Traditionalist metal-heads might find Avant-garde as some kind of ridiculous perversion, yet this is exactly the reason why Metal has survived and become stronger nowadays: it can fit almost any kind of music (I mean, decent music), because it is inside its veins and roots. Developed from rock'n'roll, and this in turn from blues and jazz, and everything from classical and folk, metal is flexible and provocative without necessarily having to load the rigorous severity and academicism of other genres.

Now, for some reason, Scandinavians have achieved a good success widening, experimenting and mixing metal with other stuff. From the Swedish Therion and the Norwegian The 3rd and the Mortal to the Finnish Thergothon, including all the Classical-Folk-Weird things that human mind can conceive. Swedish manufactured Diablo Swing Orchestra in particular blends clearly Swing, but also Jazz, Cabaret, Classical, Opera, Latin rhythms and many more weird combinations. All of this with a notable intelligence and great skilled weird-peaced instrumentation and vocals.

Produced by In Flames producer Roberto Laghi, "Sing-Along Songs For the Damned and Delirious" is a magnificent sequel to "The Butcher's Ballroom". Beyond progressive, folk and symphonic, we're talking about a very good Metal fusion, which is in practice much harder than what we could think. First of all, you have to be truly nuts. Anyway, not everything has been done yet, and these dudes know it and know how it has to be done, so we can expect more odd songs in the future.

If you're sick of the same repetitive clone Power, Gothic, Black or anything else bands, try this mad sonic refreshing stampede and loosen up again your old tired ears. Totally recommendable for those restless listeners in search for some professionally eccentric. record. Just don't let the cover art fool you.