Shards of Silver Fade

Some of us are used to saying that the old times were the best in which the best music was done. It’s not an entire lie, but it’s not completely true. Metal has been partially transformed in the last 15 years with the emerging of the atmospheric scene, especially within black metal. It’s obvious that even that flank faces a point of saturation, but still there are the nonconformists and those are the ones who don’t let us down – Midnight Odyssey’s Dis Pater is one of them. The debut “Funerals From The Astral Sphere” (2011) confirmed Midnight Odyssey as a highly potential turning point to the better and four years later “Shards Of Silver Fade”, released via I, Voidhanger Records, is a statement that really good things are yet to come. With more than two hours of running time, this double-album is a transcendental journey that only allows you to return to Earth because you will want to listen to it over and over again.

The first song “From A Frozen Wasteland” has an initial long moment delivered by practically an a capela method supported by echo effects that take us into wild landscapes due to its melancholy, and the song’s calmness is very tender despite the lyrics’ invocation towards Lord of Death’s presence. Even if it’s just the album’s beginning, that vocalization is one of the most beautiful and touching moments. The black metal growling is used, but we will also absorb a huge amount of sections comprised by the marvelous clean and melodious vocals.

The musical layers don’t seem to be extremely complex, and beautiful sound waves with a cosmic and ethereal taste are crafted. Midnight Odyssey’s ambient side impels us towards meditation and spirit calmness in which we float through the celestial space in a bed of cosmic dust – even if death is a key point regarding the lyrical concept. In addition to the whole canvas, extensive and full-bodied guitar riffs are included reminding us that Midnight Odyssey is a black metal project, yet very, very atmospheric – still, more perceptible, well-worked and melancholically melodic riffs are found in some moments. On the other hand, we also find epic choirs culminating in fantastic musical peaks. In spite of the black metal and dark/cosmic ambient base, the musician Dis Pater can include brief and sober approaches regarding folk metal in “Hunter Of The Celestial Sea” and doom metal in “Asleep Is The Fire” – being this last one obviously delivered by lingering and bleak soundscapes. Also, a militarist pace offered by the drumming work is heard in the last song, the title-track.

The songs’ length allows the execution of a progressive line turning each song in very specific and growing trip. The biggest sensation regarding that length is expressed in the fact that we can even think that several tracks are passing on, but they are really the same – needless to say that every song has between 14 and 22 minutes of running time. During the record, the listener will realize that the project’s ambient side is way more used than the organic musical execution which turns everything more enigmatic and metaphysical. Let’s also refer that the album evolves into darker soundscapes, especially in the second disc.

Firstly, I’ve thought about writing a light article just to make you curious, but such a splendorous opus deserves an in depth review. Ultimately, “Shards Of Silver Fade” is one of the best albums I’ve listened to in my life and here I am inciting you to buy this overwhelming piece of art.

Originally written at www.againstmagazine.com