NEWS

 


        From 1000 to 1400 BC, Europe entered one of the darker periods of its history. Reeling from the
        impact of the Plague and other devastations, the individual city-states became more defensive of their
        boundary lines and more incestuous in their culture. There was a different God in power then-a God
        that asked His children to send their own children into countless wars, asked His daughters to send
        their own frail spawn off to be martyred in the Name of the Indefinable. Women began to find solace in
        the sanctuary of the Church, absolving themselves from the pleasures of family and flesh, but mostly,
        the pain. It was also the time of Saints-virtuous women who were killed for spurning men's advances
        were raised by Christ to join His own harem, while men who died defending the Church were given a
        place next to God, somewhere to the left of His Chair. It was a bridge between the age of magic and
        the age of science, where superstitions still held strong but made weaker by unspoken doubts and the
        seeds of rebellion, a time of darkness..........

act I: the unprejudiced plan

act II: the pitiless attack
act III: the palace’s defeath
Eighteen bands from many different countries have contributed to this outstanding compilation which pays homage to the Dark and Middle Ages with many previously unreleased tracks. Included (amongst others) are better known bands such as Ataraxia, Autumn Tears, Mors Syphilitica, Ontario Blue (Stephen Pennick of Endvra) Penitent, The Protagonist, Stay Frightened, and Stone 588. Penitent opens with a somber, instrumental, electronic, and sinister act that may surprise many fans since Penitent used to create mainly piano music with vocals.The intro is followed by Opera Multi Steel: Nicely consistent tribal percussion laced with quiet keyboard. Two male (one reminiscent in some parts to Robert Smith) and one female background vocals chant Latin lyrics from the Gloria. Ataraxia proves once again to be great Early Music composers with influence drawn from their native Italy. Rosa Crvx mix a ritualistic chant (which could also be used as a marching song in case you ever plan on going to war on a horse with a spear and in shiny armor) with a subtle, echoing guitar typical to gothic music. A lighter, more dancy rhythm by Jaramar shows that even people in the Middle Ages experienced joyous times (well, at least that is what it sounds like. Who knows,maybe the lyrics are about slaughter or famine, but I wouldn't know because they are in Spanish, so I keep on dancing to it like a little girl as if it were about a prosperous harvest) Flutes, cymbals and pipes are the dominating instruments along with male and female vocals. Much in the same vein as Jaramar, The Soil Bleeds Black continues, except their sound makes one think more of a feast at court then the medieval countryside. A female singer carols about how Luna begets Mercury. Orchestral and hymnlike Arcane Art present their lyrics in a style rather known to Metal. Mors Syphilitica contrast the previous song with a swirly and contemporary melody. Gothic/darkwave with female vocals. The sound of rain introduce tribal rhythms as Andrea Nebel Haugen's (Ex-Cradle of Filth, Aghast) Hagalaz' Runedance chants religious themes of Odhinnism. Proscriptor's bagpipes together with laughter and horseshoes on cobble stone remind of Scotland's turbulent past. This same horse also provides the vocals to the music i.e. it's instrumental--So, c'mon you guys, wear a kilt without underwear on a windy day; it's aaalright! XVII VIE emphasizes Karin's very dark and sensual voice over keyboard and ritualistic, threatening percussion. El Luto Del Rey Cuervo must have had either a) an accident on their recording, b) done this on purpose c) my CD player rejects it, but this melodic, swirly gothic song crackles as if it were recorded from an old record and its volume phases in an out of the speakers. The Protagonist contributed one of his previously unreleased versions of "Hesperia" Electronic/industrial darkwave in a powerful, orchestral manner, murmurs that seem to be dark prayers and sexy vocals by Sundstrom make this a special treat. Talking about "whispered prayers" Nothvs Filivs Mortis does exactly that, slowly getting louder until they reach the peak and start over with whispers, all backed up by an obscure soundscape. Stone 588 will surprise many of their fans with this track. Not at all the traditional goth with Siouxsie vocals, but harmonic flutes, strings, some violin and Terri's much more mature and defined vocals distinguish this song from their previous work. Ontario Blue delves into one's mind with charming, echoing electronics and sensual voice similar to Brendan Perry (Dead Can Dance) Very suitable for meditation! Most of you who order from Dark Symphonies probably already know Autumn Tears but for those of you who don't: Majestic, classically and baroque influenced orchestration with Erika's dramatic, enchanting vocals make "This... My Melancholic Masquerade" a perfect example of their albums. Stay Frightened connects to Autumn Tears so smoothly, it almost sounds like they belong together. "The Queen of the Elves" is an instrumental, trancelike soundscape layered by a faster-paced, uplifting melody. A great ending!

 

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