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Dreadrealm - The Essence Of Winter review




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Reviewer:
8.0

18 users:
7.56
Band: Dreadrealm
Album: The Essence Of Winter
Release date: April 2017


01. The Essence Of Winter
02. Norsemaiden's Lament
03. The Thin Veil Between Our Worlds
04. Fortress Of Decadence
05. Winter's Bane II - Lurkers In The Dark
06. Midwinter Feast At The Queen's Castle
07. Everwinter's Echo

Most of you probably aren't familiar with Dreadrealm, a new atmospheric black metal, one-man band from Estonia, for which the music, lyrics, vocals, instrumentation and production are handled exclusively by Metren Angerjärv. The Essence Of Winter is his project's debut and let me now tell you why you should do yourself a favour and get to know Dreadrealm sooner rather than later.

Atmoblack bands have been emerging by the dozen in the last few years and hence the style is now unfortunately overrun by boring and lacklustre acts. Recycled tremolo riffs, tree-root resembling logos, long and plodding compositions that forget to end and out-of-place blastbeats are some of their characteristics. On the other hand, Dreadrealm's logo is perfectly readable, the songs have very little fat that needs to be trimmed and both imaginative tremolo riffs and heavy chugs are used efficiently to create the desired atmosphere. To give you an idea, the sound and music is closer to Agalloch and Sun Of The Sleepless than it is to Enisum and Eldamar.

The Essence Of Winter conveys an aura of dark and cold isolation, but it is also deeply emotional and poetic. Soft and romantic acoustic sections trade off seamlessly with abrasive, razorblade-cutting electric guitar riffs. Eerie synths and heartfelt piano melodies are often in play to portray a dreamlike surrounding. Deep, harsh growls and howls, clean vocal harmonies, chanting and haunting whispers are used to express the beautifully written lyrics and it is a pity that we don't get more of those, since The Essence Of Winter is primarily an instrumental album.

Almost every aspect of the music is carefully crafted and placed where it needs to be. It is not just the instruments and the vocals that create this dense, chilly and captivating atmosphere. Real nature sounds can be heard too, like the Baltic Sea eating away the rocks of Estonia's beachfront in "Norsemaiden's Lament", the howling wind and the footsteps of a man (or a spirit?) entering the "Fortress Of Decadence" or the crackling sound of wood burning in the fireplace and the distantly heard chatting voices of the Queen's guests in my personal favourite and epic "Midwinter Feast At The Queen's Castle". Towards the end, the snow-blizzard of "Everwinter's Echo", along with whispering vocals and a weeping guitar melody, wraps up nicely the wide array of emotions experienced during the previous 38-odd minutes of the album.

The Essence Of Winter justifies its title by offering a black metal journey through old-growth forests, wuthering lands, scenic lakes and medieval castles. It is brimming with talent and passion and proves that you don't need the budget of a small country to produce inspired metal. Don't miss it.

"Cry, oh winter wind
Reap the world of warmth and light
For thou art too unkind
Bring an everlasting night"





Written on 10.11.2017 by Only way to feel the noise is when it's good and loud!


Comments page 2 / 2

Comments: 54   Visited by: 202 users
11.11.2017 - 15:28
VIG
Account deleted
Written by Paz on 11.11.2017 at 13:08

I hear a strong Dråpsnatt vibes here.. Especially in the middle section of "Winter's Bane II - Lurkers In The Dark". Am I the only one?

I do sort of, but I am not too familiar with them. They are in Metren's favorite bands list, so I wouldn't be surprised if he took lots of influence.
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11.11.2017 - 16:32
Metren
Dreadrealm
Written by Guest on 11.11.2017 at 15:28

I do sort of, but I am not too familiar with them. They are in Metren's favorite bands list, so I wouldn't be surprised if he took lots of influence.


I love Dråpsnatt, but at the time of composing The Essence Of Winter, I hadn't listened to them in ages, I was more into classic Immortal albums, Agalloch and Lurker Of Chalice last winter.
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My one-man project's Bandcamp with free downloads: https://dreadrealm.bandcamp.com/
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11.11.2017 - 22:11
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Metren on 11.11.2017 at 11:56

Written by M C Vice on 11.11.2017 at 08:25

Written by Bad English on 11.11.2017 at 08:07

that's what I tried to say, its like saying Vatican is same size in square miles as USA.

Subtitles, please? Anyone?


