Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Cardinale - 31:13 - 2006 - Arclight Records

Track Listing 1. 31:13

Cardinale is composed of Dave Finner, Tommy Messbaer, Derek Moreland and Keth Palumbo. Four guys from Texas who set out to incorporate several different styles of metal into one integrated sound. In their debut CD (being released April 25, 2006) 31:13, you get one self-titled song that last, yes, 31 minutes and 13 seconds. It is decidedly heavy metal but certainly not traditional in sound.

31 minutes and 13 seconds is a long time to listen to one song regardless of it's quality. Even in the 1970's when extended tracks were at their most popular, you mostly heard them as a bonus from a major group. It is almost unheard of to release a one track debut by a band that has not had the ability to promote themselves nationally.

The instrumentation in Cardinale is reflected by the band as being a sound that goes through "peaks and valleys incorporating several metal subgenra from experimental to metalcore" in an effort to promote what the band cites as a "transitory" metal sound. The lyrics are few but extremely heavy and focus on death and impending doom from a modern day empire. It is not a band that can, at this time, be reflective of any other sounds currently heard in routine music circles. Cardinale has yet to bring themselves fully into development, as the one song CD suggest, but as they progress musically time will tell.

It is nearly impossible to give an accurate review on a CD debut that only contains one very long song. The one clear message that this song brought is that it is epic. Cardinale is newly formed having only been established since the later part of 2005. It might well be said that more material needs to be developed and produced in order to best promote their style and give listeners a wider chance for review.


--HEATHER O'BRIEN 04.14.06