SECRETS OF THE SKY To Sail Black Waters

Review from Rocktimes.de (Germany)!

"Was sind die Geheimnisse des Himmels? Diese Frage in religiöser oder wissenschaftlicher Hinsicht zu beantworten will ich anderen überlassen. Dafür lieber die seit 2010 existierende Band aus dem kalifornischen Oakland betrachten, die sich Secrets Of The Sky nennt und die jetzt den Silberling "To Sail Black Waters" herausgebracht hat.
Deren Geheimnis dürfte folgendes sein: Die Antwort auf die Frage, welchen Musikstil sie denn nun spielen. Es fallen Begriffe wie Post Rock, Post Metal, Doom Metal, Progressive Doom oder Blackened Progressive Doom (letzteres stammt von der Facebook-Seite der Band).
Alles passt irgendwie… und irgendwie auch nicht. Zur weiteren Eingrenzung gibt es diese Umschreibung: »For fans of The Ocean, Isis, Opeth and Agalloch«. Ruft da jemand: hier? Ich auf jeden Fall.
So ist es dann kein Wunder, dass ich "To Sail Black Waters" faszinierend finde und mich gerne in diesen schwarzen Gewässern treiben lasse. Zäh und schwerfällig schwappen sie vorwiegend, düster meist, doch auch mit Lichtblicken und zarter Schönheit stellenweise. Dennoch sind sie nicht klar, sondern bleiben undurchdringlich und unzugänglich.
Die Brandung wird von mehreren Gitarren, Keyboards, kombiniert mit Bass, und Schlagzeug erzeugt. Zusammen zaubern diese Instrumente Soundwellen, scheinbar unstrukturiert und formlos, wogen sie viermal mit einer durchschnittlichen Spielzeit von zehn Minuten.
Die Stimme, die auf der Gischt thront, ist mal klar, mal keifend, mal flüsternd, mal growlend. Die Wellenberge darunter von noisig bis atmosphärisch, mal eher zart und verspielt, mal eher aggressiv und aufbrausend.
Das einzige, was hier berechenbar ist, ist die Unberechenbarkeit. Wer klar gegliederte und eingängige Songs mag, ist bei "To Sail Black Waters" fehl am Platz und sucht sich lieber ein anderes Gewässer, vielleicht einen angelegten See mit befestigtem Ufer oder einen Pool mit klar definierten Rändern.
Wer jedoch nicht aufgehalten durch Musikstil-Schubladen in Klängen schwimmen will, darf hier eintauchen. Eintauchen in Emotionen, in Rhythmen, in Lärm und gleichzeitig auch in etwas verborgene Melodien.
Post Metal - der Begriff wirkt im ersten Moment seltsam - ebenso wie Post Rock. Doch irgendwie verstehe ich den Gebrauch hier: Das Überwinden von alten Barrieren und (Songschreib-)Strukturen. Das freie Fließen von Tönen. Amorphe Arrangements.
Klar, darauf muss man sich einlassen (können und auch wollen).
Das 'Segeln auf den schwarzen Gewässern' wird sicher nicht jedem Metal-Fan liegen. Zum Auto fahren oder als Hintergrund für Partys ist die CD wenig geeignet, eher etwas zum auf der Couch liegen und den Raum mit Tönen fluten lassen.
Wer von oben genannten Bands mehrere oder gar alle mag oder wer beim Lesen nun neugierig geworden ist, sollte mal probieren, wie sich das Einsinkenlassen in den Klangozean von Secrets Of The Sky anfühlt." [Andrea Groh]

Link:
http://www.rocktimes.de/gesamt/s/secrets_of_the_sky/to_sail_black_waters.html
 
9/10 @ Pavillon Webzine from France!

"Ces 6 musiciens venus d’Oakland, Californie, ont décidé de faire du doom d’une manière bien différente de ce que l’on peut trouver dans ce style. On garde bien entendu certains archétypes mais jamais une telle production ne s’était fait entendre de cette manière. C’est avec un son absolument énorme que SECRETS OF THE SKY a décidé de se faire remarquer. « To Sail Black Waters » a tous les ingrédients réunis pour faire de cet album un album dévastateur qui ne peut passer inaperçu.

