REVIEWS
October 2007
BUCOVINA (ROM) - "Ceasul aducerii-aminte" CD'07
(LUPII DACIEI)
In my very underground and already known ignorance, I had no idea that this band still exists and moreover has released an album. Consequently to some exchange of e-mails with the leader of this band, Crivat, I've remembered that about 15 years ago, he has been invited to my radio show, presenting the demo of a band that no longer exists. Later on, I have heard certain echoes regarding BUCOVINA; it was intensely appreciated in Iasi, alongside GOD, as Castor and Crivat were the leaders of the two bands. Well, those are bygone times, distinct memories... This very debut is characterized by a very elegant and quality executed digi-pack, with a fine booklet presenting all the lyrics, including the one in Norwegian, taken over from Vanargandr (HELHEIM). The sound does not excel in what concerns the mixing, but it isn't bad either; the guitars are annoying on certain sequences, yet there are also atmospheric, melodic, rhythmic and quite pleasant fragments, alternating with rapid, even violent ones. They label their approach as Viking Metal, but Traditional Black Metal with Folk influences seems more appropriate to me though. "Luna Prestre Varfuri" is the most expressive track, within which the normal voice and the specific elements remind me of PHOENIX. Therefore, presenting some Northern Black/Viking influences (HELHEIM, ENSIFERUM, MOONSORROW), filtered throughout certain GOD or NEGURA BUNGET elements, the four succeed into giving life to a skilful debut, without any great virtuosity or a unitary concept for the album, yet it is one that goes beyond my expectations. The voices alternation seldom turn vexatious and the same goes for the rhythm transitions, seemingly too brutal... otherwise, it is an album you should listen to, because in today's Romania, there are far too few bands that still succeed into passing above the line of mediocrity. As I've understood from Crivat, they are intensely working to their second album (there are also some line-up changes), that is announcing as a tremendous one, especially as the traditional elements will be enhanced. Let's wait and see!
www.dinbucovina.ro
Rating : 0. 82/1
SVARTSOT (DEN) - "Ravnenes Saga" CD'07
(NAPALM)
Another trendy band following the Folk Viking Metal approach. This time the sextet originates in Denmark and after solely two demos released tempestuously in a year, they've signed with Napalm. I haven't been at all impressed by this alert Folk Metal rhythm, and I cannot see any single reason for me to be, as there are plenty of bands alike. The aggressive voice reminds me of the first AMORPHIS album, the guitars don't excel in any way, there is a modest battery, a pale bass, and the sole accent is given by those flashing inspiration by playing certain traditional instruments alike the bodhran, mandolin or whistles. Music has an explosive rhythm, saturated in martial echoes, but that's all about it. Well, the fans of Traditional Metal (Folk, Pagan, Viking) are on their way to enjoy a promising debut.
www.svartsot.dk
Rating : 0.81/1
SINAMORE (FIN) - "Seven Sins A Second" CD'07
(NAPALM)
Less melancholic as it seems, less Dark than it would be desired, with plenty rhythm and melody, SINAMORE presents a second Gothic Rock album, more arranged and articulated than "A New Day". It by no way means that we are dealing with something extraordinary! After HIM, AMORPHIS and TO/DIE/FOR, more and more Finnish bands follow this Pop Rock approach that tends to reach high recognition, at least in Europe. It's not a bad sounding album, there are even some quite atmospheric sequences, suitable for live performances, yet there is no excelling within. This is an album to be notice, for two or three auditions at the most.
www.sinamore.com
Rating : 0.80/1
LIMBONIC ART (NOR) - "Legacy Of Evil" CD'07
(NAP)
Morfeus and Daemon returned after a five years time of pause, more furious than ever! The Symphonic Black Metal we are familiar with from their tremendous debut "Moon In the Scorpio" starts fading into an imperceptible shade, yet there's a good fact that they've given up the Death Metal sequences that made them bluff on the 2002 album, "The Ultimate Death Worship". The new material presents Fast Furious Nordic Black Metal, with solely some atmospheric scents, as the symphonic elements are seldom to be spotted. I was expecting more from these two Norwegians, but it seems that their work back ten years ago harbours no reminiscences or interest for their present... implicitly, neither for ours. If we are to consider virtuosity, LIMBONIC ART guys are exquisite and we can state that we are dealing with a well executed album. If, on the other hand, I would put this latest release in relation with the previous ones, I would place it somewhere below the first two, yet above the rest. The most elaborated track seems to be "Twilight Omen", yet the most appreciated one might turn to be "Lycanthropic Tales". Poor inspiration, quality execution.
