Metal Storm logo
Countless Skies - Glow



8.2 | 196 votes |
Release date: 6 November 2020
Style: Melodic death metal

Owners:

65 have it
19 want it


01. Tempest
02. Summit
03. Moon
04. Zephyr
05. Glow
    1 - Part 1: Resolution
    2 - Part 2: Awakening
    3 - Part 3: Reflection

Top 20 albums of 2020: 6

Additional info
Drums recorded by Forbes Coleman at Audiobeach Studios.
Choir recorded by Chris Stroud.
Everything else recorded by James Pratt at Cinnamon Studios.
Mixed and Mastered by Juho Räihä at SoundSpiral Audio.

Staff review by
RaduP
Rating:
7.5
I, too, like Be'lakor.

Read more ››
published 06.11.2020 | Comments (4)

Found in 27 lists
Top lists



Comments

Comments: 20   Visited by: 478 users
20.08.2020 - 15:48
Rating: 10
Nymik
Latest single Summit is out on YouTube:

Loading...
07.10.2020 - 18:05
Rating: 10
Nymik
Another new track from the upcoming album:

Loading...
02.11.2020 - 23:05
frequenzangriff
They sound phenomenal, i can hardly wait for the album
Loading...
Album Release day (November 06, 2020)
06.11.2020 - 09:43
Rating: 10
Amazing, some new Opeth like styles integrated well. Previous album was a bit monotonous with tempo and ambiance. This has much more diversity, well balanced album.
Loading...
08.11.2020 - 02:30
Rating: 8
(o> . <o> )
You gotta wonder, what would it be like if Opeth never happened? Obviously there are many more influences present, but just an interesting thought overall for the whole prog death (even black sometimes) ecosystem.

Anyways, great album. Solid mix, nice clarity most of the time. Lots of diversity, interesting melodies, progressions and good instrumentation. There are some beautiful and serene passages, like the beginning of Zephyr, I always enjoy this contrasting element in metal music. But holy shit, the sections of blast beating climaxing moments are probably my highlights from this record.

The cover art absolutely nails the overall feeling I get from this record. Although some dull moments are present here for me personally, I'm not always fully engaged. There are a few times where things sound and feel a bit muddy and the flow of some songs feels a bit disjointed at times. But let's be honest it's not an easy feat when you're heavily dipping into prog, getting on that DT, Opeth, (etc.) consistency level of song weaving is hard.

Sometimes I don't like the clean vocals that much, but other times they're great! But the growls on the other hand? Can't complain there. They actually give me Mikael Stanne vibes, like during Moon, or during Glow (Part 1: Resolution) I get those strong Åkerfeldt vibes around 4:16. This is a blend of many genres, I hear that melo death from both the more general progressive and the Gothenburg side with some splash of black here and there. An amalgamation of many influences, but not exclusively just that, it still manages to have some life of its own.

Yeah, it has got a lot going for it, I like it.
Loading...
18.11.2020 - 16:24
Rating: 9
robpal
Proglord
Best MDM this year.

Had to check if Devin Townsend isn't a guest musician on this album
Loading...
30.11.2020 - 19:29
Rating: 10
Bonano
I absolutely love this album. Great work.
Loading...
13.12.2020 - 05:39
Rating: 10
Cassian
Amazing!
Their first album is really really good, but this one definitely puts them on par with Omnium Gatherum, Insomnium and Be'Lakor.
Always happy to have a new favorite band.
Loading...
20.12.2020 - 17:04
Rating: 8
tintinb
Great MDM. The bass work in the album is especially entertaining.
----
Leeches everywhere.
Loading...
31.01.2021 - 18:56
Reaper_Redeemer
For me this band sounds more like Omnium Gatherum and In Mourning rather than Be'Lakor, especially in this album. I really do not find more connections than the name.
Loading...
01.02.2021 - 12:02
Rating: 8
gavdann
Written by (o> . <o> ) on 08.11.2020 at 02:30

Anyways, great album. Solid mix, nice clarity most of the time. Lots of diversity, interesting melodies, progressions and good instrumentation. There are some beautiful and serene passages

Although some dull moments are present here for me personally, I'm not always fully engaged.