Mais, il n’y a pas que la production qui soit énorme sur ce disque, la composition l’est tout autant. Ces quatre titres ont de quoi mettre tout le monde d’accord. Les fans de doom y trouveront naturellement leur compte mais les curieux devraient vite jeter une oreille sur ces titres. En effet, le groupe n’est nullement décidé à suivre les clichés. « Winter », le premier titre, suit certains codes mais la lourdeur a quelque chose de plus que ce que l’on peut entendre ailleurs. On sent une énergie autre, quelque chose de plus gros en suspens. On ne serait même pas étonné de voir le groupe partir sur un blast beat au détour d’un riff. Mais non, SECRETS OF THE SKY reste sur cette lancée prenante, préférant passer sur des riffs en son clair. Il se dégage une énergie monstrueuse de ce morceau que l’on retrouve par la suite sur « Decline ». Le chant est d’ailleurs un élément essentiel de l’ambiance sombre qui se dégage de ces titres. Celui-ci se fait tantôt death, tantôt black mais parfois clair aussi. On retrouve un peu de la touche ICS VORTEX époque DIMMU BORGIR dans la mise en place de ce chant sur « Decline ». Le groupe n’hésite pas à mélanger les inspirations allant jusqu’à introduire certaines gimmicks proche du heavy dans les chorus de ce morceau même si le propos est bien plus lourd et profond que ce que l’on peut trouver en Heavy. « Sunrise » fait la part belle aux mélodies et à certaines parties en voix claires très riches en émotions. Il s’agit bien là d’un groupe riche en contrastes capable de passer d’un univers à un autre avec une très grande dextérité. « Black Waters » se fait plus profond et plus sombre mais là encore l’ambiance évolue au fil des riffs et lorsque le groupe sort des parties plus calmes, c’est pour se faire encore plus dévastateur.

SECRETS OF THE SKY a tout d’un grand groupe, son choix de production, ses morceaux, son énergie… Il n’y a rien à redire sur cet album. Même si on parle de doom, SECRETS OF THE SKY explose les codes afin de se forger une identité forte et personnelle. A suivre de très près !"

Link:
http://www.pavillon666.fr/webzine/c...d/chroniques-albums-cd-detail.php?groupe=8514
 
79/100 @ Metallized.it!

"I Secrets Of The Sky incarnano l'ideale kunderiano per cui la stessa leggerezza può divenire un insostenibile fardello, riuscendo ad intrecciare in modo manieristico le linee strumentali affinché, attraverso le loro evoluzioni di umori, si provi una vertigine emotiva, nell'instabilità di un tuffo nel cielo.
To Sail Black Waters, questo il titolo dell'esordio sulle scene del sestetto di Oakland, raccoglie quattro tracce, per un running time di quaranta minuti scarsi in cui si alternano passaggi doom/sludge ad arpeggi post-rock, sequenze ambient a sfuriate cadenzate tipiche del post-metal, il tutto condito dall'ugola versatile di Garett Gazay, che passa da uno scream belluino a un pulito soave, attraversando una vasta gamma di timbri vocali.
Definire in modo unico lo stile della band californiana è un'impresa ardua, dato il carattere mutevole delle composizioni a cui questa dà vita, brani di lungo minutaggio in cui si susseguono cambiamenti così numerosi da rendere più calzante il termine “peregrinazione” rispetto a “canzone”.