www.myspace.com/limbonicart
Rating: 0.85/1
THE FORESHADOWING (ITA) - "Days Of Nothing" CD'07
(CANDLELIGHT)
A true surprise! Even though a bit trolled out, the debut album of the six Italians introduces us in a melancholic atmosphere, one of suffering, saturated in melodic valences, Rock evenly, yet on a Gothic Doom Metal structure, serene and nostalgic. It is placed somewhere at the entwining of ANATHEMA and KATATONIA, with Post Rock elements similar to the ones that are to be found in KLIMT 1918, with a normal masculine voice, sung in a low pitch, sometimes cold, other times romantic and unveiling quite atmospheric and lent guitars alongside an abundant keyboard. For the ones not in the knowing, the band members have performed alongside KLIMT 1918 also in SPIRITUAL FRONT, DOPE STARS INC., GRIMNESS or HOW LIKE A WINTER. The voices' echoes remind me about the debut of the famous band GODSEND, released, I guess, fifteen years ago ... yet, the piano brightly communicates with these voices on certain fragments of rapturous beauty. An inspired album!
www.theforeshadowing.com
Rating: 0.88/1
CARVED IN STONE (GER) - "Tales Of Glory & Tragedy" CD'07
(SCHWARZDORN)
I've written about the first two releases "The Forgotten Belief" and "Hear The Voice" in the times they've been released, and my appreciations were positive. The new album of the one calling herself Swawa does not seem to be as mystical as the previous ones. The atmospheric dimension is completely dominated by the Folk one, so that the ten tracks are transformed in ballads, based solely on acoustic guitars accompanied by voice. Now and then you can spot other instruments too, like keyboard or Celtic harp, yet on the whole the sound is a very simple and serene one, at all impressive. I was expecting more introspection and complexity, but it seems this one is just a Folk album.
www.carvedinstone.de
Rating : 0.80/1
NOVEMBRE (ITA) - "The Blue" CD'07
(PEACEVILLE)
After "Materia", a highly promoted album, the Italians have hurried into releasing a new set of tracks in order to impress the Doom Death Gothic Progressive Metal fans. I have no idea what will they succeed into doing via this very album, as the sound is pretty intricate and the entire material holds on a rather introvert message, full of complex sequences, truly elaborated fragments, with guitars sounding majestic, while the voices alternate exactly the way they used to do on the first albums where the aggressive voices dominate the normal ones that seem far too thin for these sonorities. Despite the fact many tend to categorize them on the same hemisphere where OPETH, ANATHEMA and KATATONIA dwell, I would say that NOVEMBRE continues into existing in a realm of their own, one easy to identify and enjoying an exceptional sound processing! I have been listening to this album for about four consecutive times and it remains unapproachable to be! Clearly, it is also a mightier album comparing with the previous one, where you can hear from time to time the psychedelic echoes, alongside the atmospheric, lent sequences, dominated solely by calm voices and acoustic guitars. We have twelve tracks, over an hour of music, multiple elements, interesting cover...everything worth...you solely have to listen to it with maximum attention! Otherwise, "The Blue" will pass by your ears as a quite confusing, noisy and intricate album.
www.novembre.co.uk
Rating : 0.88/1
HELRUNAR (GER) - "Baldr ok Iss" CD'07
(LUPUS LOUNGE)
When saying Lupus Lounge, clearly Black Metal is what you're meant to expect! After an album released two years ago that hasn't impress me at all, "Frostnacht", Skald Draugir, Dionysos and Alsvartr have now returned with a new chapter of Norse Black Metal, sung, as before, in German!!! I must admit that it is a finely conceived album, sounding good and deserving maximum attention! Despite the fact it is completely lacked in originality, the three members succeed into creating a gloomy, freezing, at all friendly atmosphere, reminding me of early. Not merely atmospheric, it is extremely sharp, especially through the guitar riffs, the fully rhythmic battery and the grim voice, angry as hell! Within this very uproar we can spot plenty melody, imposing atmosphere, serene interludes enliven by gentle acoustic guitars, martial voices that recite... what's there more to be said? Pure Black Metal language! An elaborated album, one you could easily be perceived as created by a Norwegian band!
