Avrigus
The Secret Kingdom

December 2001
Released: 2001, Pias Germa
Rating: 1.5/5
Reviewer: CrashTest

OK, THE SECRET KINGDOM is by far the lowest score I have given any CD since joining the staff at Metal Rules. EvilG sent this one along more than two months ago and I kept putting it off as an act of mercy to the band. I hate to put anybody’s work down, but I found nothing redeeming about the whole effort.



Avrigus is a twosome from Australia. Judy Chiara handles the keys, acoustic guitar and lead vocals, while Simon Gruer takes the guitars, bass and drum duties. I suppose the music can be loosely classified as gothic, but I didn’t find one iota of metal throughout. Lest anyone accuse me of being a metal nazi, it should be known that I own and enjoy CDs in just about every musical genre imaginable, from classical to country to classic rock, so I’m not just putting this down simply because it’s not metal. I’m putting it down because it’s boring, plain and simple. I gave my best effort to find something to like about the CD, listening to it repeatedly over a two month period, and it just wouldn’t take. Different strokes for different folks though, so if you think the idea of a band that makes “progressive doomy ambient classical influenced darkwave music” (as one review I read has described it), then go for it. But remember, you were warned.



Official website: http://www.avrigus.com