Gli ormeggi vengono sciolti con Winter, aperta da fraseggi delle chitarre clean che sfociano in una melma doom, con ritmiche pachidermiche, arpeggi dissonanti e vocals abissali, ma quando si crede di aver intuito l'andamento del brano ecco spuntare una nuova sezione senza distorsione, con il basso che impatta direttamente sul timpano ed i sussurri che si nascondono tra le plettrate di chitarra, culminano in un episodio solistico. Le tre chitarre, indiscusse protagoniste di questa release, riescono ad alternarsi nel ruolo di costruzione di un gigantesco muro sonoro, la cui durezza è testata a più riprese dai colpi di batteria e basso, ritmando e caricando di groove i passaggi più lenti, lasciandosi a tratti a scansioni vicine al prog. Quando la divisione si fa più intricata, le sei corde esplorano territori riverberati ed allucinanti, richiamandosi da un orecchio all'altro, giocando in armonie ed inseguendosi in cascate di delay ed effettistica.
Decline è il brano più evocativo del lotto, in grado di contrapporre la plumbea disarmonia dell'apertura con un climax che ne ribalta l'atmosfera nell'arioso ritornello. Questo è preceduto da uno stacco con le chitarre in bending, che procrastinano all'estremo la risoluzione della tensione accumulata durante il brano, fino a quando questa viene sciolta dai synth impalpabili e dal timbro pulito di Garett. Una spirale di chitarre, acustiche ed elettriche clean, crea una scala di cristallo su cui inerpicarsi fino al tetto delle nuvole, fino ad osservare il sole sorgere sulle note dell'assolo orientaleggiante. Ma la conquista dei pilastri del cielo dura per pochi istanti, perché si ricomincia a cadere dopo pochi giri, al suono del tema di apertura del brano. L'impatto perde di consistenza, l'aria si tinge di epicità con la marcetta scandita da Lance Lea sul rullante, il trittico Anderson/Bartholomew/Green costruisce per l'ultima volta una fragile architettura, fili di ragnatela che si dipanano come seta direttamente dai manici delle chitarre, sfumando infine in echi ambient.
Sunrise è paradossalmente introdotta da un tema notturno, dal sound molto vicino al doom, lasciando dilatare i suoni senza fretta nelle pennate, onde mastodontiche che si infrangono su una scogliera di ardesia, per poi virare improvvisamente nel ritornello e trovare una crescente solarità, quando le nubi scoprono per un momento il cerchio luminoso. Cascate di arpeggi creano un suggestivo intermezzo prima della ripresa del chorus, che prelude ad un finale solenne ed epico, con i cori che avvolgono le squassanti mazzate delle corde e delle pelli, lasciando al dolce sciabordio delle onde.
I cerchi che si propagano sulla superficie increspata dell'acqua aprono Black Waters, ricreati dai delay e le pennate in palm muting delle chitarre, sussurri ipnotici, figure che cominciano a liquefarsi e perdere i contorni, con il tempo che si fossilizza in un lento annegare. Quando l'acqua si fa largo a forza nelle vie respiratorie arriva l'impatto, garantito dall'ossessiva ritmica del brano e dal basso, ancora una volta in prima linea quando si tratta di conficcare i colpi nella carne.
Le geometrie melodiche si dilatano lentamente, arricchendosi in dettagli ad ogni giro strumentale, interessando una finestra d'ascolto sempre più ampia e indefinita, come se ci fosse un oceano pronto ad avvolgere l'ascoltatore, facendo percepire la sensazione di un vuoto ed il suo richiamo affascinante. Le linee vocali filtrate si alternando a synth e melodie psichedeliche, spalancando una voragine sotto i piedi. L'ultima barriera è caduta, il sigillo infranto: è tempo di guardarsi allo specchio, osservarsi in una grigia spirale d’acqua e decidere se intraprendere il viaggio dentro di sé, se rispondere al richiamo dell'abisso e lasciarsi andare - e il naufragar m'è dolce in questo mare. Le progressioni in crescendo e le clean vocals di Garett riescono a cullare, infondendo sicurezza, prima di lasciare un'ultima volta con il fiato sospeso.
La prestazione dei Secrets Of The Sky è ineccepibile ed incredibilmente curata a livello sonoro, sfruttando una serie di effetti molto azzeccati e potendo contare su una produzione robusta e versatile, tanto in grado di assecondare il lato greve dei passaggi doom quanto l'ariosità del riffing delle chitarre pulite, avvolgendolo con suoni eterei e facendo perdere di consistenza, in un vero e proprio inno alla leggerezza. Un plauso in particolare al polimorfismo vocale di Garett Gazay, in grado di dare una performance adatta ai più eterogenei contesti.

In definitiva, To Sail Black Waters è un debutto interessante, in grado di emozionare a più riprese e di sorprendere con i cambiamenti che gli americani imprimono al proprio songwriting; un'opera densa e ricca di materia, che necessita di ripetuti ascolti per essere approcciata, ma in grado di acquisire nuovi chiaroscuri al termine di ognuno di essi; per contro, questo lavoro inizialmente potrebbe suonare ostico anche chi è abituato ad una tale eterogeneità, proprio perché spazia profondamente tra i generi, puntando ad unire i punti forti di ciascuno di essi.
Consigliato vivamente a chi ama la complessità ed è disposto ad investire il proprio tempo per approfondire l'ascolto." [Giovanni Perin "GioMasteR"]

Link:
http://www.metallized.it/recensione.php?id=9512
 
8,8/10 @ Metalship.org (France)!! :Smokin::devil::wave:

"Secrets of the Sky, voici certainement le groupe le plus surprenant de cette fin d'année. Avec seulement trois ans au compteur, la formation américaine déboule avec un premier album inattendu et déjà monstrueux, qui a su séduire le label Kolony Records (qui est déjà en soi un gage de qualité quand on se réfère à son catalogue). To Sail Black Waters, sorti il y a à peine plus d'un mois, fait son petit effet auprès de la presse et des fans, et ce ne sera certainement pas Metalship qui va venir contrer la tendance...

