Epic review.

[IanDork107]

I figure some of you may be interested in my review of the new album. I'm quite pleased with it (with the album, that is, though the review isn't bad either).

http://metalreview.com/albums/default.aspx?album=974

 

[DarksomePoet]

Hail you all.

I have the new "EPIC" promo (I have to review it).

Up to now, I have listened to Epic about 10 times, and these are my impressions:

Negative impressions:
- I don't like the cover artwork so much
- The production is quite strange: the drums and the guitars seem to be too low, and the keys are really too high (even if it's a good sound anyway)
- Sometimes the band tends to "overdo". I mean, too much things played sometimes saturate the songs
- Not all the tracks are at the same level... maybe it would be better if the tracklist was composed of 8-9 songs instead of 12 (in my opinion the tracks number 8 and 9 are not so good)
- Vintersorg vocals seem to be less accurate than in "Empiricism"


Positive impressions:
- There are some killer tracks! (like numbers 1-2-3-6-11)
- Progressive and "viking atmospheres" are well balanced
- There are similarities with every Borknagar album, from "Quintessence" to "Empiricism" to "The Archaic Course"
- The song-form is always intelligent and well-structured


At the end, is this album better than the previous one?
In my opinion, no, it isn't... but it's not far from being at the same level.

The only things I can say to the band are: 1) you fuckin' rule and I want to see you playing live once more!, and 2) be careful, the risk is that you repeat yourselves...

Hail!

ps. post impressions, you all

 

[Oceana]

ian you made a really good review...

 

[Fiery Vortex]

The review is great! Both of them shows pretty much of the same opinions... I HAVE to buy the album soon!!! :Spin:

 

[Gaunerin]

- The production is quite strange: the drums and the guitars seem to be too low, and the keys are really too high (even if it's a good sound anyway)

(...)

- There are some killer tracks! (like numbers 1-2-3-6-11)

I must say I like the production better than on "Empiricism", somewhat "warmer" sounding. I liked how Ian described it in his review, I share his view there. And a sound like it is now was needed or the album wouldn't sound as "epic" ( ) as it does now


As for killer tracks, yes!!! Funny to see both of you mentioning "Traveller" though - because that track's not on the top of my list
But I absolutely agree on #1 as well as #11 (plus various others, still in the process of finding out)

And I'm thrilled the hammond-wrecker got so much to do on the album

 

[DarksomePoet]

And I'm thrilled the hammond-wrecker got so much to do on the album

Yeah, I forgot the good hammond-work in my "Positive Impressions"!

 

[FailingAcension]

Excellent review, Ian!

 

[tit]

epic

interesting reading the review. i agree with ian more. listening to the album over and over for three days now here's my conclusion.
1. i am getting it as soon as it hits the store in both euro and u.s formats
2.possibly the best borknagar album cuz there's no fillers
3.bigger sound. better production and better arrangements
4.vintersorg outdoes himself and he clearly is more comfortable singing for borknagar now
5.more atmospheric, more folk and guitar is much louder and darker
6.the keys play a big part but is not annoying like dimmu
7.asgeir kills on all rhythm tracks, bass and drums
8.considering most gothenburg bands can't sing clean (soilwork, dark tranquillity, in flames) not to mention just about every band trying to do clean vocals fail miserably and considering all the other bands out there not just the ones mention above have pretty much departed in most part their style, borknagar progresses but does not feel the need to incorporate lame ass shit to be "artistic"
9.i find the album even galant at times. good to listen to at night
10.yes i do own all borknagar albums so i'm not talking out of my ass
11.considering i love the focusing blur this one does equally well
12.i listen to it enough and i find NO fault in it. not one. and i do have a habit of listening to albums over and over for weeks on end
13. not saying i'm right just saying about time an album comes out that is not pretending and i commend all the guys in borknagar for sticking to their guns.
14.i'm not nit picking this album at all and i like the cover and i love this album merely because last year i wasted more money on bands that shouldn't even be on labels and yet they are.
15.BORKNAGAR
16.now come to the states again

 

[Djöfull]

Here is a mp3 of Traveller hosted by metalreview

http://www.metalreview.com/mp3s/02%20-%20Traveller%20-%20Borknagar.mp3

 

[Oceana]

traveleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer

 

[Paul]

Thanks for the reviews! Now I decided I will not DL Traveller, but go masochistic... place a preoder for Epic, count the days til it arrives, go home, put the headphones on, put in the disk, oh yeah dont forget the glass of wine, and enjoy the music!!!
There truly are very few releases I look forward to get, and Epic is right on the top of them.