Since I don't feel like doing homework I decided to write a review of this awesome album.
In essence this album is one long 43 minute song, but it is split up into 44 parts. Perhaps the best melodic death metal album of 03, perhaps the decade thus far. If this cd proves nothing else, it proves Dan Swano is one hell of a musician. He does the singing, most guitars, bass, synth AND drums. He gets my utmost respect for having such an encompassing range as a musician.
Production: Crystal clear. Every instrument is easily heard. Has a very BIG and encompassing feeling to it.
Music: I did not think the combination of melody and harsh guitar riffs could have occurred without seeming out of place. Was I wrong on this. The guitars (the shining instrument on the album) have (fill in your own word in here, i suggest fierce, menacing, or brandishing) riffs and solos while maintaining a warm melody (ala Nightingale). The bass just backs up the guitar. The drums keep a good double bass pace to them where called for. This isn't just blast beat after blast beat which gets incredibly tired to my ears at least. The synth, another star on the album, while mostly a backround instrument is executed very well for atmosphere. When there is a synth lead...lets just say Arjen, eat your heart out
Vocals: Dan is doing death vocals again after vowing never to do them again (due to coughing up blood in his younger days). Well, all I can say is that he does them very well with lots of vocal melodies. The vocals are just like another instrument on this album they add variation and backround to the music. If you look at the lyrics (which I HIGHLY suggest you do for the story alone) you can understand them, but otherwise I made a few words out here and there. Dan also uses his normal voice for small parts of the album and it is a nice respite from the normal growls.
Lyrics: Absolutely amazing telling a story about a demon child. Very cool stuff. Oh yeah, no chorus' which gets an extra thumbs up from me.
Packaging: a digipak done well. I normally don't like them and usually order the jewel case because they are easier to stack and last much longer. Interesting minimalist artwork and a very cool lyric book.
Complaint: My only complaint to this cd is that the CD is split up to 44 parts. Obviously meant to be listened from start to end, but I still would have preffered a "A Pleasant Shade of Gray" approach.
Dan has definitely outdone himself on this one, I can't see him ever topping this release.
GO GET THIS ALBUM
In essence this album is one long 43 minute song, but it is split up into 44 parts. Perhaps the best melodic death metal album of 03, perhaps the decade thus far. If this cd proves nothing else, it proves Dan Swano is one hell of a musician. He does the singing, most guitars, bass, synth AND drums. He gets my utmost respect for having such an encompassing range as a musician.
Production: Crystal clear. Every instrument is easily heard. Has a very BIG and encompassing feeling to it.
Music: I did not think the combination of melody and harsh guitar riffs could have occurred without seeming out of place. Was I wrong on this. The guitars (the shining instrument on the album) have (fill in your own word in here, i suggest fierce, menacing, or brandishing) riffs and solos while maintaining a warm melody (ala Nightingale). The bass just backs up the guitar. The drums keep a good double bass pace to them where called for. This isn't just blast beat after blast beat which gets incredibly tired to my ears at least. The synth, another star on the album, while mostly a backround instrument is executed very well for atmosphere. When there is a synth lead...lets just say Arjen, eat your heart out
Vocals: Dan is doing death vocals again after vowing never to do them again (due to coughing up blood in his younger days). Well, all I can say is that he does them very well with lots of vocal melodies. The vocals are just like another instrument on this album they add variation and backround to the music. If you look at the lyrics (which I HIGHLY suggest you do for the story alone) you can understand them, but otherwise I made a few words out here and there. Dan also uses his normal voice for small parts of the album and it is a nice respite from the normal growls.
Lyrics: Absolutely amazing telling a story about a demon child. Very cool stuff. Oh yeah, no chorus' which gets an extra thumbs up from me.
Packaging: a digipak done well. I normally don't like them and usually order the jewel case because they are easier to stack and last much longer. Interesting minimalist artwork and a very cool lyric book.
Complaint: My only complaint to this cd is that the CD is split up to 44 parts. Obviously meant to be listened from start to end, but I still would have preffered a "A Pleasant Shade of Gray" approach.
Dan has definitely outdone himself on this one, I can't see him ever topping this release.
GO GET THIS ALBUM
