Capilla Ardiente - Where Gods Live & Men Die (Slip) [CD]

Jewelcase CD housed in a slipcase, The epic doom metal band Capilla Ardiente (a Spanish expression translated as "burning chapel") was founded in Chile's capital Santiago in 2006. Up until now, they have issued one EP and two albums, »Bravery, Truth And The Endless Darkness« (2014) and »The Siege« (2019), both for High Roller Records. Their brand new album »Where Gods Live And Men Die« was once again recorded by Felipe Plaza Kutzbach (vocals), Julio Bórquez (guitar), Igor Leiva (guitar), Claudio Botarro Neira (bass) and Francisco Aguirre (drums). Felipe Plaza Kutzbach is also singing for Procession (sharing duties with Claudio Botarro Neira) as well as the reborn Scald (from the Russian Republic). »Where Gods Live And Men Die« was recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by the band's guitar player Igor Leiva, at Atomic Noise Studios in Santiago de Chile. Drums were recorded at Equinox Studios (in Rancagua) and the vocals at Audiocustom Studios (Santiago). Just like it's predecessor »The Siege«, the new album once again contains four very long song, which is not a coincidence, as bass player Claudio Botarro Neira points out: "It's the way we have developed to tell the stories contained in our lyrics. If our songs are long, it's because they have many different passages. We tend to see our songs in a sort of 'cinematographical' way, where the music has to provide the proper background to tell our tales." Consequently, »Where Gods Live And Men Die« has a very specific lyrical concept as well: "In a way, it's the closing story to our two previous albums and our first EP. Again, it's a solitary journey, but this time it's the final chapter, a tale of departure. It deals with personal loss, wounds from the youth, disease and the need to overcome and transcend by willpower." Incorporating quite a few Bathory »Hammerheart« era and early Manowar influences, »Where Gods Live And Men Die« shows that Capilla Ardiente are way more than an orthodox epic doom metal band. The bass player explains how the music of the band has developed over the years: "I think that since the first EP, and due to the limitations brought by being just two musicians on a quest, we have been moving from a more traditional and in your face doom riffing style to a more epic/broad sound, which can be noted in the progression from the »Solve Et Coagula« EP to the first album »Bravery, Truth And The Endless Darkness«. We have become better musicians, I guess. With »The Siege«, and as a five-piece band, I think Capilla Ardiente has finally found it's own, unique style, which is quite evident on »Where Gods Live And Men Die«. And I don't think our future songs will differ much more in terms of heavyness or complexity." MATTHIAS MADER