Welcome My Last Chapter

There are almost 35 degrees outside my home in this moment and I’m quite sure I’m gonna die in few seconds. I had to find something with a great burden of coldness with icy sounds that could bring me virtually in another place where I can inhale the icy winds of a snow storm. In Italy the hot period is too humid as you could understand but the winter is quite cold and I already have nostalgic thoughts about it.

Anyway, I’ve chosen this album because to me it represents one of the coldest and evocative forms of black metal after the Immortal albums. This band is a true cult in the scene due to the release of a single album, this one. It’s an excellent piece of icy black metal full of scratchy, evocative and freezing riff and finally I start to fell myself a bit better. The songs are long, full of tempo changes and mostly melodic; we are talking about a strange form of black metal that is not completely violent or melodic, finding always a perfect balance between these two characteristics.

If “I’m Another In The Night” is faster with riffs ala Dissection but the following “So Far Beyond…” represents the most obscure and symphonic side of the band with an excellent, dramatic piano part. Even during the fastest songs we can find clean arpeggios to give the melody under the power and the iciness of the electric guitars sound. That is great because it gives the right atmosphere over the most violent side.

The majestic, grandiose keyboards with the arpeggios of a song like “A Castle So Crystal Clear” are awesome for the atmosphere of a song that is more similar to a march in the snow. When the blast beats enter, the riffs are faster but always with a foot in the classic melody. The lead guitars lines are essential in this sound to support the rhythmic open chords parts. The vocals are the classic suffered and evocative shrieks full of melancholy and despair and sometimes they reminded me a bit those by Forgotten Tomb.

The classic sensation of desperation and despair they are able to create in this music is great. The winter is recreated in each single form in these songs. The landscapes of ice, fog and storms are all in these songs. The epic feeling is great to fill the songs give the sensation of exaltation in front of such beautiful and sad panorama. If you’re searching for a band that could recreate the winter in music beside Immortal, try these ones and they will not disappoint you.

Now I’m feeling better and somehow I stopped sweating. Thanks Vinerland and I believe I’ll get back to you soon…