Comme le groupe n'est pas connu en dehors de sa Californie natale, il est de bon ton de préciser qu'on n'a pas vraiment à faire à un Doom-Death typique. Au jeu des étiquettes, Secrets of the Sky s'avère même être un véritable casse-tête tant les influences vont et viennent! D'une base Doom, les américains font évoluer leurs compositions au gré de passages nettement plus Progressifs, mettant ensuite en place quelques relents Black Metal fort bien menés... Mais le mieux reste quand même la façon dont se développent ces quatre longues pistes...

Car il est difficile de sentir le vent tourner avec Secrets of the Sky. La musique se veut réellement surprenante, dans le sens où les changements d'univers se font sans réelles amorces. Ainsi, To Sail Black Waters se rend totalement imprévisible et indomptable, ce qui le rend non moins dangereux et passionnant. Le talent de composition est là, c'est d'ailleurs cette alchimie qui rend les compositions si prenantes. A titre d'exemple, un morceau comme "Decline" fait littéralement exploser les barrières du Doom classique avec ses passages tantôt atmosphériques, tantôt oniriques (le chant clair y est pour beaucoup, avec son côté ICS Vortex (ex-Dimmu Borgir), fascinant!), avant de retomber dans des parties bien plus sombres, là encore aidée par des vocaux assourdissants... Bien que les transitions entre les passages soient quasi-inexistantes, l'auditeur se laisse facilement mené par la formation, qui joue littéralement avec les émotions pour se frayer son chemin.

Le côté imprévisible a beau être l'atout phare de ce disque, il n'en reste pas moins une grosse claque à tous les niveaux. Une claque pour la production d'abord, avec un son puissant à souhait qui sied à merveille à l'univers des américains. La seconde baffe revient aux compositions elles-mêmes, et notamment à ce travail d'atmosphères que beaucoup peinent à atteindre ("Black Waters"). Les arrangements, les voix ("Black Waters" est certainement le titre le plus travaillé), tout est fait pour apporter un maximum de relief et de consistance. On a vraiment la sensation d'avoir en face un groupe expérimenté, qui nous propose-là son quatrième ou cinquième album...

Que dire d'un tel opus si ce n'est qu'on tient là l'une des plus belles surprises du genre? Depuis longtemps, le Doom reste cantonné à un genre particulier, et rares sont ceux qui osent s'écarter un peu de la base. Alors quand on tient une formation qui le tente et qui de surcroît réussit son pari, on ne peut qu'être enthousiaste... Pour le coup, Kolony Records a eu le nez creux vu le potentiel de Secrets of the Sky!
To Sail Black Waters, avec ces quatre titres, emporte l'auditeur dans un univers à part, maîtrisé et pourtant totalement imprévisible. Les genres se croisent, laissant deviner quelques bribes d'influences, mais le tout se veut parfaitement digéré et, en un mot, délectable.

Ce qu'il y a de bien avec un tel album, c'est que même les réfractaires au Doom sauront y trouver leur compte. Et pour un premier album, messieurs, chapeau bas." [kumelia]

Link:
http://fr.metalship.org/albums/32184-To_Sail_Black_Waters#chro-3806
 
99/100 @ Concreteweb.be! :headbang::headbang::headbang:

"Holy smokes, is this Oakland, California based band on fire, or what?!

