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Sortilegium - Requiem Aeternam review



Reviewer:
6.5
Band: Sortilegium
Album: Requiem Aeternam
Release date: 2002


01. Gloria In Excelsis
02. When The Angels Cry
03. Prelude To Redemption
04. Requiem For The Lost Souls
05. Ascension (Outro)

Strange, strange ? strange that's what I have to say about this one, I can't even tell what kind of music is this! First we have the cover art, a masterpiece, I just love it, and what does the cover art tells me? It screams Gothic Metal, so I put the Cd in my player? and the journey begins?

"Gloria In Excelsis" first track. Gregorian chants, eerie keyboards, I feel like I'm in a church of the XVI century, creepy stuff? then, esoteric arpeggios? what is this? Next track, "When The Angels Cry" some guitars here, now were talking! A lot of atmosphere here, chants and keyboards in the background, but I can't understand this song, is so strange, very progressive, the tempo changes, the guitar melodies, and the low grunts? can't define what type of music this is?

"Prelude To Redemption" a instrumental piece, this one is very smooth, the same creepy atmosphere but with guitar soloing, Track 4 "Requiem For The Lost Souls" again in that church, this Gregorian chants are just one of the most scary things ever done in Metal history! I totally love them! Then the low grunts again, but with a lot of keyboards and chants in the background, again those intricate musical passages and progressive moments, but grunts doesn't scare me, I listen to them every single day! Last track "Ascension" ?is that monk chanting again? in Latin!

This Cd has one of the most creepy elements that I've ever heard in a Metal album, but sadly, some of the intricate and complex passages ruin the experience, and the grunts, didn't like them a bit,

The thing about this one is that every song is composed by a very talented musician, Tregor and it seems that he has a very big musical vision since he mixes so many elements here like Dark, Sacred Classical Music, Symphonic Death, Gothic, Jazz, Doom and Gregorian Chants. Too much if you ask me.

I wonder how this would sound without the vocals, imagine a Gregorian Chant Metal album, and if you're thinking "Therion has done that" no, you're wrong, this chants sounded nothing like Therion, this ones are EVIL, but if you don't believe me, get this one and open your mind because is a though listen, I didn't got it quite well, but hey, it could be just me.

Written by Undercraft | 14.10.2003





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