Sometimes I don't like the clean vocals that much, but other times they're great! But the growls on the other hand? Can't complain there.

You've pretty much said it all for me there. The cleans are my biggest bugbear. I'm reminded of frickin' Michael Ball for some reason.

You're right though, there are some really beautiful sections which really made me sit up, others where it drifts off in to the background for a few minutes.
Loading...
25.03.2021 - 18:15
Rating: 6
Liafev
I really tried to get into this band, but didn't manage so far .. I feel it's not "aggressive" enough. And I can't hear the Be'lakor comparison at all for some reason. Some Insomnium I can hear, but not Be'lakor.
Loading...
25.03.2021 - 18:26
Risto
Wandering Midget
Written by Liafev on 25.03.2021 at 18:15

And I can't hear the Be'lakor comparison at all for some reason. Some Insomnium I can hear, but not Be'lakor.

Cue band name. It's mainly their early work where there's also more musical similarities.
Loading...
16.04.2021 - 16:43
Rating: 9
Pelcu
And mine first reflection was.... quite similar to Be'lakor Still this alum is very good, mature and full of beautiful passages with proper portion of heaviness, speed and power. Really great one from the beginning to the last note.
----
Don't look for solution - look for EXIT!
Loading...
29.04.2021 - 20:01
Rating: 7
metalbrat
Music may not be bad but I started listening thinking its typical MDM but it turned out to be typical Opeth type lengthy-multi genre music, which I am not a big fan of.
----
In the beginning I was made of clay. Then I bit the apple and they changed me to metal 🤘
Loading...
29.04.2021 - 20:03
JoHn Doe
Yes, it's got Opeth and Be'Lakor influences, but i enjoyed it, the playing is tight, the musicians competent.
----
I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
Loading...
23.10.2021 - 01:39
Rating: 6
Steiner
Tons of originality but still not for me. I can tell these are very accomplished musicians but the mix of different influences and styles makes the music feel busy at times. It's like Omnium Gatherum and Agalloch had a love child but Opeth and Stratovarius are having the custody battle. Something will catch my ear but then I'm waiting through another few minutes of synthetic atmosphere, a meandering guitar solo, clean vocals, whispers or an acoustic guitar intro/outro before I ever hear it again. Maybe it's my ADD but I'm honestly exhausted after just 2 or 3 songs. There's just a helluva lot going on. Obviously we all have our own tastes in music but please tell me I'm not the only one chuckling at the clean vocal crescendo during the last 45 seconds of Zephyr. Consider me impressed with the musicians but not the music itself.
Loading...
16.12.2023 - 01:30
Rating: 9
24emd
Theory Snob
One of those rare melodeath albums where every single minute passage is enjoyable. Hell, this may even be my favourite in the genre. It's fascinating how much each track's title fits with the music, conjuring up many relevant images as I listen, much like Aquilus' albums.

Every song is just incredible, consistently amazing. If I had to force myself to pick a standout track it'd be "Tempest" or "Zephyr". Beautiful - melodeath perfection.

This album could be a 10 given time and maybe a slightly different production. The guitar and softer parts sound excellent, but some of the layers get a bit lost in climactic parts.
----
"I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense." - Proverbs 30:2
"Music? Well, it's just entertainment, folks!" - Devin Townsend

Best 2024 Albums
Loading...
05.03.2024 - 06:47
Rating: 8
Oldy86
Written by robpal on 18.11.2020 at 16:24

Best MDM this year.

Had to check if Devin Townsend isn't a guest musician on this album

I literally just came here to check if he was a guest vocalist haha
Loading...
22.11.2024 - 19:40
Rating: 7
HughRobjohns
The album takes a while to get into its stride, and when it does we are treated to some Be'lakor/Insomnium mashup that currently is the predominant fashion in Melodic Death Metal. Really good effort.
Zephyr is the highlight for me, what an absolute banger.

7.5
Loading...

Hits total: 5629 | This month: 15