SotS was founded in 2010, when guitarists/ keyboardists Chris Anderson and Clayton Bartholomew put their heads together to start writing material which would eventually shapeshift into what would eventually become their current sound : “cinematic, cerebral, atmospheric Post-Metal with Doomy, Proggy, Blackened influences” (from the info sheet accompanying the promo copy of the album that was sent to us). Following several auditions, the duo eventually found bassist Ryan Healy and drummer Lance Lea to be the best fitting rhythm section and individuals, adding them to the line-up before the year's end...and early the following year the current line-up was completed with the additions of third guitarist Andrew Green and lead singer Garett Gazay. The band continued to work on their music for the better part of that year, and recorded the 4 tracks which were to become SotS's debut album over a period of 8 months at Trident Studios with engineer/ producer Juan Ortega (whom you might know from having worked with the Metal giants such as Testament, Machine Head, Cattle Decapitation, and many more).

The band did its debut live shows (SF Bay Area) in early 2012, and immediately gained notoriety, which resulted in the band playing shows up and down the West Coast, and supporting the likes of Saviours, Torche, Black Cobra, and KENmode. And, once you've heard their music, you'll not find that immediate success such a surprise! To elucidate, I'll cite some early show reviews, with one reviewer (MetalSucks) making the comparison “...equal parts Te Ocean, Agalloch, Type O Negative, Opeth and something their own. It's dark, dark stuff with a tinge of progginess that crosses multiple sub-genres and it sounds fantastic”, and another (Metal Injection) stating, “Imagine if you tossed Neurosis, more recent Immortal, and Porcupine Tree into a blender. Sounds like a fucked up mix, right? It's an awesome fucked up mix though!”...sure is! And these two reviews actually sum up the elements of which the music is made : some Prog, some Post-Hardcore, some Death Metal, some Black Metal, some Goth...the whole mixed together in a very individual way, all SotS's own! Vocals are quite diverse too, with the lead singer going from growls to screeches, and from something in between to clean...and in some occasions getting vocal help from one of the other dudes! The whole a compellingly attractive thing the more seasoned listener will find hard not to like, indeed. California's online Decibel Magazine even went so far as to not only do an interview with the band, but also stream the complete album. Find it at (www.) decibelmagazine.com/featured/secrets-of-the-sky-full-album-stream-video-tour-dates. But perhaps you're more into videos? In that case, you'll find an amazing video for the track “Decline” with a length of almost 13 minutes at (www.) metalinjection.net/video/secrets-of-the-sky-decline-music-video (for those interested in the lyrical side, a lyric video for the track “Sunrise” can be found at (www.) youtube.com/watch?v=jY_H2cVi5r4&feature=youtu.be).

If you're into great “Extreme” music with complexities, do not miss out on this band! I'm not sure whether the album was even released back in the States, but the version of Italy's Kolony Records comes in nice (very black, of course, as befitting the dark atmospheres of the music entailed within) digipak format. An absolute go-getter, and at the top of my 2013 year-lists!" [Tony Holemans]

Link:
http://www.concreteweb.be/reviews/secrets-sky
 
16/20 @ French-Metal.com!

"Nous venant de Californie, le jeune groupe Secrets Of The Sail a sorti son premier album "To Sail Black Waters" chez Kolony Records.
Il est assez complexe de définir leur musique qui comporte plusieurs éléments de plusieurs styles tels que le prog, le doom, le black et le death, avec des accents atmosphériques et plus rarement post metal.
Bref, c’est tout un programme !

Il s'agit d’un album comportant peu de titres mais qui est assez long pour une durée de 40 minutes.
Le premier morceau "Winter" se révèle dès le début très intéressant, plein de suspense et de mystère.
Puis, cela devient plus violent avec l’arrivée du chant black, de riffs torturés et de la batterie bien lourde.
Différents chants font leur entrée au fur et à mesure, allant donc du black au death jusqu’à des chants plus expérimentaux ou plus simples.
Le titre reste dynamique bien que quelques passages mélodiques provoquent des ambiances plus calmes.
Les riffs de fin sont plus progressifs avec une structure originale différente du reste du morceau.
"Decline" débute dans une atmosphère pesante très black metal,
ensuite la musique devient aérienne pour accompagner le chant clair tout en délicatesse.
Il varie ensuite entre passages plus ou moins doux et d’autres plus sombres.
Lourd et pesant avec des sonorités plus death, "Sunrise" s’habille également de belles mélodies tout en légèreté.
Ce morceau est une réelle bouffée d’air frais !
Puis, étrange et hypnotisant, avec des riffs répétitifs et des voix fantomatiques, "Black Waters" est sans hésiter la perle de cet opus,
avec ses ambiances sombres et décalés, variant entre le chant black et clair, ce morceau nous rappelle quelque peu le groupe anglais Code.
Un très bon moment de musique.

