REVIEWS
June-July 2007
SOPOR AETERNUS (GER) - "Les Fleurs Du Mal" CD'07 (APOCALYPTIC VISION)
This is the last years' most awaited release ....at least for me! And I can tell you with all my heart that it worth waiting for! Anna Varney Cantodea's universe is a unique one, individualized and completely immune to fade or ephemeral. There's no way to listen to SOPOR without turning loose from the quotidian and, even if try to stay in the normal reality you'll fail as this genius' music casts you within its first accords in an abstract realm, where is no contour nor shades, no communication, neither dialogue, but solely isolation into listening! The choirs, the violins and all the other instruments atypical for Dark Wave or Gothic unveil a particular charm, while the voice is simply unique and everything pendulates between sorrow and morbid, amorphous mirth...! This work continues the previous one as we can find the same sound line: melodic, rhythmic, staccato, some experimental scents yet on shorter sequences...this last aspect might be the sole minus of the album... aside that, the label's presentation is complete:
"Dutch baroque-organs and analogue synthesizers are merging the centuries quite effortlessly, while angelic boys-choirs and powerful male voices in devoted hymn are praising the sexless beauty of their virtuous maiden Queen. The bright sound of the celesta is omnipresent and rolls off like gentle morning-dew of the skilfully delicate web, which, woven at night by all kind of strings and woodwinds, vibrates lustfully from the gloomy toll of the carillon-bells. Undeniably grave are the trombones and trumpets, huge the timpani and drums, and yet they manage to raise such an intoxicating whirl of energy, that even the saddest spirit is easily lifted up to those mysterious spheres of splendorous joy."
The imagery is also esquisite, as the CD's box is filled with all sorts of accessories for delighting the collector, including Anna's original signature and not a scanned one. This musical jewel can not, may not lack your collection!
www.soporaeternus.de
SHINING (SWE) - "V-Halmstad" CD'07 (OSMOSE)
Kvarforth, Niklas Olsson to be more precise, is this odd band's mastermind and he completely silenced me with this fifth album! Roberto/Avantgarde must greatly regret not keeping them at his label for at least one more release! It is, on the other hand, atypical for Osmose to promote a work like this one, as they haven't released any avantgarde projects until now! OK. No more harangue, especially as there were certain rumors about Kvarforth suicide... Details... I am holding in my hands one of the most beautiful and ingenious Atypical Metal albums ever! Starting back in 1996 with a Suicidal Black Metal approach, SHINING unlocks the first forms of nonconformism with their fourth album "IV - The Eerie Cold"! The new material is the continuance of the former one, yet it unveils true ripeness! Darker than ever, melancholic, progressive and ambiental on certain sequences, SHINING revolutionizes every single cliché or musical boundary, reminding me about the impact produced by FLEURETY or VED BUENS ENDE fifteen years ago. There's no analogy intended, it's just a truly admirable conceptual approach! With a Depressive Black Metal structure on the background and some shades of musical misanthropy and nihilism scenting of STRID or BURZUM, SHINING now opens us a hallucinating universe!!! I find it simply impossible to depict this sound! How the hell should I describe the acoustic version of Beethoven's "Moonlight" sonata, a track named is a way that solely the Northern ones can understand... I still strive to find some key elements in order to categorize this sound: the old SHINING, alongside BURZUM, BETHLEHEM, with some Swedish Rock touches as MOGWAI or KENT, plus some shades of the '80's Progressive or eve Psychedelic... both as instrumentation and voices... can you imagine how Niklas's voice modulations project us from a depressive, darkly cold realm (enlivened by his terrifying rasped tone) towards the melodious serenity of Rock & Roll's dimension! I have now idea how do SHINING's live performances look like now, as for over ten years the classic associations involved blood, cutting the veins, suicide, negativism...and plenty of Black Metal! I really wish to see them interpreting the new sequenced live in Romania, as this last album is a truly inspired one! Solely six tracks, a short and acoustic one, the rest extremely elaborated and of considerable length, inviting us on a journey within the entire musical realm... simply genius!
