Diablo Swing Orchestra: Known for their blend of different and disparate genres and styles!

Swagger & Stroll Down The Rabbit Hole is the new and fifth release from Diablo Swing Orchestra and I really enjoy this original and skilled band. The Diablo Swing Orchestra, (DSO) were formed in 2003.  They are known for their blend of different and disparate genres and styles from metal to prog to classic to swing. The band also features odd instrumentation including a cellist, trumpeter, and a trombonist.

The Diablo Swing Orchestra is an avant band from Sweden. The origins of their name are explained on their website, though the story has more to do with fiction than with fact. According to it, in the 16th Century there was an orchestra in Sweden that «played like no other» and that defied the ruling, wealthy, powerful Church with music that give the people a «new view» of life.

The Church deemed the music satanic, calling the ensemble «the Devil’s Orchestra». As the influence of the ensemble proved hard to eliminate, according to the story, its members were finally framed for murder and forced to hide. After a reward was offered, the orchestra’s members were finally caught and hanged.

The legend says that, before being captured, the orchestra’s members «signed a pact saying that their descendants were given the task of reuniting the orchestra in 500 years and continue their work of spreading thought-provoking music». Thus, a few centuries later, two of the current Diablo Swing Orchestra’s members, supposedly descendants of the original 16th Century members, reunited in a local music shop and start talking about music, which only lead them to discover that they were the ones meant to resurrect the Orchestra of old. And this is how The Diablo Swing Orchestra came to exist. The old but good 2019 track Superhero Jagganath,

The music they play is a highly original avant music. Lots of jazz, (swing), some funky tones, but also a big classical influence (with operatic vocals) and, of course, rock and metal. The orchestration of the songs is also very unique, with all kinds of keyboard, wind instruments and percussion. If one moment one can think the music is just plain metal (even power metal), it only takes one second for the band to switch to styles as varied as flamenco or jazz, or go for more atmospheric, gloomy passages. If there’s one band that truly deserves to be called avant-metal, then this one is it.

The music this band plays is absolutely progressive, transcending genre barriers and also creating a unique, incredibly original experience.

Tracklist:

Sightseeing In The Apocalypse

War Painted Valentine

Celebremos Lo Inevitable

Speed Dating An Arsonist

Jig Of The Century

The Sound Of An Unconditional Surrender

Malign Monologues

Out Came The Hummingbirds

Snake Oil Baptism

Les Invulnéables

Saluting The Reckoning

The Prima Donna Gauntlet

Overture To A Ceasefire

Line-up:

Kristin Evegård

Daniel Håkansson

Pontus Mantefors

Anders Johansson

Johannes Bergion

Martin Isaksson

Daniel Hedin

Johan Norbäck

 + guests

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