Avec ce premier album, Secrets Of The Sky est un groupe à suivre.
"To Sail Black Waters" est court mais varié et est assez personnel pour nous embarquer dans le monde des Américains.
Une belle réussite !" [Nymphadora]

Link:

http://www.french-metal.com/chroniques/secretsofthesky.html#.UtZ3PvuqRoB
 
9/10 review @ Metalcurse.com!

"I don’t know what causes so many people in the East Bay (across the Bay Bridge from San Francisco, for those not from the Bay Area) to want to play Doom-infused Metal (Doom/Death, Black/Doom, etc.), but there seems to be a lot of bands in that vein coming from that area these days. Of course, the former kings of Bay Area Doom/Death Metal, Asunder, were from there. The only reason they’re the former kings and not the reigning kings is because the band is now broken up. With their departure from the scene, a number of new contenders have emerged for their spot. Secrets of the Sky is one of the bands vying for that position, and their debut LP, To Sail Black Waters, is indeed a powerful statement of intent. While not as punishingly heavy and atmospheric as old Asunder, or as sonically bleak as Lycus, this record is still in possession of plenty of good music. If there is a band that I could compare their style to, I would say that they’re like a Doom version of old Katatonia. It has a similar depressive and somber vibe, but Secrets of the Sky is decidedly heavier and a bit more progressive minded. A song like “Sunrise” does stray into Progressive Metal territory, but I’d say that this was the only track of the four here that really can be classified as that way. The others are complex, but not overly so. Even though “Sunrise” is intricate in structure, it never degenerates into that navel-gazing self-absorption that I hate so much about Progressive Metal. The remaining songs have a dark and depressive air to them and also have punishing heaviness, something that I look for in good Doom. For a debut, this is definitely an impressive release. Hopefully, this band will keep the Progressive Metal elements to a minimum because that’s the most dangerous component of the band’s sound. All too often, it will take over and the band soon starts making overly complex, narcissistic music that only other wankers will enjoy. If you’re a fan of Doom/Death or Black/Doom in the vein of Lycus or Asunder, Secrets of the Sky is well worth checking out, either live or on CD. I recommend both if possible." [Ychoril]

Link:
http://metalcurse.com/index.php/reviews/secrets_of_the_sky_-_to_sail_black_waters/
 
Review by Teethofthedivine.com!

"One of the best things about metal is the breadth of styles and genres available, and finding a band out of nowhere and being blown away by their style is something that will never get old for me. The debut album by Oakland natives Secrets of the Sky is just that type of find. Playing a form of progressive, doom/sludgy black metal, this album is just epic and knocks it out of the park on so many levels.

One of, if not THE most, impressive part of this amazing album are the vocals of Garett Gazay. He starts out with some raspy, black metal-ish vocals to kick off opener “Winter”, then moves to a killer death growl, then all the way to the other end of the spectrum with some whispered vocals. Clean singing makes its way onto the album with the next track, “Decline”, and fits the music and atmosphere perfectly while lending further credence to Gazay’s amazing range. In addition to the phenomenal vocals, the guitars on this album are just massive. I have always liked the heavier aspects of Opeth, and this album has it in spades.

But this album is far from just hero worship. The dark, brooding atmosphere and tension that builds up during the slow parts add an astounding level of depth to this album. Check out the 9:12 mark of “Decline”, where the long instrumental break builds up to a head snapping roar from Gazay and a guitar tone that’s thicker than Kim Kardashian’s ass. These breaks are used masterfully throughout this LP, and are one of the highlights of an album filled with dozens of them. The way the triple-headed guitar attack, bass line and drums weave together with Gazay’s vocals shows a level of talent and songwriting that truly demonstrates musical talent and songwriting at its highest form. In the band lineup they list keyboards as one of the instruments used, but I honestly had a hard time picking them out after over a dozen spins. They’re either so subtle as to barely be noticed, or added so seamlessly well you have to REALLY be trying to notice them. As one might guess with metal such as this, it’s only 4 tracks, but each one averages in the 9-10 minute range; I honestly could have listened to an album this good for two hours.

If you’re a fan of Opeth, Isis, or Neurosis, or just mind-blowing progressive metal (even though I’m not a big fan of that term) in general, this is an absolute must listen and one that will no doubt be on my year end list." [Kevin E.]