www.myspace.com/shininghalmstad
VIRGIN BLACK (AUS) - "Requiem-Mezzo Forte" CD'07 (THE END)
I remember that quite some years ago Samantha sent me her debut CD, unsupported by any label at the time. There were two tremendous tracks, incomparable with all the following ones (get wind of that review within my magazine). Consequently to a pretty modest album, VIRGIN BLACK decided to create a trilogy consisting of a classical album, a second one characteristic for their sound (this one) and an extremely Heavy third one, probably the harshest in their history. The second part of the announced trilogy seems to be the first one, enhancing the eternal Doom Death Metal. Now, in a finely sombre and dreary version, we have a material excelling in Gregorian choirs, cello and solemn piano, heavy violins, prolonged guitar accords, diving ourselves within a bombastic yet melancholic atmosphere...it is by far, the utterly inspired album in the band's history and also one of the most complex, even experimental, of this year's releases! The voices entwine throughout various tones, disclosing clean and mighty interpretations (Rowan has a high quality voice) alongside aggressive and violent ones... and it would be obsolete for me to remind you about the sopranos, feminine voices that perfectly resonate with the stately masculine ones! You can experience a Metal band and a symphonic orchestra in a perfect symbiosis! "... and I am suffering" is a particularly beautiful track, the most representative for the album! I wished I would have seen them in one of their last concerts, especially as they went on tour alongside ARCTURUS. I have to admit that the new sound didn't rapture me instantly, as it is quite experimental and intricate...The right mood was needed in order to listen to the seven pieces open minded, and now, after more than five consecutive auditions I can state that this hour of Epic Orchestral Doom Gothic Metal is exquisitely beautiful! I still wonder what entrances me the most, the orchestra or the band, but there's one thing I know for sure: once you'll solitarily listen to the "Lacrimosa (I am blind with weeping)" track, you'll accept that Mozart's "Requiem" can be majestically interpreted in the Metal version too, as VIRGIN BLACK break their own boundaries with this new chapter!
www.virginblack.com
NOCTURNAL DEPRESSION (FRA) - "Soundtrack For A Suicide: Opus II" CD'07 (SUN AND MOON)
It's a pity that this duet's musical views aren't correctly valued by the mixing of the sound. The harshness of the guitars shows an underground aura, but after several auditions, preferably with the head-phones on, it turns disturbing. The voice is also constrained, croaked and slightly forged. Aside that, all sounds like a FORGOTTEN TOMB copy, meaning a Depressive Suicidal Black Metal, pretty slow and melancholic from time to time. I admit it's the first album from these French guys that I'm listening to, but I know that their debut "Nostalgia" was appreciated in the underground scene. The specific NOCTURNAL DEPRESSION element seems to be the background guitars, and melody has a charm of its own! I cannot state that we are dealing with many contrasting shades in this kind of Black Metal, yet something is missing! Listening to it didn't discomfort me, yet it hasn't impress me either... it is an average album, spotting some intelligent ideas (saturated in nihilism and misanthropy) expressed in a diffident and at all original manner....there's a long road to go in order to reach SHINING or NARGAROTH's level, but the good point is that they're trying. Further on, it is quite appreciative and salutary the birth of a new Romanian (well, Transylvanian is the term they prefer) label aiming to promote Black Metal and I can say for sure that their first step is a correct one.
www.sunandmoonrecords.com
LABYRINTH OF ABYSS (ROM) - "The Cult OF Turul Pride" CD'07 (SUN AND MOON)
As far as I know, this album was officially released on tape in 2004, and is now harboured in an elegant and professional CD, with a renewed layout, remastered, and includes a bonus video. More Thrash than Black Metal, the sound it is characterized by simple yet excellently executed guitar riffs, an unexpectedly valuable battery and an extremely brutal voice, reminding me of Attila (TORMENTOR/MAYHEM) or Andras (SEAR BLISS). Nothing new, nothing original... on the other and, given the fact that the sound is saturated with rhythm, I guess live performances turn successful for the three guys, moreover they obviously aren't novices even if before this very material they have no spectacular apparitions to refer to. Well, from KREATOR to DARK THRONE, there are plenty of comparable accords.
www.sunandmoonrecords.com
FINNTROLL (FIN) - "Ur Jordens Djup" CD'07 (SPIKEFARM)
The Finns fifth album seems to get slightly above the average line, even though I was hoping it will overtake the previous one, "Jaktens Tid". We have Henri Sorvalli in a great shape, convincing us that not solely MOONSORROW means quality Viking Folk Metal, plus a bombastic keyboard enhancing a charming Epic dimension. But that's all. It is obvious that without the two founders of the band (one died under suspicious circumstances, while the other retreated due to a tumor affecting his vocal cords), the sound turns monotonous, common, with linear and highly resembling tracks, heading towards Black Folk Metal, with a major focus on rhythm and melody. The new voice is not guttural, nor normal, but rather roared and strained, and the martial aura seems forged to me. To those listening to FINNTROLL for the first time the album might be enjoyable... yet, for the ones admiring FINNTROLL six or seven years ago, the new chapter will be a disappointment! Even though the familiar harpsichord and flute harmoniously interweave the Northern traditional accords, this new material is almost indistinct to the previous one, "Nattfodd".