www.helrunar.com
Rating: 0.87/1
DRAUTRAN (GER) - "Throne Of The Depths" CD'07
(LUPUS LOUNGE)
I remember that some years ago the Germans have sent me their self-released debut album "Unter dem Banner der Nordwide". I've enjoyed that material, as it seemed a well conceived debut. Well, we are now dealing with a new album, professional, much more bombastic and atmospheric than the debut, saturated on background keyboard, plus a yield voice, both natural and unbelievably violent (alike the first IN THE WOODS... album), whispers, incantations, lent fragments with plenty of Dark elements... what to say, a very inspired Black Metal album, with distinct tracks, contoured on a sound presenting some very aggressive and rapid sequences. There is no classical touch, you can hardly resemble it to something you've listened to before, it is rather a mixture of Black influences (Northern ones especially) expressed in their own view. I think that the album deserves plenty of attention especially as there are long times since I've last listened to such a complex Black Metal material!
www.drautran.com
Rating: 0.88/1
FARSOT (GER) - "III" CD'07
(LUPUS LOUNGE)
This kind of Black Metal is a quite atypical one, impossible to be categorized and heading towards the experimental dimension. Once I've firstly listened to it, I was tempted to state that this is an album lacked in any compass, trying to approach different styles without being able to contour one of its own. After listening to it again, I could uncover that it is in fact a finely conceived album, with an interesting structure that gathers the distinct elements together, unveiling various insertions, reminding me of the latest SHINING. The tracks are essentially four at number (yet among them there are three, very short, instrumental intermezzos), and the last one has a 20 minutes length and is tremendously multidimensional. Odd approach! They've surprised me finely from the instrumental point of view (as they sometimes give an extra melancholic use to the piano or the keyboard), yet I was also expecting for the voices to vary, and not to expose solely common aggressive ones. FARSOT is destined to be devoured by those loving BURZUM and today delectate themselves with SHINING.
www.farsot.de
Rating : 0.84/1
FLOWING TEARS (GER) - "Invanity-Live In Berlin" CD'07
(ASCENDANCE)
I was expecting that Lee Barrett's label would promote a new album of the well known German band and not solely an anniversary concert, celebrating ten years since the debut. What is there for me to say to you about this CD? The Germans are playing their most representative tracks in their history (meaning three albums) in front of an audience that seems truly content of what is given to be devoured by the ears, in an elegant acoustic: a church in Berlin. On the last track, "The Weeping Song ",Johan Edlund (TIAMAT) is featured as a guest, and this gives a certain flavour to a concert that fails into impressing in any way. Well, I'd say it's all right to listen to this album as you can get the sense over the Gothic Metal FLOWING TEARS approaches. That's my first feeling towards it. After listening to it the second time, I've started to like it indeed, because there is a remarkable melancholy to be discovered within the tracks and the feminine voice unveils an impressive candor!
www.flowingtears.de
Rating : 0.86/1
SEAR BLISS (HUN) - "The Arcane Odyssey" CD'07
(CANDLELIGHT)
Clear a as moonlight: it is the Hungarians most mature album! Pity that after a promising debut long years ago, the band failed into imposing itself as it deserved, as the consequent four albums were to be placed somewhere at the edge of mediocrity. Along with the British label, SEAR BLISS seem to have found its early spirit, as it succeeded now into harmoniously entwining the specific Black Metal with traditional and atmospheric elements, alike the never-failing trumpet, trombone or keyboard! Along these, I can now distinguish Progressive frames, OPETH alike, enhancing a very elaborated sound, full of less Black sequences, incredible for SEAR BLISS. What I can certainly spot as the same is the voice, that should, in my humble opinion, suffer some transformations, not necessarily improvements, yet it has to reach more diversity and expressivity. Otherwise, this album represents a true surprise for me and it is by far the most beautiful present that the band could bestow on their fans all over the world! Congratulations Andras!
www.searbliss.hu
Rating : 0.88/1
SEROTONAL (UK) - "The Futility Of Trying To Avoid The Unavoidable" MCD'07
(METAL BREATH)
Rupture and bitterness! Darren White has returned, but this very material is far too short in order to sense which direction the new band is heading towards! Yet, let's see if the world has heard about Darren! More than 17 years ago, my Gothic Doom/Death Metal underground universe was grounded on three exceptional vocalists solely: Aaron, Nick and Darren. Back then, MY DYING BRIDE, PARADISE LOST and ANATHEMA represented the center of a unique current that was about to explode world wide! As you well know, for me, ANATHEMA ended in the very moment when Darren departed, meaning immediately after "Pentecost III". I have also followed his activity within THE BLOOD DIVINE, yet he hasn't found the meritorious recognition. Afterwards, he has disappeared...until two of his friends made him the proposal to start experimenting again, when he was wandering somewhere in India. Hard for me to say anything about this new material! It is atmospheric, experimental, with electronic elements, unveiling a latent and post-modernistic Rock and some scents of today's ANATHEMA, yet much more Metal (even though the term is pretty indulgent); it also has aggressive touches in both instrumental parts and vocal ones...I don't know what to say! I've enjoyed it a lot because I like Darren's voice, yet in less than half an hour, by solely listening to three tracks (plus two bonus tracks) I find it hard to categorize the sound! I can only assure you that I am quite impatient into getting to listen to the official SEROTONAL debut, on which Darren, Gary, Jon and Simon are hardly working, at least that's what came into my ears!