Link:
http://www.teethofthedivine.com/reviews/secrets-of-the-sky-to-sail-black-waters/
 
9,5 out of 10 @ Chroniclesofchaos.com!!! :kickass::kickass::kickass:

"The no-bullshit non-intro goes like this: _To Sail Black Waters_ is a near perfect record. Listen or screw off. Chronicles of Chaos is an eclectic metal site, and Secrets of the Sky deliver their share and more of high caliber eclectic metal.

The padded-out bullshit intro goes like this:

One of the most insidious of necessary evils is the "For Fans Of" sticker, also known as the RIYL (Recommended If You Like) tag. Attracting the right audience is hardly a sin, but every enthusiastic tendency should be tempered by restraint, lest jilted listeners turn glum disappointment into throes of disgust. What motivates my particular ire? I once encountered a sticker proclaiming an album (which will remain anonymous) should be enjoyed by fans of Neurosis, Mogwai and Jesu. Next thing I know, I'm in my car and popping the thing into the stereo, hoping I remembered to pay for it. Out poured nearly an hour of miserably bland, uninspired "post" metal. I haven't listened to it since. Whoever smugly typed up that RIYL list clearly failed to comprehend (or chose to ignore) a single significant point: Neurosis, Mogwai and Jesu are all apotheosis bands, reigning high atop their respective fields of influence as major innovators, undeniable game changers. Any band simply following their formulae is unlikely to appeal to fans of those bands, precisely because we expect that sense of progression and peerless artistry.

All this rambling is meant to suggest that Secrets of the Sky's _To Sail Black Waters_ could proudly bear a RIYL sticker adorned with names like Opeth, Nightbringer or Isis without ever misleading or alienating those fans. Secrets of the Sky never really sound like those bands, but therein lies their charm. The Californians share an adventurous musical spirit, integrity of expression and unchained honesty of execution that yields a truly progressive and thought-provoking album rather than the vapid mimicry of the well-trod frontiers of old. There's a conceptual maturity that hangs around these songs, lingering in the doomy paces, gnarled chords and organically grown quiet passages. Guitar tones are both meaty and magical, one lending atmospheric harmony to the hearty leads and melodies of the other. Triumphant clean vocals trade with death growls and Chance Garnette-like rasps, none of them more or less relevant or moving than the others. Epic compositional arcs blaze and fade over each of the album's four long songs. No section stumbles. No idea fails.

_To Sail Black Waters_ might be the 2013 record that upends your world and changes you for good. RIYL getting your skeptical ass handed to you." [Dan Lake]

Link:
http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/articles.aspx?id=2-6756
 
8/10 @ Pitchline Zine from Spain!

"Secrets of the Sky (Oakland, California) se presenta como una banda para amantes de corrientes musicales nacidas de artistas tan fundamentales como Opeth o Neurosis; como dato orientativo puede pasar, pero lo cierto es que la música que práctica este quinteto va mucho más allá de cualquier etiqueta de este tipo.

¿Presenta elementos característicos del Post-Metal? Sí ¿Existen influencias progresivas? Rotundamente, pero limitar sólo a eso este trabajo es, cuanto menos, injusto. En ‘To Sail Black Waters’ coexisten también inclinaciones por el Black Metal de nuestro tiempo y detalles de elegancia conferidos por el tránsito discreto al terreno del Doom. Además, es importante destacar la estructuración elegida, ya que el álbum se cimienta como un esqueleto que funciona y cobra sentido sólo si implicamos a todas las piezas.

Toda esta serie de características no tardan en saltar escena, prueba de ello reside en el atrevido aroma progresivo (muy en la línea de la música que ejecuta Intronaut) de “Winter”, donde también se hacen gala constantes cambios de tiempo, así como tiempos pausados, embebidos en atmósferas épicas y con cierto aire moderno, y es que la incursión de pasajes etéreos y melódicos es uno de los rasgos más personales de la música de Secrets of the Sky, sin embargo; la balanza queda compensada con guiños reincidentes al Black Metal. “Decline” llega, literalmente, arrastrada por su predecesora. En este momento la tendencia se vuelve mucho más progresiva, bandas del estilo de Between the Buried and Me fácilmente pueden aparecer como reminiscencia; en este corte, el amalgama entre la vertiente más ambiental y las consecuencias de dar rienda suelta a la distorsión llega a cotas memorables. Por otra parte, “Sunrise” nos termina de confirmar que el álbum está concebido de forma unitaria, es decir; aquí no existe más que un principio y un final, los que delimitan la totalidad del trabajo, ya que cada una de sus partes discurren con fluidez y solidez, como si de eslabones de una cadena se tratase. Si bien cada uno de estos elementos individuales tiene una identidad propia, como es el caso de la pieza en cuestión, que plasma el mayor cómputo de estructuras agresivas hasta el momento, cercanas (pero manteniendo las distancias) al Black Metal del siglo XXI, difiere notablemente de la composición elegida para poner el broche de oro al álbum, “Black Water”, cuya identidad viene definida por su constante volatilidad, permitiendo incluso la irrupción de voces limpias como colofón final.