www.finntroll.net
FJOERGYN (GER) - "Sade Et Masoch" CD'07 (REARTONE)
The fifth album of this German trio is just as weird as the one released two years ago and named "Ernte Im Herbst". With a perfect mixing, FJOERGYN presents nine new tracks unveiling plenty of styles, starting with Epic, Viking or Black Metal to Gothic and Doom Metal. Therefore, we have a mixture of EMPYRIUM (the first two albums) with RIVENDELL, FALKENBACH or ANTESTOR. I am quite confused by this sound, even it is utterly complex. The multitude of styles wearies the ears on the first listening and you need to concentrate in order to comprehend this stylistic diversity. The lyrics are in German, and the voice is a tearing, yield one! It oscillates from aggressiveness towards normality, while the sequences are divided between ultra-rapid, explosive ones, and others quite melodic, atmospheric and bombastic! Obviously the Germans are trying to define a Metal style of their own, but I fear there will be solely a few persons patient enough to get to understand this slightly synthetic, artificial sound. I sense an experimental approach, one specific for studio processing and nothing more! Difficult, really difficult this music created by FJOERGYN! Still, as I've said earlier, both the recording and the mixing are perfect, plus a crystal clear sound!
www.fjoergyn.de
KORPIKLAANI (FIN) - "Tervaskanto" CD'07 (NAPALM)
One album a year! What a prolific inspiration these Finns have! We are dealing with the same Folk Metal they've accustomed us with! Violins, flute, plenty of accordion, normal and martial voices all over, traditional accords from the beginning to the end! Maybe slightly more Epic than the previous one, yet similarly Heavy, the latest KORPIKLAANI that this Finnish polka, named humppa, is highly appreciated in the Northern lands and that, since IN EXTREMO or SALTATIO MORTIS induce dementia to the fans during their concerts, these guys hope to reach that level too. A far too leaping and cheerful sound for me! Yet, these six Finns continue to be likeable in their musical expression!
www.korpiklaani.com
OCTAVIA SPERATI (NOR) - "Grace Submerged" CD'07 (CANDLELIGHT)
This women band (except for the drummer) returns with a second Gothic Doom Metal album, reminding me of LACUNA COIL or THE GATHERING. I am not an admirer of their music as it doesn't impress me at all. It's a nice album, girded to the last detail, presenting Morfeus/LIMBONIC ART as a special guest and the rest is nothing but noise: harsh guitars, tearing bass, atmospheric synth, and Silja's voice is quite good! There are some slow tracks enhancing the piano and imprinting melancholia to the sound, a quite vivid and rhythmic one. "Don't Believe A Word" is an extremely slow piece, representative for what I've spotted above. The band's sound brings TRISTANIA or THEATRE OF TRAGEDY to my mind especially throughout the instrumentation... the feminine voice is the sole element that pervades, giving a warm touch to the album and somehow reminding me about the superb album "Mandylion"/ THE GATHERING. If the tracks would have been less boisterous and more focused on melancholia and atmosphere, OCTAVIA SPERATI might have impressed... but as it isn't so, I can only appreciate that five women (beautiful ones all right) plus a masculine drummer are able to prove once again that Gothic Doom Metal is an easy style to approach if gifted and inspired... as for the marketing, it is obvious they inflame the audience on their concerts, or is it not?
www.octavia-sperati.com
KAYNO YESNO SLONCE (BUL) - "Elohim neva senzu" CD'07 (CORVUS CORAX)
Veselin Mitov returns with a new Epic Ambient work, one saturated in Bulgarian soundscapes, full of folklore, continuously emphasizing traditional instruments like gaida or the kaval that harmoniously match an excellent percussion. Comparatively the previous album, "Chakrak", now Veselin also enhances a vocal line, creating a monumental atmosphere! If it is pure folklore, if there is something else too, it really doesn't matter! I can state for sure, that this music, experimental for the musical scene I promote, is sublime! Everything is archaic, all veiled in traditions and totally unrelated to time! Less mystical than the previous one, yet more accessible due to the inserted vocal parts, this album is a genuine reward for those wishing to make a musical journey within the Bulgarian folkloric realm!
