Moonspell - Irreligious

 

Country:Portugal

Released: 1996

Genre: Rock

Style: Folk Rock, Doom Metal, Goth Metal 

 

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Perverse... Almost Religious  1:07

Opium 2:46

Awake 3:05

For A Taste Of Eternity  3:53

Ruin & Misery  3:48

A Poisoned Gift  5:34

Subversion 2:44

Raven Claws 3:16

Mephisto 4:58

Herr Spiegelmann  4:35

Full Moon Madness 6:47

 

 

 

 

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Review

 

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Raining from Portugal "Moonspell" had been one of the first bands to turn me onto the darker side of music. I had to make a review for one of their earlier albums, specifically "Irreligious". This album is in my opinion one of those albums in which every single track is worthy of praise--something you don't often see at all too often--starting from "Opium" you are impacted from the moment you press play by shriek and a beat down of melody and metal. It's raining doom and this is your hour, the midnight hour. Hold on to your ass this album is sure to leave an impression.

~~~~Opium~~~~

~~~Moonspell~~~

[Rating 4.5/5]

Summoning - Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame

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Country: Austria

Released: 2001

Genre: Metal

Style: Black Metal, Tolkien Metal, Symphonic Black Metal

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A New Power Is Rising 4:08

South Away 6:04

In Hollow Halls Beneath The Fells 8:56

 Our Foes Shall Fall 7:01

The Mountain King's Return 8:53

Runes Of Power 5:51

Ashen Cold 6:16

 Farewell  9:19

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Review

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Hailing all the way from Austria and bringing with them an epic blast of glory in the name of Mordor, who else could I be talking about but Summoning. I can't say enough about this album "Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame" has come close to one of my all time favourite albums ever. Mainly taking their inspiration from a Tolkien background and creating thus a Tolkien type of atmospheric style very unique in the metal genre and now known as "Tolkien Metal". Although they first started out as a raw black metal band, they have since developed into pioneers, and the end result is this album right here. Each track in this album is a piece of master work in its own right. A glorious and immortal imprint in the history of metal that is most certainly destined to be a classic.

~~~In Hollow Halls Beneath The Fells~~~

~~~Summoning~~~

[Rating: 5/5]

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Across The Rubicon - Elegy

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Country: Poland

Released: 2007

Genre: Electronic

Style: Modern Classical, Industrial, Martial Ambient

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Soldat Inconnu  4:44

Shadows And Dust  4:45

Dogs Of War (Part 1 - Haram, Part 2 - Song Of The Dead)  4:14

State Of Fear  4:08

The World In Flames  4:06

Strenght And Honour  4:12

The Rage  3:38

Death Smiles To Us All  4:22

The Culture War  5:01

We Shall Remember  4:35

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Review

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One of the most outstanding ambient projects to come out of Europe yet Across The Rubicon's Elegy completely rocks you off of your seat as the albums hard solid sound and dark apocalyptic atmosphere run you blazed with marvel and appreciation. I really can't say enough about the band's use of sound bytes and poetic references that beautifully add to an already rich painting of awesome sound. If you're the kind of person who likes to dream of dystopian sceneries and word chaos then this  album won't fail to fuel your fire.

~~State of Fear~~

~~Across The Rubicon~~

[Rating: 4.2/5]

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Scorn - Evanescence

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Genre: Electronic

Style: Illbient, Abstract, Industrial, Dub

Year: 1994

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     Silver Rain Fell  7:36     
   Light Trap 6:12    
 Falling 4:59    
   Automata 6:17    
    Days Passed 4:34    
   Dreamspace 7:40    
   Exodus 7:18    
    Night Tide 6:08    
The End 8:00

Slumber 4:36

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Review

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Mick Harris has definitely outdone himself with this 3rd release of of the band Scorn. If I had to describe Evanescence in one word I'd probably go for "Trippy" as this album is indeed very trance inducing. I believe that during the time of release we were seeing many shifts in the music genre that you really don't see now today. Which is why bands like Scorn and the album Evanescence--not to be confused with the band "Evanescence".. sheeesh--so rare in this time and day. The vocals are uncanny and the quality and beat to the percussion and bass still booms savagely from my speakers, even 16 years later from when I discovered Scorn. This album is best taken as a long dosage of sound be sure to hear it in it's entirety.

~~~Exodus~~~

~~~Scorn~~~

[Rating: 3.9/5]

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Shiva in Exile - Ethnic

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Country: Germany
Released: 2003
Genre: Electronic
Style:  Tribal, Downtempo

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  Odysseia     3:52

 Breathing     4:43

 Dragon Dance     2:57

 Nightheat     5:06

 Floating     3:54

 Manju     3:57

 Shaman Fever     3:20

 Oriental Distortion     3:39

 Hollow Earth     4:47

 Nomad     3:09

 Ethnosphere     3:41

 Aldebaran     3:44

 Akasha     3:43

 Myingmar (Bonus Track)     11:16

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Review

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Shiva in Exile has to be one of the most underrated and unnoticed bands out there in the world of fringe music. Every track on this album is a warp in time and space to the far east and back again. An adrenaline rush of tribal chants and melodies that make you want to bow down and worship Kali. I can't decide on a favourite track in this particular album as all the tracks are completely unique in one form or another while still achieving to keep the tribal and ethnic atmosphere of the album as a whole. I really have to say that Shiva in Exile is one brilliant band!

~~Breathing~~




~~~Shiva In Exile~~~

[Rating: 4.5/5]

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Endvra - Black Eden

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Genre: Electronic

Style: Dark Ambient

Year: 1996

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Satanas Ex Machina 9:29

The Left Hand Of The Dead 6:48

The Devil Stars Burn Cold 7:14

When God Was A Snake 9:37

The Sun No Longer Sets Me Free 6:07

A Golden Heresy 9:21

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Review

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 Released in 1996 this album is among one of the most sought after dark ambient releases ("ritual ambient" to be technical) in what was at the time of release in the midst of the dark experimental music following. Ah yes, this album completely envelops your mind and body as visions of ancient pagan rituals and exotic dances flash within your thoughts. The highlight of the entire album is most notably the track "When God was a Snake" an absolutely hypnotizing dive into the sound of the serpent and the coven of dark eroticism. This tune is by far my favourite of Endvra and perhaps even my favourite album as well.


~~~When God was a Snake~~~



~~~Endvra~~~

[Rating 4/5]

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