Review of Empyrium's Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays..

Empyrium's third full-length and is actually an Acoustic Folk type album with its roots coming from narcotic, nocturnal, necrophobic alike (or whatever you may understand from these words). Before exploring it, this particular album usually very much compared to Ulver's Kveldssanger (released in 1996) which you can say that, it is some sort of inevitable because of the similar theme carried by both bands, 'Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays' released in 1999 and I personally feel this album have a calm sound as compared to Ulver, although both bands had tried to combine the perfect sort of melancholy elements. It really carries to precisely give a feeling of a bucolic, tranquil pastoral mood, the dark lyrical theme have the context of countryside, story of ghosts; the moors, beacons , the meadows and everything that can create the atmosphere of something that's called doomy-gloomy (gothic). Delightfully composed enchanting classical guitar blends a realistic feeling, the choir combination with flutes creates a soothing/depressive effect.

The album is mainly by the husband-wife duo - Ulf Theodor Schwadorf & Nadine Mölter, while Thomas Helm appeared as a guest vocalist. Albeit the most consistent things in this album is the guitar along with natural effects, the use of flute, the choir and lastly the lyrical theme.
Here, Helm is the man that I can give a complement; he had poured his natural emotions in the album through his vocals, another thing that I feel is there is something that Marcus is lacking, I didn't feel the emotions that esoteric thing in his vocals (though he has a baritone range in vocals- what else I can say?), “The Shepard and the Maiden Ghost” if you see it is full of lyrics but actually the whole song is whispered. If I don't talk about 'Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays' - the intro, than it would be bad for me. A nicely composed instrumental, one of favourite since times ago, the breeze and blowing wind creates the effect of lullaby.

The standouts on this release are the last two songs. “Many Moons Ago” which a  recitation of the story of a man who has seen the ghost of a girl.(OMG! Creepy! but not horrible!). “When Shadows Grow Longer” is a remake of a previous Empyrium song, but done much better. Helm and Stock are able to harmonize nicely.
At last, this is a strong acoustic album, as a fan of acoustic stuff this is like a treat for me. The album could have made more better but still it gives you something great to listen when you are thinking about the hazy moor, whispering laments. This is mourn.

Review of 'The White' EP By Agalloch

I have always been so fond of acoustics, being a pro-crustie it sounds lil awkward but still I really love good music. Again I have Agalloch here, like there are somethings that can be called as mandatory and this band is surely be one of them: underrated, progressive, creative, soothing, melancholy, meaningful and last but not the least blend of beautifully composed guitars. As a atmospheric/dark/neo-folk addict; this is like heaven.

'The White' is the band's fourth EP released in 2008 but actually recorded in between 2004 to 2007, unlike the previous EP 'The Grey' which contains only two instrumentals and not so impressive, this one surely be a class apart. Agalloch is considered to be one of those bands that are always be so anticipated because of their avant-garde nature. Well, lets come back to the review thing, this EP was restricted to 2000 copies only and released via Vendlus Records. It contains seven tracks out of which three are instrumental (or more) because of the extensive use of acoustics and long solos.

The songs "The Isle of Summer," "Summerisle Reprise," and "Sowilo Rune" contain samples from the 1973 film 'The Wicker Man'. "Birch White" in which several quotes spoken by actor Christopher Lee are used. While spoken dialogue in music can usually be annoying, things work very well here; bestowing upon the music, an unsettling, existential theme. Here it features vocalist John Haughm reciting the poem "Birch Tree" by A.S.J. Tessimond (info taken from Meallum).

I must say John Haughm is the man who writes, plays, composes what he feels through the sorroundings, something that's hidden just like a cauldron of light which makes everyone to look towards it when in dark but few can see the nocturnal darkness which has something that can't be explained.

To me this is more like an instrumental extended-play, I really appreciate the supporting melody of keyboards, Jews harp, goat horn, well there are number of different instruments that have used and make this masterpiece. The cave voice by Victoria Knippschild is just the way it needs. What can I say about acoustics, simply out of this planet. The cryptic harmony is sentenced.

Not a typical work, it is esoteric.

Review of compilation Kocytean by Katatonia

Katatonia is like a must have band in my playlist for many year. The post-Scandinavian blends with Canterbury inspired sound is the prominent  feature of this act. Well, I usually don't prefer to listen or even check compilation type stuffs until it has some new elements or remastered version but still when it comes to Katatonia, I seriously couldn't stay behind.
So, 'Kocytean' - pretty unusual name or seems like more esoteric or dwelling, derived from Greek mythology called 'the river of wailing' or some underwater thing. The compilation is limited to some 2000 copies and released as 12" vinyl. It contains 6 tracks, three tracks on each side of the record. This is a Record Store Day exclusive release that has been celebrated on April 19th. Starts with the artwork, the name says everything 'Travis Smith' who did artwork for Amorphis etc. While surfing the web I came across that Anders comments on how the idea came up behind the artwork “I had this scenario playing over and over in my head and together with my graphics shrink Travis Smith decided to convey them down into a series of four images where it takes you through struggle, despair, tranquility and hope”. - enough said. A mighty and sacred piece of art, the last image is very much similar to the art of their previous track 'Unfurl' which purely explains the image: 'Releasing the vapor into the lungs, letting the wings unfurl.'

Opens with 'Unfurl' - which appeared in 'July' EP 2007, perfectly combines the electro & post-melo sound together; a more atmospheric doomy style followed by "Sold Heart" was originally released on the EP "The Longest Year." Renkse's harmonized vocals is just amazing, used mostly clean guitar along with reverb in this song. Then we have 'Ashen' which appeared in 'Night Is The New Day' in 2009, a more electro-harmonic based vocal along with the combination of traditional clean and distorted guitar work but the tempo is not the same and variates in between.'Second' is from 'Dead End Kings' released back in 2012, one of my favorite track has a fairly slow tempo which upbrings with rhthm guitar, love the guitar work in this song, twinkling back in the whole song. The second last rack 'Code Against Code' is taken from my favorite album 'The Great Cold Distance' starts of with a delay-clean guitar, there is a drum interlude in the song and it has nearly the same pattern through out the song. The last rack is  'The Act of Darkening' taken from 'Dead End Kings' it has one depressive pattern from the start followed by acoustic strum and beats having some violin in behind; lovely track BTW soothing, calm and moderate. For Katatonia lovers and collectors, it is surely be a must have. :)