NEST (FIN) - "Trail Of The Unwary" CD'07 (CORVUS CORAX)
Perhaps the most famous project from the label across the Danube, NEST avers once again that it can be viewed as a Finnish acoustic CLANNAD! Kantele, the traditional instrument that enlightens the album is highly performed, creating a calm, melancholic, Celtic aura and at the same time unveils a Northern/Folk dimension, ambiental and deeply harboured within nature. NEST is a solo project, completely acoustic, contouring a relaxing, meditative music, both smooth and sombre, imposing respect. Still, I cannot spot considerable progress from "Woodsmoke" nor the ideatic diversity needed in order to bring vividness to this elegant sound...
http://
koti.mbnet.fi/atolonen/nest/nest.html
VINTERSORG (SWE) - "Solens Rotter" CD'07 (NAPALM)
Andreas Hedlund is one of the most inspired and talented musicians from the Swedish Metal scene, known from interesting projects alike: CRONIAN, OTYG, BORKNAGAR, FISSION, WATERCLIME. After one CDM and five CDs released in over thirteen years of activity, initially known under the name VARGATRON, VINTERSORG has now become a great name within this scene. As I've written already about all these albums during the past years, there is no point for me to focus on the band's history. I can state that these new sequences are a mirror towards the beginning of this project, meaning "Till Fjalls" or "Odemarks Son" sonorities: more Folk, less Progressive, Cold Black Metal from time to time and imposing atmosphere taking the shape of traditional hymns and using different voices, both clean and aggressive one. It is a complex, well conceived album, highly elaborated and certainly mature. Even though VINTERSORG's charm resides within the symbiosis between Metal and Folk instruments (flute, violins, harp), the new album shows that there's nothing more to be revealed, at least not if the approach remains the same. I have the feeling that I'm back in '98 and I'm unable to see many progresses. Mr. V has given up the collaboration with the drummer Mickelson and the bassist Steve Di Georgio, and now he only has Johan Lindgren. More violent than DREAM THEATER or RUSH, less Black Metal than any other Swedish band from the scene, yet saturated in Northern Folk, VINTERSORG simply cannot be compared... This is a beautiful album, technically executed, yet I was also expecting something new from this talented musician.
www.vintersorganic.com
THURISAZ (BEL) - "Circadian Rhythm" CD'07 (SHIVER)
This Belgian band gathers ten years of activity and has released two albums so far. "Scent Of A Dream" was well received in Benelux three years ago and that would be all of it. Now, we have a new release, with an extremely bombastic and atmospheric sound, immediately striking the listener! The five Belgians have chosen to use more masculine vocals, some of them brutal, others normal, while the trolled out ones are suitable for the Progressive style. The voices' combination is highly supported by a brightly performed synth, veiling the sound created by the extremely Heavy guitars and a modest battery. Therefore, we have a well executed and elegant Doom Death Metal, saturated in atmosphere and rhythm, where melody pleasantly entwines with the aggressive fragments....a first line underground album, nothing less!
www.thurisaz.be
DARKESTRAH (KYR) - "Epos" CD'07 (NO COLOURS)
Being at their 3rd album, the four guys present us an ingenious Pagan Black Metal, with lots of synth, plenty of primitive yet rapid guitars, some cello fragments and killing percussions! There is just a single track, long enough to fill an album, finely elaborated and saturated with rhythm. The sound is specific for the bands promoted by No Colours and brings to my mind the genius debut "For All Tid"/DIMMU BORGIR, released years ago by the same German label. Along the sinister cello, on the background we can hear various incantations and traditional songs, probably rooted in the Kyrgistan area, the native place of the four. The track is about 35 minutes long and it is a true atmospheric Black Metal work, unveiling Northern influences entwined with the original elements spotted before. It is one of the most beautiful surprises from this year's underground Black scene and I recommend you to listen to it carefully, it is worth!
www.darkestrah.vze.com
GRAVELAND (POL) - "Will Stronger Than Death" CD'07 (NO COLOURS)
Rob Darken continues to produce one album after another, both under GRAVELAND banner and LORD WIND. After fifteen years of activity, Rob records heaps of albums, some relevant for the scene, others far too similar. Striking out with a primitive Black Metal, GRAVELAND followed for several albums the Epic Black Metal approach, scenting alike Hammerheart/BATHORY style. The new album doesn't differ much from the previous one, but the atmosphere is curbed by the same clumsy mixing that burdens the audition of a music aiming towards elitism. The keyboard seldom peals clear and inspiring...otherwise the battery slays my hearing and the guitar riffs smother my breathing. It's GRAVELAND all right, nothing more, nothing less... Still, I hope Rob will reach the inspiration needed into creating an album that I'll keep in my mind for years, one to be set apart from all the mediocre releases done so far...