I'm guessing that in his analogy, I am Vatican and Varg is USA. Which is fair, since I've released just 1 album and I doubt I will ever create anything as awesome as Det Som Engang Var. Oh, and I also don't feel like stabbing unarmed people in the back 16 times...


Your album is 100 times better as any Burzum
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Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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11.11.2017 - 22:15
Metren
Dreadrealm
Written by Bad English on 11.11.2017 at 22:11

Your album is 100 times better as any Burzum


Thanks
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My one-man project's Bandcamp with free downloads: https://dreadrealm.bandcamp.com/
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11.11.2017 - 22:16
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by Metren on 11.11.2017 at 22:15

Written by Bad English on 11.11.2017 at 22:11

Your album is 100 times better as any Burzum


Thanks


its true,
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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12.11.2017 - 19:38
tea[m]ster
Au Pays Natal
Written by Metren on 10.11.2017 at 15:53

Yes, yes You should

I will give this a listen and give you my honest-to-goodness opinion fellow MSer....no hurt feelings tho, ok?
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rekt
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12.11.2017 - 20:29
Metren
Dreadrealm
Written by tea[m]ster on 12.11.2017 at 19:38

I will give this a listen and give you my honest-to-goodness opinion fellow MSer....no hurt feelings tho, ok?


Feel free to bash away!
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My one-man project's Bandcamp with free downloads: https://dreadrealm.bandcamp.com/
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13.11.2017 - 01:55
Boxcar Willy
yr a kook
Written by Zap on 10.11.2017 at 14:36

Agreed. Sorry Tanner!

I'm offended.

Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 10.11.2017 at 14:39

You mean MS user active in the forums.

Sup nerd
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14:22 - Marcel Hubregtse
I do your mum

DESTROY DRUM TRIGGERS
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15.11.2017 - 20:51
ohmayhem

Hey that's the Skyrim font
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16.11.2017 - 05:38
Metren
Dreadrealm
Written by ohmayhem on 15.11.2017 at 20:51

Hey that's the Skyrim font


Viner Hand ITC it is indeed, it should be in most word programs. Didn't even remember that Skyrim had it, though I do love that game to death.
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My one-man project's Bandcamp with free downloads: https://dreadrealm.bandcamp.com/
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19.11.2017 - 19:25
BetulaObscura

Is there a CD version on this album?
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"Inspired by the future of the past"
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19.11.2017 - 20:27
Metren
Dreadrealm
Written by BetulaObscura on 19.11.2017 at 19:25

Is there a CD version on this album?


Not at the moment. I am planning on it though, once I've saved up some money. Pressing a CD in Estonia is somewhat costly. There's only one company that does it and their minimum amount is 300 copies as far as I know.
----
My one-man project's Bandcamp with free downloads: https://dreadrealm.bandcamp.com/
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19.11.2017 - 21:54
BetulaObscura

Written by Metren on 19.11.2017 at 20:27

Written by BetulaObscura on 19.11.2017 at 19:25

Is there a CD version on this album?


Not at the moment. I am planning on it though, once I've saved up some money. Pressing a CD in Estonia is somewhat costly. There's only one company that does it and their minimum amount is 300 copies as far as I know.


Thanks for your answer!
I do not listen music from files except moments when I am checking new music. That is why I was asking for the CD...
Your album sounds very interesting. I am going to listen it more carefully as soon as possible. Cheers!
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"Inspired by the future of the past"
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19.11.2017 - 22:33
nikarg

Written by Metren on 19.11.2017 at 20:27

Not at the moment. I am planning on it though, once I've saved up some money. Pressing a CD in Estonia is somewhat costly. There's only one company that does it and their minimum amount is 300 copies as far as I know.

You will easily get 300 buyers. And I don't know if you can try a company not based in Estonia.
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19.11.2017 - 23:30
Metren
Dreadrealm
Written by nikarg on 19.11.2017 at 22:33

You will easily get 300 buyers. And I don't know if you can try a company not based in Estonia.


I don't really care about making a profit on CD sales or even breaking even, I just need to get the funds to have the CDs pressed. I'll probably set the final price pretty low, so more people could afford the album too.
----
My one-man project's Bandcamp with free downloads: https://dreadrealm.bandcamp.com/
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21.11.2017 - 22:48
BetulaObscura

Written by Metren on 19.11.2017 at 23:30

I don't really care about making a profit on CD sales or even breaking even, I just need to get the funds to have the CDs pressed. I'll probably set the final price pretty low, so more people could afford the album too.


