黑羽 (Obsidian Plume)

Anthelion is like a Taiwanese Wintersun. It will take years for them to make an album, usually do to unfortunate circumstances, but when they will do, it is obvious they are trying to reach for the stars and make you feel some profound emotion because they will put a lot of different but meaningful sounds and instruments that you would not usually hear in metal.

Anthelion is a lot different from Wintersun, however. And it's not just because Wintersun is death metal and Anthelion is black metal. There isn't any hype for their new album, so when it comes out, nobody is thoroughly disappointed. Also, Anthelion makes sure not to overdo it, which is exactly what Wintersun seemed to do in their Time I album.

The album starts out with Scythe Returns at Dusk, a very powerful and depressing orchestral piece that wants you to have high expectations for the album, and raises them up a bit. Then comes the first song (which apparently Anthelion likes the most because it got the music video): Obsidian Plume.

Initially, when I first heard Obsidian Plume, I felt that the piano outspoke the guitar and metal feel a little too much in some areas, and the other areas just didn't have enough of the sorrow and grimness that Anthelion is known for. But that is quickly put to rest when the female vocals come out and the synths and violins follow behind. The feeling you get after listening to Obsidian Plume follows into the next few songs. Thankfully, the non-metal instruments blend much better, and sounds truly like a sorrowful mourning mixed in with the rashness and anger that metal is.

There is a single Orchestral song on this album besides the intro (Morrigan's Desecrence) that is really well thought out and is a great interlude between each song as well.

Overall, I think Anthelion has done a marvelous job at fulfilling what they were going for in this album. They easily combine the brutality of black metal with sad violin and piano elements as well as sorrowful female vocals, making one unique album.