CORONATUS – Cantus Lucidus
- by Matt Coe
- Posted on 18-02-2015
German symphonic/ gothic metal with dual female vocals, Coronatus have been active since 1999 pumping out a catchy style that has built them a decent European following. You’ll get a lot of folk/cultural gallop parts, woodwind instrumentation, and strong dual melodies that mix up elements of Subway to Sally, Eluveitie, and Nightwish plus some progressive artists. Lyrically intertwining native German tongue led tracks and English writing, the high energy "No Holy Wars" had me thinking of Kansas going through a Skyclad / Subway to Sally filter while "Cathy’s Floor" channels a little bit more an epic, darker side to the band.
Coronatus aren’t afraid to be a little speedier and heavier in spots (check out the opening thrash part for "Unsterblich"), which I think keeps "Cantus Lucidus" from being a pure one-trick symphonic/gothic metal record. Much stronger than my last experience with the band (2011’s "Terra Incognita"), I’d love to hear this act in a festival setting as they offer a variety of sounds to shatter the sky.