In my opinion it is better to spend some more money and press nicely mastered CD with interesting designed booklet and cover. 10-20 Euro/US Dollars for the CD are not big money and looks like this is standard price for the new CD (underground bands and well known bands as well).
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"Inspired by the future of the past"
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22.11.2017 - 08:54
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
20 euros for a CD? I'd rather buy a vinyl
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23.11.2017 - 20:25
BetulaObscura

Written by Paz on 22.11.2017 at 08:54

20 euros for a CD? I'd rather buy a vinyl


Sometimes there is no vinyl issued and never will be! By the way: have you ever heard about 1st press editions? Or limited editions? Or out of print editions? CD can be very pricey, just like some vinyl.
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"Inspired by the future of the past"
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24.11.2017 - 14:19
Paz
Nuclear Cowboy
Written by BetulaObscura on 23.11.2017 at 20:25

Sometimes there is no vinyl issued and never will be! By the way: have you ever heard about 1st press editions? Or limited editions? Or out of print editions? CD can be very pricey, just like some vinyl.

That was a joke.. I know, but I was thinking about the brand new ones The most expensive CD in my collection is Triangle by Schammasch. Indeed, it costed me about twenty euros.
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24.11.2017 - 17:40
BetulaObscura

Written by Paz on 24.11.2017 at 14:19

Written by BetulaObscura on 23.11.2017 at 20:25

Sometimes there is no vinyl issued and never will be! By the way: have you ever heard about 1st press editions? Or limited editions? Or out of print editions? CD can be very pricey, just like some vinyl.

That was a joke.. I know, but I was thinking about the brand new ones The most expensive CD in my collection is Triangle by Schammasch. Indeed, it costed me about twenty euros.




That was my averaged estimate prices.
I do not believe that any underground metal band release their debut on 20 Euro CD anyway. Even CD with a dozen pages booklet is not that expensive!
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"Inspired by the future of the past"
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01.05.2018 - 04:05
Metren
Dreadrealm
I created a poll on Dreadrealm's FB page, asking whether I should invest the money I've saved up this spring in releasing a physical CD for The Essence or if I should buy studio time and hire a professional producer for the next album instead. I can't make up my own mind, so vox populi vox dei I guess.
----
My one-man project's Bandcamp with free downloads: https://dreadrealm.bandcamp.com/
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01.05.2018 - 11:37
Zap
Guest
Written by Metren on 01.05.2018 at 04:05

I created a poll on Dreadrealm's FB page, asking whether I should invest the money I've saved up this spring in releasing a physical CD for The Essence or if I should buy studio time and hire a professional producer for the next album instead. I can't make up my own mind, so vox populi vox dei I guess.

Definitely the latter I'd say. Just because it seems more meaningful to me to invest money into future works than into a CD version of past works. And not many people are interested in CD releases these days anyways.
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10.05.2018 - 00:52
nikarg

Written by Metren on 01.05.2018 at 04:05

I created a poll on Dreadrealm's FB page, asking whether I should invest the money I've saved up this spring in releasing a physical CD for The Essence or if I should buy studio time and hire a professional producer for the next album instead. I can't make up my own mind, so vox populi vox dei I guess.

I voted for CD because I 'm still hoping for a signed one to arrive in my mailbox
Jokes aside, either way I'll be happy. I'm really looking forward to new music from you man!
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10.05.2018 - 00:55
Metren
Dreadrealm
Written by nikarg on 10.05.2018 at 00:52

Written by Metren on 01.05.2018 at 04:05

I created a poll on Dreadrealm's FB page, asking whether I should invest the money I've saved up this spring in releasing a physical CD for The Essence or if I should buy studio time and hire a professional producer for the next album instead. I can't make up my own mind, so vox populi vox dei I guess.

I voted for CD because I 'm still hoping for a signed one to arrive in my mailbox
Jokes aside, either way I'll be happy. I'm really looking forward to new music from you man!


It will be the CD since it got more votes. I'm still going to invest in some better production programs and a new acoustic guitar too though, all that in the summer. I'm looking to improve in every possible area And of course, however many albums I will release in my lifetime, You will get signed copies of all of them.
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My one-man project's Bandcamp with free downloads: https://dreadrealm.bandcamp.com/
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