www.graveland.org
FORTID (ISL) - "Voluspa Part II: The Arrival Of Fenris" CD'07 (NO COLOURS)
Eldur and Fimbultyr have returned with the second chapter of this project grounded five years ago, and trust me, it is a fine work. Scented with flavours from all their other projects (CURSE, POTENTIAM, THULE, SYKDOM), FORTID continues the journey within their virtual world helmed by Atmospheric Melodic Viking Black Metal sonorities, somewhere there in the North of the continent. I admit there are also plenty of Epic elements on this album, enhancing a bombastic, majestic dimension, one that reminds me of ROTTING CHRIST's "Non Serviam" ("World Of Hel")! The voice is imposing, mighty, with an aggressive tone perfectly suitable for a sound like this one! Starting with an Epic FALKENBACH all the way to the famous Norse Black Metal bands, FORTID shows us the path towards a slight melodious and atmospheric music. "The Arrival Of Fenris" brings to my mind the legendary band HADES, HADES ALMIGHTY now, and I guess you can imagine the beauty of the sound! We have slow tracks where rapidity is not to be the key and also ultra-rapid sequences, where melody turns pale in front of the explosive guitars and demonical voice...a distinct album indeed!
NEGURA BUNGET (ROM) - "Om" CD'06 (CODE 666)
I hardly imagine skipping this album's review! Luckily, a reader reminded me about not writing a thing about the last release of these guys from Timisoara. OK. I know Negru since he was sketching the first demo with WICCAN REDE and during these last twelve years we've come across on several occasions. I know his interest towards history, in fact we follow the same path in this matter, yet he's far more involved and profound in his quests. Moreover, I know he prizes Norse Black Metal and that Fenriz is a drummer truly admired by him. Therefore, tradition entwines with Black Metal and generates the concept that has inspired for over fifteen years certain select groups; that's the ignition of derivates towards Heathen, Norse, Pagan, Viking Metal. In NEGURA BUNGET's case, they've tried throughout each and single one of their albums to individuate the sound, based on the aforementioned elements. Despite the fact they already have numerous fans, until this very album there was no sound identity. Of course, the sound was quite fine before too, consisting in quality Black Metal alongside the sporadically use of charming traditional elements, plus the band's seriousness both in studio and on tours, and a high quality imagery, all that have brought them the cult etiquette. These are the key elements that made NEGURA BUNGET the most known, respected and adored Romanian Black Metal band. Throughout "Om", NEGURA BUNGET enlivens the concept of transcendence within the listener, unveiling a remarkable Epic dimension, one that lacked their sound before. Passing by the folkloric instruments that they play and which are caressing the ears and smashing the sight during live performances, I also get over the atmosphere enhanced by an intelligently used keyboard that rarely scents fake due to the prolonged and repetitive accords, moreover I elapse the mioritic aura uncovered by the ambient fragments... but all in order to praise the way archaic/traditional gathers Black Metal within this material! I believe this is the point where NEGURA BUNGET succeeded into clearly contouring the bridge between the two dimensions, truly inspired on some pieces, other times far too brutal, the eternal copy - paste. The voices seem to have understood that vowel gradations open the gate towards perfection and, from this point of view, I see an obvious progress. It is, if you wish, the same concept that Overlord followed on "HEart of The Ages"/IN THE WOODS... "Cunoasterea tacuta" is the most eloquent example for that. Moreover, this sequence's video is truly superb, excellently contouring the Carpathian - Danubian - Pontic dimension, throughout a soundly pendulum waving from melancholia, towards real, via epic. Well, I've got a problem with the guitars all right, as they keep the Norse Black Metal scent and I find it hard to accept that Romania's most appreciated band hasn't find its way into demarcating from the Northern sound lines! "Om" is also the most experimental album in this band's history, proving that NEGURA BUNGET uncovers multiple resources... it's just that, until now, they haven't reach the right form of expression. How does Transcendental Ambient Atmospheric Black Metal sound to you? Quite fine, even bombastic, yet there are far too many distinct elements harboured in the same sound, aren't they? Well, this is my sense over the album! "Hora Soarelui" is the most beautiful and harmonious piece, and also the most representative one for the new NEGURA BUNGET sound. It is the Metal version for PHOENIX if you wish! The album has an exquisite digipack, conceived by the same master of imagery Dan/Encoil, and deeply resonant with the traditional and transcendental musical approach of the band. Plus, we have a high quality DVD, with several videos, concert fragments and a detailed interview with the members of the band. Once you run over these details, there is no way to miss out the deep symbolism inspiringly created by NEGURA BUNGET within "Om"!
