Band:	Rakoth
Album:	Ars Compilata
Style:	Avantgarde metal, Black metal, Doom metal, Folk metal
Release date:	October 2014

01. Les Arts Fauches
02. What They Seek
03. Ars Compilata
04. November (Die Phobien Angst)
05. Lineage
06. Emphaty Mire
07. Indoctrination
08. Inner You
09. 93 Shattered Runes
10. MDB
11. Not Again!
12. Eddie's High

It's curious how you wait and wait for the new album by your favourite band for years, initially full of hopes and expectations, which then in turn make way for desperation, then frustration, then apathy of giving up hope of ever listening to it... When finally it pops up in front of you, totally unexpected, in all its glory (or shame).

That's just what happened to me with the newest record of Rakoth. After 11 long and tumultuous years that followed the release of controversial Tiny Deaths; ups and downs; line-up changes; moving from their home town to Moscow; and disappearing in the social media only to appear again, the band finally presented Ars Compilata before the listeners.

Personally, if I'd have to answer the question whether the album met my expectations or not, I'd say... both yes and no. Rakoth, always a band of its own kind, recorded the album that has a tint of nostalgia (sometimes I could not help reminiscing the beginning of the century with its sonically delicious Planeshift and Jabberworks), yet manages to sound fresh enough).

I think that the title Ars Compilata is really fitting, as this album has something to offer the music connoisseur with its different categories. It certainly works a lot around the avant-garde ideas of its predecessor, but, while Tiny Deaths could be considered to be too experimental for most metal fans, this new record manages to stay both heavy and out of the box. That should be pleasing for the admirers of avant-garde music and the fans of the band's earlier works alike. Doom metal enthusiasts will be surprised to find out that the lyrics of "MDB" are composed entirely of the titles of My Dying Bride songs, while the trademark flute will caress the ears of the ones into folk music. But the biggest surprise lies in the end with the instrumental "Eddie's High" that sounds almost like power metal!

All the instruments sound pretty well balanced and the production is worthy of the content of the record as Lazar (of Rossomahaar and Arkona fame) did a good job. It's a bit of a pity for me that the vocals of P. Noir (or Zlek as he calls himself nowadays) sound more tame on this album compared to all that he's done before, but, at the same time, it seems that Ruslan improved his growls and screams.

Overall, please don't judge me harshly, but I cannot hope to be objective listening to Ars Compilata. This experience for me is ever accompanied by the sweet aroma of nostalgia, of playing with nebulas, fearing the return of the Nameless and celebrating the tiny deaths. Still, if my awkward words made you give this album a chance (or, who knows?, maybe even listen to the band's older works), I will consider my purpose fulfilled.