Secrets of the Sky han demostrado que aun en los tiempos del “ya está todo inventado” se puede parir algo con personalidad y calidad, a lo que habría que atribuirle un mérito extra si tenemos en cuenta que es una banda con sólo tres años de vida. Con una temática que gira en torno a la naturaleza desde un punto de vista oscuro, sólo queda esperar que esa oscuridad no ciegue a una más que susceptible nueva fuente de talento, eso sí, al margen de etiquetas." [IrrationalGaze]

Link:
http://www.pitchline-zine.com/reviews.item.php?id=002927
 
4,5 out of 5 @ Deafsparrow.com!

"As a rule of thumb, bands that include any form of the word ‘sky’ are avoided as experience has dictated that many end up being “risecore” quality bullshit metal with high school quality lyrics about played-out emotional dramas that no one gives two shits about. For whatever reason, Secrets of the Sky was given a chance despite the name and destroyed all expectations of being something worthless. Secrets of the Sky are a five-piece melodic death/doom band so very not “risecore” coming out of Oakland, California. On Metal Archives, they’re listed as black/doom but as soon as you’re done with the first playthrough of To Sail Black Waters, the only real black element of the band is the vocalist’s snarling qualities and perhaps menacing atmosphere.

The album starts off right with “Winter” which wastes no time impressing upon the listener their musicianship. The sound is heavy and employs groovy but somehow doom-angst chords. A lot of doom bands fuck up with generic riffs but these guys got it right and they’re memorable and catchy. “Winter” doesn’t linger anywhere with any particular piece of the song making it an exciting track. The end totally kicks up the notch out of nowhere and gets you bumping your head while staying heavy and melodic. The second track, “Decline” which is the song they chose to make a music video out of, doesn’t disappoint as well. The vocalist alternates between black, doom, and clean which are all impressive and retain great clarity throughout. There’s a moment during the cleans where he layers his vocals in a way reminiscent of Jesu’s Heartache which is so cool. The synth is a tad too heavy/power metal-y during the first 2 1/2 minutes but it isn’t enough to add negatively to the song. This is also the only real case where the synths can be nitpicked and overall add greatly to the atmosphere of the album.

What is probably the most emotionally powerful part of each song is the melodic interlude they have that greatly accompanies the non-cheesy lyrics. “Sunrise” is the third and shortest track on To Sail Black Waters. The bass guitar here is thick and adds to the heaviness of the overall sound. The drummer also does a fine job staying progressive fighting the trend of doom drummers to be painfully boring. This is also the most melodic song on the album and does a good job being emotionally invoking. So far the album is a triple kill but the streak has been stopped with the last track, “Black Waters”. Unfortunately, it’s the most boring on the album and there are no particularly memorable moments other than where the vocalist whispers “I love the way you move inside of me – Lovely strangely who has all my trust.” To be honest, it’s kind of creepy and disconcerting. The complete lyrics are hard to find online but it probably makes sense in the grand scheme of the song but nonetheless, it is unsettling.

Secrets of the Sky have a winner on their hands with To Sail Black Waters. The production is top notch, simultaneously melodic and heavy all the while managing to be progressive and emotional. Other reviewers have compared Secrets of the Sky to Opeth and while it’s true in regards to the sheer heaviness of and quality of Opeth, it isn’t quite at the same peak of progressive but still holds its own. Also by the amount of reviews available, it seems like these guys will soon blow up into popularity so grab on while you can." [Cole Olson]

Link:
http://www.deafsparrow.com/2014/02/22/secrets-of-the-sky-to-sail-black-waters/