www.negurabunget.com
ELEND (FRA/AUT) - "A World In Their Screams" CD'07 (PROPHECY)
I used to think of myself as a huge fan of this project until "Winds Devouring Men" came to light! The Dark Ambient dimension it unveiled has truly confused me, yet I've still waited for "Sunwar The Dead", maybe, may be... But no, this one failed into enlightening me too, so here I am listening to the third chapter from the series of five albums announced years ago that are to be released. What do I disclose within? Madness, violence, torture, peculiarity... These musicians have really deflected! On a bizarre background, ELEND creates a gloomy realm, noisy now and then, where the masculine voices alongside feminine ones oddly blend with the choirs; the instrumentation is both chaotic and disarming... apocalypse seems to be trumped... in fact, the whole album is a ceaseless storm where the violins play their own utterance and the keyboard hampers you, even wraps you up in fear... The sopranos alternate with normal masculine voices, simply narrating or truly terrifying the atmosphere!!! It is one of the most intricate ELEND works, and you certainly have to reach a certain mood in order to unveil the true substance of these latest compositions! "Umbersun" is ELEND's masterpiece in their Gothic Dark Wave Symphonic dimension, but these last eleven tracks represent the Dark Apocalyptic apogee for me. Obviously, none of their albums resembles the others, every single one is distinct, unique... yet ELEND remains ELEND, if we are to consider originality and stylistic identity! I wonder, is it possible for this tornado to be followed by a melancholic chapter? Time will tell...
www.elend-music.org
ION (IRE) - "Madre, Protegenos" CD'06 (EQUILIBRIUM)
Duncan Patterson decided to abandon ANTIMATTER too, subsequently to his departure from ANATHEMA a few years ago. His new project pendulates somewhere between Ambient, Gothic and Experimental, deeply absorbed within melancholia. Therefore, he has chosen some truly superb feminine voices from all over the world and with a simple orchestration and his own voice appearing now and then, Duncan succeeded into creating a tremendous album for the "Serenades" dreamers in a non Metal version! Plenty of influences are to be discovered, from Greece, Italy, all the way to Mexico or Argentina, but all in a frame highly strengthened by the specific Irish musical elements. Very Ethereal and romantic, this journey within Duncan's musical realm can solely induce relaxation, especially for the fact that along the specific instruments, harp, mandolin, percussions, flute and clarinet are to be found too. The album's drawback resides in the fact that it isn't a conceptual work but rather a sum of several tracks, gathered under the same CD. Anyway, it uncovers plenty of romanticism and opens the way towards utmost dreaming!
www.ion.equilibriummusic.com
NOVEMBERS DOOM (US) - "The Novella Reservoir" CD'07(THE END)
These Americans have a quite enviable seniority on the scene and I remember I've written some thoughts about them in my Kogaionon no.1, as they've just released the first album, a quality one, supported with their own budget! Influenced by MY DYING BRIDE, the band continued with several average albums, yet this latest release may bring them the long awaited recognition. Less melancholic, with Heavy rhythms set on a classic Doom Death Metal outline, NOVEMBERS DOOM now dwells on atmospheric sequences, clever guitar solos, contrasting voices, an excellently sounding and finely rhythmic battery. There is melody, acoustic, cold guitar, clean vocal, keyboard and perfect guitar riffs...all the needed elements in order to make this album a praiseworthy one! It's just that music alike this one is done for quite some time now, and I hope that these eight tracks comprised in one hour of enjoyable Metal won't be slipped by...at least not alike their first five CDs! The fact that Dan Swano mixed the album and James Murphy has done the mastering certainly represents a plus!
www.novembersdoom.com
KATATONIA (SWE) - "Live Consternation" CD'07 (PEACEVILLE)
I was expecting to see a high quality material as the British label accustomed us to. We are dealing with an audio CD plus a DVD with the concert they've performed on 17th of July, 2006 at Summerbreeze, Germany. I wished to see some interviews with the band, backstage information and other all sort of details that the audience is deprived of during the concert. Unfortunately, we can only find the complete recording of the Swedes' concert, with a fine sound and mixing and...that's about all of it. Moreover, we have tracks from their last albums which surprisingly sound identical with the original ones, and the most appreciated one on this release is "July". Well, that's the whole story about this latest release...
www.katatonia.com
DWELLING (POR) - "Ainda E Noite" CD'07 (EQUILIBRIUM)
The third album of the Portuguese is also the most nostalgic one, as the Neo - Classical dimension is perfectly enhanced by two superb violins and a sublime classic guitar. Aside that, the Ethereal touch is also present and Catarina Raposo's voice oscillates between dramatic and romantic, atmospheric and jazzy... in fact, the scents of Jazz are inspiringly emphasized also by the eleven tracks' calm and melodious accords. I now realize that the bass also sounds beautiful, as it is the sole low tonality instrument and it brings equilibrium to this special sound! Obviously this music has nothing to do with Metal, Dark Wave or other Ambient styles! Everything gravitates around classical music, yet the touch of these six musicians makes the style original, full of personality and warmth!
