EMPYRIUM - a class of their own

[JayKeeley]

The phantom menace strikes again...!

Now Creamlord and SodomyDies have both been pwned! Who will be the next unsuspecting victim...muwahahaha.

 

[spaffe]

Do you guys have any other limited releases by Empyrium, like the leather digipack of Songs Of Moors and Misty Fields or Weiland 3cd-version? I found the 3cd-version by pure luck from cdon.com some months ago, although I was sure they only had it listed and not in stock, but it really did arrive.

hm dunno if it's considered rare but i have wintersunet as a digi-cd, besides it's the only album with them i own. feel free to mock me if the urge takes you

 

[JayKeeley]

It was a re-release of their demo ...der wie ein Blitz vom Himmel fiel. Prophecy re-released it last year, limited to 300 copies and only for Prophecy "subscribers" (see their site for what this is). It's very cool, though, as would be expected, the music is the weakest released from them. Very cool anyway though

I've been listening to this, and it's remarkably better than expected considering it's their demo. The music is different too, with the keyboard effects sounding almost 'church-organ' like. I'm glad they shifted to mellotrons for the follow up releases. One day I'll track down the wooden box, but in the meantime, this is cool.

 

[spaffe]

hm... i just made a 94 euro order for empyrium stuff

 

[JayKeeley]

hm... i just made a 94 euro order for empyrium stuff

What was in the order?

 

[spaffe]

Where At Night The Wood Grouse Plays
Artikelart : Pappschuber-CD (slip-case i think)

Die Moorjungfrau
Artikelart : Poster

A Wintersunset...
Artikelart : 2-Picture-LP

Weiland
Artikelart : 2-LP

Melancholy
Artikelart : Hooded Sweatshirt (really nice this one, apart from most other band clothing)

now i can only hope they won't rip me off, i've never ordered from them before and it's in germany besides, but they seem serious enough hehe *trying the persuade onself*

 

[Black Winter Day]

that hoodie absolutely PWNS! good job...

 

[JayKeeley]

That is an excellent order. I'm really pleased that people took to Empyrium, I didn't truthfully expect such an enthusiastic response. spaffe - I think you might qualify as 'fan boy' at this point!

To continue in the Ulf Schwadorf saga, read Erik's review for SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS. No Empyrium collection is complete without Poems to the Wretches Hearts. This album leans towards the more extreme side of things, but still maintains that level of desolation.

 

[Black Winter Day]

i've been wanting that album for quite some time... i take it it is worth it???

 

[Doom]

Where At Night The Wood Grouse Plays
Artikelart : Pappschuber-CD (slip-case i think)

Die Moorjungfrau
Artikelart : Poster

A Wintersunset...
Artikelart : 2-Picture-LP

Weiland
Artikelart : 2-LP

Melancholy
Artikelart : Hooded Sweatshirt (really nice this one, apart from most other band clothing)

now i can only hope they won't rip me off, i've never ordered from them before and it's in germany besides, but they seem serious enough hehe *trying the persuade onself*

Good work. I've been thinking of getting the A Wintersunset 2 Picture LP for a while, it sounds pretty cool. That and the Auszüge aus Weiland EP will probably be in my next Prophecy order.

I really like the Melancholy hoody too. I own the "Dying Brokenhearted" hoody instead, but it was a tough choice between the two. I quite like the new Weiland shirts. I've got the poster too, which is also pretty nice. I've never ordered from that particular site before, but I've known about it and it seems pretty genuine. I might try them myself actually, assuming they don't rip you off Fantastic haul though.

About Sun of The Sleepless - yeah, Poems... is good. However, the SOTS song, Neunter November, that was on the Prophecy sampler To Magic 2 rules even more. It's totally different, all electronic stuff (you can tell he likes Ulver), but I absolutely love that song. There was meant to a new album or something coming out with the new direction, but I don't know what's happening

 

[JayKeeley]

i've been wanting that album for quite some time... i take it it is worth it???

To summarise Erik's review, SotS = (Darkthrone + old Katatonia + Agalloch) / Empyrium

 

[Erik]

SotS rules... but The Red In The Sky is Ours is better.



Sun of the Sleepless is great. JK's equation is accurate. It's basically Empyrium goes blast-beats with thrashy riffing and tasty leads.

 

[spaffe]

That is an excellent order. I'm really pleased that people took to Empyrium, I didn't truthfully expect such an enthusiastic response. spaffe - I think you might qualify as 'fan boy' at this point!

To continue in the Ulf Schwadorf saga, read Erik's review for SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS. No Empyrium collection is complete without Poems to the Wretches Hearts. This album leans towards the more extreme side of things, but still maintains that level of desolation.

wel... "fanboy" is not an overly bold conclusion i'd say

hm, SOTS sounds interesting, i'll check it out if it's availible from some of the sites i usually order from, thanks for the tip

 

[NAD]

I can't get enough of Where At Night the Wood Grouse Plays, it showed up the other day. This is truly beautiful stuff.

Is Tenhi relatively similar to Empyrium's later period?

 

[JayKeeley]

I can't get enough of Where At Night the Wood Grouse Plays, it showed up the other day. This is truly beautiful stuff.

One of the few bands where I'd give each release a 10/10 perfect score. Except maybe the first one, I'd give that a 9/10.

Is Tenhi relatively similar to Empyrium's later period?

Yes, pretty much, except not quite as sorrowful. It's sits comfortably between Kveldssanger and Where at Night IMO.

Tenhi have 3 releases (as far as I know): Kauan, Airut:Ciwi, and Vare. All excellent....

...but, whatever you do, start with Kauan. It's a masterpiece.

 

[NAD]

One of the few bands where I'd give each release a 10/10 perfect score.

Unless you count Tool's full length albums only, there aren't any bands I can give this to.

Okay, I'll start with Kauan. Sometime soon.

 

[JayKeeley]

It's a lot easier for me to say I'd give the Empyrium entire catalog a near 10/10 perfect score when they only have 4 albums.

Still, they're all diverse enough to warrant my stamps of approval. *sticks thumbs up*

 

[NAD]

I've recently come to realize Songs of Moors and Misty Fields is the best Empyrium album.

I've still yet to pick up any Tenhi.

 

[JayKeeley]

In the meanwhile, Where at Night makes the nighttime bleed....

 

[NAD]

So many albums being purchased since I fulfilled the 4 Empyrium full lengths and I always look at these CDs and think "yes, these are grand indeed." I think in the coming years I will appreciate these masterworks more, but for now whenever I grab one of the shelf I find myself truly moved.

Anyhow, anyone check out The Vision Bleak yet? Similar? As good as? Bonglicious?

http://the-vision-bleak.de/