The eagerly awaited fourth Empyrium masterpiece is finally out. Weiland is following the path of Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays(1999), abandoning the distortions and turning to acoustic-guitars-only, with added philharmonics and mellotrone painting a wider picture.
The artwork is beautiful, as we got used to Empyrium's releases(and Prophecy's in general) and this Nature-loving triple CD release brings to mind norwegian Ulver immediately. But, to clear this up (once and for all), comparings to Ulver's Kveldssanger are no longer acceptable - Empyrium have their own thing.
Nebel is one of the most convincing tracks of the classical guitar playing and its beautiful distinct sound I haven't heard on any other band's album yet, while Fortgang's alienated vocals(of Helm)is the highest point of the CD1, Heidestimmung.
CD2 consists of one single track named Waldpoesie, bringing all the instruments, including flute, bass, the drums, both Helm & Schwadorf on vocals and their dramatic performance. One part of it(8.11-10.49) reminiscences of In the Woods' Omnio and their use of violins and cellos at the time. It is certainly the most wonderful moment on Weiland.
Die Scwaene im Schilf is Empyrium at most intense; whispers, chants & black metal screams storm over the piano and the guitars before the calm violin lead in the end. The rest of Wassergeister(CD3) is mostly piano based and there is a hint of Tenhi depression in Am Wasserfall and Fossegrim, which is not a bad thing. Both bands share the similar melancholic aura when it comes to piano and the atmosphere.
All the lyrics are in german, which might sound frustrating at first to some, but the uniqueness of the whole art is exactly in them. The scent of the old Nature, untouched by today's dead, modern (self)destructive world. A story in german, about an ancient time, which could be no more. It's up to ourselves...
Weiland is beautiful, sad, wonderful, dark, a masterpiece.
If it is indeed a Empyrium swansong, you should be honoured to own such a legacy, a treasure such as this.
9.5/10
The artwork is beautiful, as we got used to Empyrium's releases(and Prophecy's in general) and this Nature-loving triple CD release brings to mind norwegian Ulver immediately. But, to clear this up (once and for all), comparings to Ulver's Kveldssanger are no longer acceptable - Empyrium have their own thing.
Nebel is one of the most convincing tracks of the classical guitar playing and its beautiful distinct sound I haven't heard on any other band's album yet, while Fortgang's alienated vocals(of Helm)is the highest point of the CD1, Heidestimmung.
CD2 consists of one single track named Waldpoesie, bringing all the instruments, including flute, bass, the drums, both Helm & Schwadorf on vocals and their dramatic performance. One part of it(8.11-10.49) reminiscences of In the Woods' Omnio and their use of violins and cellos at the time. It is certainly the most wonderful moment on Weiland.
Die Scwaene im Schilf is Empyrium at most intense; whispers, chants & black metal screams storm over the piano and the guitars before the calm violin lead in the end. The rest of Wassergeister(CD3) is mostly piano based and there is a hint of Tenhi depression in Am Wasserfall and Fossegrim, which is not a bad thing. Both bands share the similar melancholic aura when it comes to piano and the atmosphere.
All the lyrics are in german, which might sound frustrating at first to some, but the uniqueness of the whole art is exactly in them. The scent of the old Nature, untouched by today's dead, modern (self)destructive world. A story in german, about an ancient time, which could be no more. It's up to ourselves...
Weiland is beautiful, sad, wonderful, dark, a masterpiece.
If it is indeed a Empyrium swansong, you should be honoured to own such a legacy, a treasure such as this.
9.5/10