www.dwelling.equilibriummusic.com
PANTHEON - I (NOR) - "The Wanderer And His Shadow" CD'07 (CANDLELIGHT)
Once again Northern Black Metal, yet this time we are dealing with their second album. As I understood, the band was founded by a former 1349 member, which decided to ground his own Epic Atmospheric Black Metal band. Considering the sound, you can immediately spot that they're Norwegians. Trying to find their own identity, they've chosen to use, alongside Metal instruments, a cello too. There are some interesting atmospheric fragments, but also some weary ones, so that the presented Black Metal is one oscillating between the melodious and the super aggressive approach. It is a mix of TAAKE, with 1349 and BORKNAGAR, in a decent yet unoriginal manner. One piece is to be listened for sure: "Coming To An End", where Lazare/SOLEFALD performs as clean vocal.
www.pantheon-i.com
THE MOON AND THE NIGHTSPIRIT (HUN) - "Rego Rejyem" CD'07 (EQUILIBRIUM)
We have a new album from the Hungarian duet, more dynamic and expressive than the previous one, where the entwining of Ethereal with Folk proves to be quite charming. If I was to find some comparisons, HAGALAZ RUNEDANCE, LORENNA Mc KENNIT or QNTAL would match the approach. Plenty of violin and acoustic, excellent percussions, harp, woodwinds, a warm feminine voice seldom interrupted by a masculine one, warm and dreamy too. Agnes Toth and Mihaly Szabo show us once again their beautifully unique music, brightly uncovering shamanic and mystical themes. Harmony, equilibrium, musical beauty, you can find them all within this album, even though originality somehow remains just a desire.
www.themoon.equilibriummusic.com
ANTIMATTER (UK) - "Leaving Eden" CD'07 (PROPHECY)
Change causes transformations! After Duncan Patterson's departure, I thought that Mick Moss will end the project via this very last album! Honestly, I'm astounded!!! A magnificent work!!! Truly magnificent! No more experimental sequences, no feminine voices involved, end of the ambient fragments! Extremely valuable Alternative Rock is what we dealing with, presenting nine long and elaborated tracks, full of substance and atmosphere! The slowest ones are scented with psychedelic touches, remains of the old PINK FLOYD... the dynamic tracks remind me of Dan Swano's NIGHTINGALE! So beautiful and elegant this sound that I find myself unable to reach other terms to describe it; very melancholic, expressive and dark, with clean and keen masculine vocals, along with a bombastic and orotund keyboard, prolonged guitars and dolorous violins, the new ANTIMATTER is the most accessible album released so far, that risks to be perceived as the most commercial too, maybe even as the less profound of all. Indeed, the message is a simple and clear one, but these are the key elements making "Leaving Eden" a special album! A marketing move was to invite the other ANATHEMA member, Danny Cavanagh, as a guest, unveiling a romantic aura to the sound alongside Mick! Congratulations! Still, why isn't there 1 in my rating? I have no idea. Waywardness maybe...:-)
www.antimatteronline.com
EMPYRIUM (GER) - "A Retrospective..." CD'06 (PROPHECY)
Better later than earlier! If fact, you didn't miss a thing! EMPYRIUM is the first and the most famous of all Prophecy bands, plus there are ten years of activity celebrated now, and that's what makes this release into being one of homage, moreover that's the sole meaning of the CD. We are dealing with several tracks, chronologically presented, for about two or three from each EMPYRIUM album, remastered now. I tend to believe that among the thirteen tracks, the last two are new as they do not sound familiar to me! I believe it is a great guide for those just discovering EMPYRIUM, because it uncovers the maturity of the sound and finally, the stylistic transformation from one album to another. As for the rest, me included, it is just an hour for living and awakening memories...Indeed, ten years have passed!
www.empyrium.de
MORTIIS (SWE) - "Some Kind Of Heroin" CD'07 (EARACHE)
I don't even know if this is a new album that we're talking about! There are just sixteen cover-versions of several familiar bands, such as: THE KOVENANT, DOPE STARS, IN THE NURSERY, GOTHMINISTER, GIRLS UNDER GLASS... nothing specific, solely remixes and boisterous processing! MORTIIS has separated for a long from the Ambient approach, taking the Electronic plus EBM direction, therefore I see no reason for me to continue. This style has nothing to do with the band's history, there's no connection to their first albums (nothing new here), yet I was expecting that, maybe, the "return to origins" might characterize this last work. Wrong! The end.
