Content: Donamorte is a new name active on the electronic front. It’s an Italian formation set up by Armando ‘Donamorte’ Ammerata in 2011. He was joined by 2 extra members taking care for the programming and guitar playing. Donamorte released a digital EP and got signed on Space Race Records (sublabel of the EBM-minded EK Product) to unleash their official debut album.
“Gemini” is a surprising piece of work. Don’t expect the usual synth-pop standard, but a pop approach recovered with elements of EBM and industrial music. It’s one of the heaviest pop formats I’ve heard for so far and the least I can say is that it sounds great. “Gemini” appears to be a kind of challenge, but maybe a ‘pop’ album that will more appeal to the lovers of harder electronic music instead of synth-pop fans.
The opening song brings a nice twist of pop and new-wave with a rather melancholic mood and powerful vocals on top. The upcoming tracks rapidly evolve towards harder sounds, heavy pumping kicks and empowering guitar riffs. The catchy element of the production comes from the melodic aspect of the leads and a global evasive feeling hanging over most of the songs. “Accept And Understand” is the ultimate song to illustrate and catch the sound of those crazy Italians. It sounds like raw electro-pop lead by heavy, droning rhythms and menacing guitars. The song appears to be more like an antidote for traditional synth-pop music, but on the other hand I like the innovation of this work. And if you’re more into EBM fields, “Psycho End” will possibly catch your attention for the pure body-vibes.
The songs are rough -sometimes like unpolished, but “Gemini” also is a well-crafted piece of music revealing sophisticated writing skills like illustrated on “Down Down” and the excellent “I Want To Escape”. Last, but not least I also want to catch your attention on the particular vocal parts. The front man of Donamorte sings in a quite diversified way, alternating harsher parts and a pop style of singing, which sometimes reminds me of Gary Numan.
Conclusion: I can easily imagine “Gemini” will not be liked by the average synth-pop lover, but speaking for myself it’s an album that innovates and dares to break the edges of classical synth-pop music while it also features several remarkable songs.