www.serotonal.co.uk
Rating : 0.88/1
IMPERIUM DEKADENZ (GER) - "Dammerung der Szenarien" CD'07
(PERVERTED TASTE)
Nice digipack, quality sound and mixing, bombastic Black Metal saturated in Northern influences, well conceived, excellently executed! I was even on the way of wondering if the members aren't Norwegians! And I am pleasantly surprised as solely two musicians have been able to create such an album! Certain sequences are melancholic, others are furious, some even enhance Doom Metal frames, there are aggressive voices and extremely rapid guitars: this duet's sound is special! It came into my understanding that they have another album, yet I haven't listened to it so I won't hazard into comparisons. I only know that I've truly enjoyed listening to this material, despite an acute lack of originality! I am sure that for the current Black Metal fans IMPERIUM DEKADENZ will represent a highly promising name!
www.imperium-dekadenz.de
Rating : 0.87/1
VARDLOKKUR (DEN) - "Med Doden Til Folge" MCD'07
(DGF)
Three members (in fact two at the beginning) have released a MCD in the Old Black Metal School manner that brings nothing new to me! Solely unending guitar aggressive riffs, an extremely infuriated Evil voice, modest battery and fade sound mixing. It's beyond my power of understanding...why the hell should they release another project, when they're already doing the same with their main bands ANGANTYR and HOLMGANG? Is it for the sake of enumeration, for significance, for experimenting different banners? I've got no idea. I know though that the 17 minutes have not impressed me at all, even though I cannot overpass the force and the power released from within the four tracks. Yet, it remains insufficient. I am in the waiting for some inspired moves from this label, as I could spot about three interesting bands on the compilation released two months ago. Obviously, VARDLOKKUR wasn't among them.
www.vardlokkur.com
Rating : 0.78/1
LE GRAND GUIGNOL (LUX) - "The Great Maddening" CD'07
(MADDENING MEDIA)
Do you remember VINDSVAL and the excellent "Imperium Grotesque" debut? It has been released long years ago at the FALKENBACH mastermind's label! I had no idea that the band still exists or that it changed the name! Luckily for me, others haven't forgotten me and I must admit I was completely astonished when I've opened the envelope and I've seen this very CD. A swarthy presentation, nice words in the info sheet, everything seemed professional. And I started to listen to the CD...after the first audition, nothing helped me into understanding the material: theatrical and dramatic Black Metal, with Classic operatic influences, aggressive masculine voices, background soprano, normal and calm voices afterwards, alluring keyboard, fake rhythmic guitars, waving battery, uproar, theatre scene, mountebanks, echoes, sound distortions... a draconic intricate and extremely complex sound! Starting with Heavy Metal, Power or Progressive all the way to Black Metal, with plenty of atmosphere entwined with much violence, saturated in every imaginable elements and also fully confusing, the sound is obviously: unique! Maybe it is far too diversified, too complicated some may say, perhaps far too atypical... these could give a name to this sound's deficiencies...otherwise, the band gives us a ride through Dark music material, reminding me of DEVIL DOLL, ARCTURUS or THE KOVENANT. There's no doubt we are dealing with an Avantgardistic project, utterly experimental for this scene and saturated in drama, where there's no place for unveiling certain instruments, as an entire orchestra imposes. Truly inovative! Well, it was natural to be so, as their scents are perfumed in the last century's French theatres aromas...therefore, we can uncover the band's name, translating as the Great Buffoon! Trust me, it worth being experimenting!