www.mortiis.com
HELRITT (GER) - "Trotzend " CD'07 (DGF)
Even though HELRITT brings nothing new, I've discovered some interesting elements in the German's music, inserted along the eternal and much too used Pagan Black Metal, diffident as they might be and lacked in inspiration! So, we have atmospheric sequences, warlike vocals alternated with roared ones, plus some full of energy guitar riffs contouring a nihilistic aura with elitist touches, specific for nowadays bands. In essence, the album has nothing original, nor individuating and therefore this dooms it towards being simply noticed as another Black Metal release and solely that. Listening to it once or twice might be interesting, but afterwards it turns wearisome and monotonous. The good part regards the quality of recording and mixing, and the same goes for the CD's booklet. Therefore, a nice album, salutary intentions but slightly above average results!
www.helritt.de
QUADRIVIUM (NOR) - "Adversus" CD'07
Erlend Antonsen is a very talented young man, and his friendship with Lars Jensen (MYRKGRAV) generated in a certain moment the realization of a fine album. After the promising "Origo" EP, last year they continued and recorded alongside other two musicians this album, a truly beautiful one! If you wish to experience some other ARCTURUS sonorities, more Black and criss crossed along Metal boundaries, QUADRIVIUM is the answer! The keyboard is quite fantastic, fully atmospheric and saturated with the passages that solely Simen (ARCTURUS) accustomed us to before, the guitars play the theatrical, staccato and mountebank rhythms, while the voices oscillate between the aggressive (there is still needed some extra work) and the normal ones, opera like...More Black than ARCTURUS, but also more Avantgarde than any other Northern Black Metal band, QUADRIUVIUM lacks in originality at the moment, yet it proves that can always act as clone for the legendary group... Obviously, keeping the limits alive! Beautiful surprise, pleasant audition!
www.quadrivium.nu
SWORN (NOR) - "The Alleviation " CD'07 (TWILIGHT)
I do not know why, but the sound reminds me of THE ALLEGIANCE! This Melodic Nordic Black Metal seems pretty familiar to me, very alert but unoriginal. Christoffer alongside Lars Jensen (MYRKGRAV) and other three colleagues present here thirty minutes of modest Black Metal with one exception: "The Beauty Of My Funeral"! This one is a beautifully enchanting track, where melody is enhanced on the background by the rapid rhythm generated by some cleverly used guitars. Lars's voice is pretty linear, yet aggressive, sometimes even violent. A trendy album, finely conceived, prepared and performed (it is still a debut), that does not impress but neither disappoints.
www.sworn.no
AMATRIS (GER) - "Imprisoned " CD'07 (TWILIGHT)
There couldn't be a better clone for TRISTANIA or SIRENIA! Obviously, the old THEATRE OF TRAGEDY sounds quite close too! Based on duality and contrasts, AMATRIS prepared a new orderly album, full of Gothic Metal elements, but also Dark Wave, Rock or even Doom Death Metal scents. The masculine voice is mighty, enhancing grunt valences, but there are also screeching and normal ones, entwining from time to time with a feminine voice, pretty shady and fragile. The keyboard is highly present but it didn't seem special to me. The bass dominates the sound, while the guitars are trying to create a friendly atmosphere, but most of the time rhythm and commercial forestall the sound. It is a slightly above average album, without any drop of originality, but it sounds good all right. I guess they raise all their fans during concerts! A bit rooted in Romania, these Germans contour throughout Twilight Records an excellently sounding album, and also present a profi layout and booklet, one that can solely vanquish the German audience and maybe some other from the East European countries.
www.amatris.de
LORD AGHEROS (ITA) - "Hymn " CD'07
Evangelou Gerassimos proves to have several interesting ideas, especially as he performed in the last twelve years under various other names. About his background and activities you can find all kind of details on the official site, the important thing as far as I'm concerned is to make some references regarding his music. The mixture between Black, Gothic and Ambient may be pleasant when you first listen to the album moreover this material has a considerable length and complexity. Very melodic, diverse, and saturated in various daily sound elements, with many mixing and remixing interferences on certain sequences, "Hymn" seems to be an odd demo, unveiling a sound that I never have the opportunity to experience before! The battery is linear, while the guitar uncovers the fact that we are dealing with a solo project. The keyboard and the piano are intelligently played, and moreover the normal calm voices create a melancholic atmosphere, a dreamy one, that is ruptured from time to time by the aggressive sequences, with their damn violent voice and killing guitar riffs. More than Experimental, LORD AGHEROS presents us along his eleven tracks, for over forty minutes, a music risen from everywhere and heading towards anywhere, throughout the inspirational slot, but there is still some work needed in order to harmonize the tracks. It was a pleasant surprise though!
www.lordagheros.com
