro, sets the stage with its incantation, choir, and ambience-orchestral intro. This is followed by the second track, Ophiucus, and the remaining four pieces, each one a whirlwind of sound. The music is like a gust of wind, at times gentle and at times fierce, carrying with it a complex and brutal instrumentation and fierce vocals that are sure to excite even the most jaded metal fan.

(A)ster is a truly unique album that not only delves into the depths of Symphonic Blackened Death, but also seamlessly incorporates the elements of black metal, death metal, thrash metal, prog metal and classical/orchestral music. With symphonic parts that echo the grandeur and anger of Fleshgod Apocalypse, the technicality force of Xenofaction, and the brutalisation of Desource. The album creates an awe-inspiring, brutal, and complex musical metaverse that is sure to intrigue even the most seasoned metal fan.

At the same time, the listener will encounter the whole piece as this unpredictable composition, where one will experience moments where each song captures this captivating of being (sometimes) dark, gloomy, destruction in energy, fast, heavy/brutal. Grace and grandeur of orchestral/symphonic parts embedded in the power of contemporary of music, (short moments of) soft/tranquil, complex/technical sections. Which also utilises various compositions such as; excellent fretwork and interplay of technicality and complexity of the guitars with fluid rhythm changes (where one will find some rapidly changing tempos/fast-paced rhythm of ‘tech deathcore’ buried with the chords) and progressive passages, orchestration sections/parts compose by Francesco Ferrini from the band Fleshgod Apocalypse.

With crazy and fierce vocals with various tones, operatic female vocals, complexity battering of the drums (provided by two different guest drums), different tempos/moods, spoken words, and clean acoustic sections. While providing and delivering an overall fruit of art and well-executed in production, songwriting/composing of the piece.

(A)ster is a well-written release with a crisp sound topped off with exceptional creativity and music that hits all points of being complex/technical, brutal, fast, heavy, graceful, grandeur and entertaining music from the moment of pressing that play button.

The album comes to an end with the last song, Outro. Which welcomes the listener, with a drum and ambience instrumental soundscape, perfectly closing the album. We want to give a shoutout to Daniele Boccali for letting us review his band Fictio Solemnis and his album, (A)ster. Now, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.