Porta Obscura
{{Infobox album
| name = Porta Obscura
| type = studio
| artist = Coronatus
| cover = PortaObscuraCover.jpg
| alt =
| released = 14 November 2008{{cite news|url=https://production.blabbermouth.net/news/coronatus-new-album-title-release-date-revealed/|title=Coronatus: New Album Title, Release Date Revealed|website=Blabbermouth.net|date=26 April 2008|accessdate=15 November 2021}}
| recorded = 2008
| studio = Klangschmiede Studio E in Mellrichstadt, Germany
| genre = Gothic metal
| length = 45:23
| label = Massacre
| producer = Coronatus
| prev_title = Lux Noctis
| prev_year = 2007
| next_title = Fabula Magna
| next_year = 2009
}}
Porta Obscura is the second studio album by German gothic metal band Coronatus. It contains 11 tracks plus 2 bonus tracks included in the limited edition digipak which was released along with the standard edition. Those bonus tracks are "Flos Obscura", a new recorded Latin version of the track "Dunkle Blume" from their last album, Lux Noctis, and "Volles Leben", the band's first song in its initial form with male vocals.[http://www.coronatus.net/download/files/Coronatus_PO_Info_E.pdf Press info sheet from Massacre Records]{{dead link|date=March 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}
Reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = Lords of Metal
| rev2 = Metal.de
| rev2score = 5/10{{cite web|url=https://www.metal.de/reviews/coronatus-porta-obscura-11515/|author=Stephan|title=Coronatus - Porta Obscura|lang=de|website=Metal.de|date=11 December 2008|accessdate=15 November 2021}}
| rev3 = Metal Hammer (Germany)
| rev4 = Metal Perspective
| rev5 = Stormbringer
| rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stormbringer.at/reviews/3263/coronatus-porta-obscura.html|title=Coronatus - Porta Obscura (CD)|accessdate=15 November 2021|last=Poultidis|first=Dimitrios|date=1 December 2008|publisher=Stormbringer.at|lang=de}}
}}
Porta Obscura received mixed reviews from the critics. A review by the Dutch Lords of Metal website complained about a lack of "remarkable compositions". The German edition of Metal Hammer compared the style to Nightwish with influences of medieval metal and lauded the accomplished production. Metal Perspective's reviewer called the album "below average, providing only weak, typical and uninspiring moments" while the German Sonic Seducer magazine marked a considerable improvement of the vocal arrangements compared to Coronatus' first album and praised the multiple musical hues on Porta Obscura.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.sonic-seducer.de/index.php/component/option,com_reviews/anzeige,8442/func,detail/|title=Coronatus - Porta Obscura|lang=de|first=Markus|last=Eck|magazine=Sonic Seducer|year=2008|issue=12|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414111717/http://www.sonic-seducer.de/index.php/component/option,com_reviews/anzeige,8442/func,detail/|archivedate=14 April 2013}} The Austrian webzine Stormbringer was positive about the compositions but asked for a more distinctive original input from the band.
Track listing
{{Track listing
|title1=Prologue
|length1=1:57
|title2=Exitus
|length2=4:00
|title3=Fallen
|length3=6:50
|title4=In Silence
|length4=4:22
|title5=Beauty in Black
|length5=4:36
|title6=Cast My Spell
|length6=5:09
|title7=In Your Hands
|length7=2:41
|title8=Mein Herz
|length8=3:16
|title9=Am Kreuz
|length9=4:39
|title10=Der Vierte Reiter
|length10=4:30
|title11=Strahlendster Erster
|length11=3:23
|title12=Flos Obscura
|length12=5:14
|note12=bonus track
|title13=Volles Leben
|length13=3:56
|note13=bonus track
|total_length = 54:33
}}
Personnel
- Carmen R. Schäfer – vocals
- Ada Flechtner – vocals
- Jo Lang – guitars
- Aria Keramati Noori – guitars
- Fabian Merkt – keyboards & programming
- Chriz diAnno – bass
- Mats Kurth – drums
Info
- Mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland.[http://www.coronatus.net/discography/index_en.php?LANG=EN Official Coronatus site - Discography]{{Dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}
- The songwriting started when the soprano singer Carmen R. Schäfer was expecting a child. Before finishing it she gave birth to her daughter, Beatrice Anita.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090228174512/http://coronatus.net/news/index.php?LANG=EN Official Coronatus site - News]}}
References
{{Reflist}}
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