Mandragora Scream is an Italian

gothic metal Gothic metal (or goth metal) is a fusion genre combining the aggression of heavy metal music, heavy metal with the dark atmospheres of gothic rock. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different ...

band.

History

Early history

Formed in 1997 by a singer and front-woman Morgan Lacroix. In 1999, Lacroix recorded a

demo album Demo, usually short for demonstration (disambiguation), demonstration, may refer to: Music and film *Demo (music), a song typically recorded for reference rather than for release *Demo (Behind Crimson Eyes), ''Demo'' (Behind Crimson Eyes), a 2004 ...

, with four songs. In 2000, Lacroix was introduced to singer, guitarist and composer Terry Horn. The result of this artistic union was the debut album ''Fairy Tales from Hell's Caves'', distributed in 2001 by German independent label

Nuclear Blast Nuclear Blast Records is a German record label with subsidiary, subsidiaries located in Germany, the United States and Brazil. It was founded in 1987 by Markus Staiger in Donzdorf. Originally releasing hardcore punk records, the label moved on ...

/Capiranha records. A German critic delivered two positive reviews, calling the style melodic "

gothic rock Gothic rock (also called goth rock or simply goth) is a style of rock music that emerged from post-punk in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The first post-punk bands which shifted toward dark music with gothic overtones include Siouxsie an ...

" in ''

Sonic Seducer ''Sonic Seducer'' is a German music magazine that covers gothic rock, new wave, EBM and other kinds of electronic music and culture. The magazine is noted for organizing the annual M'era Luna Festival. Since its inception in 1994, the ''Sonic ...

'' and "

" in ''

Metal Hammer ''Metal Hammer'' is a heavy metal music magazine and website founded in 1983, published in the United Kingdom by Future, with other language editions published by different companies available in numerous other countries. ''Metal Hammer'' featu ...

'', respectively. According to the band, "''Fairy Tales is definitely a

concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...

: a trip throughout the Dantean Hell, tormented by passion, anguish and insanity, where the character of Virgil is surprisingly replaced by an unusual bewitching vampire fairy."'' In 2002, Mandragora Scream released their second album ''A Whisper of Dew'', distributed by Nuclear Blast. Once again a concept album, centred on a vampire story specifically written for the band by Julio Angel Olivares Merino, horror-gothic literature writer and teacher of English Philosophy at the Spanish

University of Jaén The University of Jaén ( Spanish: UJA; ''Universidad de Jaén''; Latin: ''Universitas Giennensis'') is a public research university based in Jaén, Andalucía, Spain. The University has two campuses: Las Lagunillas, located in Jaén and the S ...

. Drawing inspiration from this tale, Lacroix composed the entire album lyrics.

''Madhouse'' and recent works

“Madhouse” is the third album, published in the year 2006, by Lunatic Asylum Records. In January 2007, they published a new CD/DVD called ''Dragonfly'', which includes 2 videos from the album ''Madhouse'' ("Dark Lantern", "Blight Thrills") and 2 remasterized tracks plus 1 new song (”Dark Lantern Remix”, “Spiritual Leadin”, “Lunatic Asylum”) and in March 2007 a single track called "Jeanne D'Arc" by Lunatic Asylum Records. But They released it DVD in April 2008 with the album ''Madhouse'' and the single track "Jeanne D'Arc" with a bonus video, a new acoustic song. Mandragora Scream's fourth album, ''Volturna'', was released in November 2009. It comprised 15 tracks including two covers: " Bang Bang" and " Fade to Grey". A European tour was announced that included support acts from

Christian Death Christian Death is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles County, California, in 1979 by Rozz Williams. With major line-up changes over the years, Christian Death has retained "a relentlessly confrontational stand against organized religion ...

and

The 69 Eyes The 69 Eyes is a Finnish Rock music, rock band. It was founded in 1989 in Helsinki by vocalist Jyrki 69 (who also writes the band's lyrics), guitarists Bazie, Timo-Timo and bassist Archzie, joined in 1992 by drummer Jussi 69; the lineup never c ...

. The band have changed line up with Furyo on drums and Max River on bass. A fifth album, ''Luciferland'', followed in 2012.

Discography

EP

* '' Promo Track 99 (Demo)'' (1999)

Albums

* ''Fairy Tales from Hell's Caves'' (2001) * ''A Whisper of Dew'' (2003) * ''Madhouse'' (2006) * ''Volturna'' (2009) * ''Luciferland'' (2012) * ''The Deathly Hallows'' (2020)

Compilations

* ''Nothing But The Best'' (2021)

DVD

* ''Dragonfly '' (2008)

Collaborations and appearances

Mandragora Scream are also featured on various international compilations: * ''Beauty in the Darkness Vol. 5'' (2001) * ''Mystic Art'' (2001) * ''Nuclear Blast Vol. 6'' (2001) * ''Off Road Tracks Vol. 45'' (Hammer 2003) * ''Beautiful Voices'' (Nuclear Blast)

References

External links

Official Mandragora Scream website
{{Authority control Italian gothic metal musical groups Musical groups established in 1997 Italian musical quartets Nuclear Blast artists