www.legrandguignol.com
Rating : 0.89/1
THE OLD DEAD TREE (FRA) - "The Water Fields" CD'07
(SEASON OF MIST)
Well, that's the French's third album and also the most expressive! Perhaps also the most elaborated, bringing several instrumental valences, multiple rhythms and sequences, oscillating between Doom/Death Metal and aggressive Gothic. The voices' alternation initially seems annoying, yet you'll soon get easily familiarized with this form of contrast that goes hand in hand with the guitars and the battery that breaks throughout any form of symmetry. This album brings the early AUTUMNBLAZE to my mind, while other fragments make me sense shades of OPETH, KATATONIA or early ANATHEMA 's presence. There are also some Progressive influences, yet the Gothic structure does not allow too many escapes from the contoured frame. Anyway, it is a truly diverse album, focusing on vocal inflexions and enhancing Epic and melancholic aromas! It is not quite the perfect album, yet it is the best one from this quartet! Aggressive and sad as it is, the album unveils a dominant nostalgic perfume, especially where the deep longing and prolonged guitars' crying solos throne over the atmosphere! I've enjoyed the album, yet it hasn't made a great impression over me! It lacks something and I fail into sensing what it is! Yet, it deserves the entire attention for one listening at least!
www.theolddeadtree.com
Rating : 0.86/1
LOITS (EST) - "Must album" CD'07
(NAILBOARD)
ENSLAVED in Estonian version? This is how many have hurried into labeling this band! It gathers over ten years of activity and it started and continued all its way with the same Pagan Black Metal approach, with Northern influences and grim voice! I don't know if the comparison with ENSLAVED is the best choice, yet I am sure that LOITS sound pretty damn good! I remember I've written about them when they were still under Ledo Takas's contract and I was surprised by their approach. Today's disappointment could only consist in the fact that their music hasn't changed at all, as the same atmospheric Black Metal path is followed. I was expecting more, but it seems that's all they're about to let to be seen. Nevertheless, we are dealing with a good album, a quality one, slightly above the average line!
www.loits.org
Rating : 0.86/1
NARGAROTH (GER) - "Semper Fidelis" CD'07
(NO COLOURS)
Disillusionating! I was in the pending for much more from this very band, yet this album has been done in the absence of a friendly inspiration, so that we are only dealing with linear, common and at all attractive Primitive Black Metal. All right, I cannot spot any compromises, nor a single modern touch and this might sense fine, from a certain point of view. The 80 minutes length also sounds good. Maybe even the fact that it has been conceived six years ago may find a place in the balance. But it is not enough to counterbalance the rest. Yet, for those preferring Black Metal on the daily bread, who knows, they might find the album as remarkable... I can only label it as boring though!
Rating : 0.78/1
MORIAN (FIN) - "Sentinels Of The Sun" CD'07
(DYNAMIC ARTS)
Consequently after AMORPHIS, SENTENCED and the popular HIM, more and more bands try to express their Rock & Metal melodic feeble intentions throughout somehow cloned albums. This is the exact case of this debutant band that has already succeeded into impressing solely after "Away From The Sun" EP. True, all right, this quite rhythmic and atmospheric track has been intensely promoted on various commercial channels. On the debut album there are tracks that sound good, while others seem confusing making it certain for me that it is not a conceptual album. Some might turn into ballads or top pieces as the one on the EP or "Sleep Of The Just", as they sound so melodic that you can almost state it's HIM alongside TO/DIE/FOR. Otherwise, this Rock and Metal Atmospheric mixture is into suffering, especially on the sequences where Power frames try to enhance the sound with dynamism! If we are to follow the same rationing path as we are dealing with a debut, then we can turn indulgent and appreciate the interpretation. And so, maybe originality will find a place within the next album!
www.morianband.com
Rating : 0.84/1
AVA INFERI (POR) - "The Sihouette" CD'07
(SEASON OF MIST)
Rune Ericksen is known throughout his collaboration with MAYHEM or BLASPHEMER, and last year's debut, "Burdens", have gathered several positive reviews. The new material continues the same Gothic Doom Metal line, with Psychedelic sequences, where Carmen Susana Simoes's voice (AENIMA, POETRY OF SHADOWS) clearly dominates. Lesser scenting of early THE 3RD AND THE MORTAL, yet also less mystical, the new album seems not as inspires as the previous one, yet it continues into hosting a charm of its own. I find it hard to recount how the new AVA INFERI sounds, yet I can assure you that it worth being listened, as Carmen's voice is a very pleasant one, and the guitars (including the acoustic ones) contour an atmosphere seldom enhanced within this scene. Unfortunately, there are also far too noisy sequences, seemingly jangling and annoying the listener... Yet, on the whole, it is a fine album!
www.ava-inferi.com
Rating : 0.84/1
