Pst, hey kids, do you want some atmospheric music? – 70%
Mean_Machine, November 17th, 2018
Written based on this version: 1997, CD, Avantgarde Music
Iimmediately become unimpressed when I see the word “atmospheric” next to a genre. I mean come on, what is that supposed to mean? The atmosphere any music might create depends on the genre of that music, our state of mind and maybe our surroundings at that moment. At least this is what I thought until I heard this album. I do not believe in magic nor supernatural powers, but this album took me on a satanic trip with its brilliant atmosphere – yes, I said it- and gave me the chills at many points.
Marcus E. Norman successfully created a dark and evil atmosphere using a combination of his piercing old school vocals, slow riffs and extraordinary keyboards. The screams in “At the Stone of Ancient Wisdom” are an example of creativity I miss in today’s metal. However, the most creative element on the album is probably keyboards. They are chilling, dark and in their place. You will not find a piece that sounds weird or unfitting. Another major contributor to the unholy atmosphere is the blasphemous and Satan glorifying lyrics.
Despite that the album’s atmosphere is exactly what it aimed for, it failed to capture some musical essence of metal music. Mainly, the terrible drumming. Double bass drumming filled the album, but it is everything and the maximum the drumming has offered. I agree that it is “slow” black metal genre, but the drumming is untalented and, other than bass drumming, you can barely hear it. No tom-toms, no drum rolls, nothing. If Markus is not a drummer, he should have gotten one. Nevertheless, some riffs and keyboards can take your mind off the disappointing drumming. The other reason I deemed the music mediocre is the solos. There is few guitar solos on the album; you can describe them as okay, not what I would expect from Marcus E. Norman. However, the solo in Of “Darkness Spawned into Eternity” is what I would expect from him, fast, dark and melodic, but unfortunately repetitive. Mixing and production are both exceptional and appropriate for the genre, still, focused on sharpening keyboards and vocals more than anything else on the album.
The problem with “atmospheric metal” is the bands mainly focus on creating the intended atmosphere and in many cases sacrifice the quality of metal essence on the album. As I said the album’s atmosphere is brilliant and might make me consider having a Baphomet tattoo on my buttocks; however, the album is overall okay and sometimes weak in terms of extreme music. (…)
rafazardly 