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Aquilus - Bellum I



8 | 168 votes |
Release date: 3 December 2021
Style: Ambient , Atmospheric black metal, Symphonic black metal

Owners:

66 have it
14 want it


01. The Night Winds Of Avila
02. Into Wooded Hollows
03. Eternal Unrest
04. Moon Isabelline
05. The Silent Passing
06. Embered Waters
07. Lucille's Gate
08. Empyreal Nightsky

Staff review by
musclassia
Rating:
8.0
A debut album heralded as a masterpiece, a long wait without any new music, and then a sophomore record announced to be but the first part of a two-part opus… where have I heard that before?

Read more ››
published 02.12.2021 | Comments (9)

Found in 21 lists
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Comments

Comments: 23   Visited by: 540 users
01.10.2021 - 10:15
Rating: 8
nonZero

Looking forward to this one, hopefully he hasn't lost his unique creativity in 10 years.

Aquilus fans will be pleased to know that this is the first of two album releases: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=404274887927083&id=100050337256225
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01.10.2021 - 10:55
Rating: 8
sgtrobo

I'm nervously excited about this. Griseus is going to be insanely difficult to match
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01.10.2021 - 11:15
Zap
Guest
I guess I need to revisit Griseus. Haven't listened to that since it came out.
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01.10.2021 - 13:06
Rating: 8
musclassia

Written by Zap on 01.10.2021 at 11:15

I guess I need to revisit Griseus. Haven't listened to that since it came out.


Same, this will be a good opportunity for me to reacquaint myself with it - I remember it being very good, but it's not something I've ever felt an inclination to relisten to.
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01.10.2021 - 13:21
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
From what I remember it took a while for me to get into Griseus, I found some sections of the album very good, musically it was incredible! I just found too many parts slow and dull, so I found myself lacking interest too often. It's one of those albums I have to listen to with no distraction at all, and have be in the right mood to really appreciate it, so I guess I will have to make time to revisit it again before I think about Bellum I.
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01.10.2021 - 14:21
Alakazam
spendin' cheese
The anticipated release we didn't need, but deserved or some other... Funny how I was talking about Griseus after retrying it to just from since literally upon around its release era, only to wake to this. That album certainly was a pure test and gateway for a handful into understanding music's capabilities.

So this along ZAÄAR has given me what it feels like again in too long to have anticipated excitement. I definitely respect what Griseus was doing more now so more than likely this is the same if not more emphasis on devotion.
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04.10.2021 - 17:00
chomskeet

I've been waiting for this for sooooooo long! Talk about pressure, Griseus was amazing
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08.10.2021 - 03:47
Kvothe

I just listened to the first single and apparently it hasn't lost its touch. I still don't know if a drummer has joined or if this guy has gotten fucking good at drums.
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Here, waiting very quiet right in front Valaritas, the door that hides the tomb.
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11.10.2021 - 18:04
Rating: 8
nonZero



I would be ok with an album of songs like this.
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11.10.2021 - 18:46
Karlabos
Meat and Potatos
Written by nonZero on 11.10.2021 at 18:04



I would be ok with an album of songs like this.

This is far different from what I remembered they sounding like.
That was actually solid.
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"Aah! The cat turned into a cat!"
- Reimu Hakurei
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12.10.2021 - 09:15
Rating: 8
nonZero

Written by Karlabos on 11.10.2021 at 18:46

Written by nonZero on 11.10.2021 at 18:04



I would be ok with an album of songs like this.

This is far different from what I remembered they sounding like.
That was actually solid.

The first 2 songs on Griseus are in the same style. The rest of the album was a lot more ambient.
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12.10.2021 - 12:43
Karlabos
Meat and Potatos
Written by nonZero on 12.10.2021 at 09:15

The rest of the album was a lot more ambient.

Yes. Ambient. That's pretty much what I remember =p
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"Aah! The cat turned into a cat!"
- Reimu Hakurei
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31.10.2021 - 18:43
antvre

Fuck, it's been 10 years.. i still have hope for a new gris' album
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03.12.2021 - 00:36
Rating: 8
M C Vice
ex-polydactyl
Bit disappointed that it'll cost $31 for the cd from Bandcamp, cause it ships from US. Hopefully Amazon or Season of Mist have it, so I can consolidate the shipping costs.
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"Another day, another Doug."
"I'll fight you on one condition. That you lower your nipples."
" 'Tis a lie! Thy backside is whole and ungobbled, thou ungrateful whelp!"
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03.12.2021 - 01:37
Rating: 6
Grouch Douglas
Enigma
This Is 'name your price' on Blood Music's bandcamp for those who don't know.
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04.12.2021 - 16:19
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
I would agree whit musclassica whit this album in his reviev, its catchy, dark, abm, whit influences, also ambient parts. Sad that there are so many years between albums,
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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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05.12.2021 - 22:45
Rating: 9
Iamgubbler

A few unrelated thoughts:

It's crazy how similar the production sounds after 10 years. Most bands can't keep a consistent sound with their bi-annual releases.

The cover art is really great, it genuinely creeps me out during certain parts of the album.

I don't think I could give a rating at this point. We'll see how I feel in a month or so.

I was kind of disappointed how the album ended at first before I remembered it was part one of two. Having a climactic finish would be nonsensical. Having a beautiful classical passage seems like the perfect choice. I'm actually optimistic about part two now.

I'm not sure what to expect from here, all I know is...
THIS MEANS WAR
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I'm a weed in Hitler's bunker.
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06.12.2021 - 19:57
Rating: 10
mikeprado30

SO beautiful... WHAT A COMEBACK!

Hopefully we won't be awaiting another 10 years for the next one
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BARDS WE ARE, BARDS WE WILL BE!
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12.12.2021 - 10:05
Rating: 6
BCI

I guess it's OK for what it is. Too bad that it just sounds like a soundtrack to me.
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Black Crown Initiate have ruined a lot of bands for me...
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01.01.2022 - 12:06
Rating: 8
CyberSymphony
Ollie
I've been waiting for this years after listening to one of the best albums I've heard in years. Its great but I feel is doesn't evoke the same feelings and imagery that Griseus did sadly. Its got every aspect that this album has musically but a lack of... something that made Griseus stand out.
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23.04.2022 - 14:43
Rating: 9
tintinb

Really well done solid album full of pauses and ambient soulful little pieces that take you on a journey. It felt like one whole song rather than individual songs.
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Leeches everywhere.
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07.10.2022 - 06:50
Rating: 10
24emd
Theory Snob
Very well structured and diverse album, one of my favourites in the genre, if not the best imo. Feels like it tells more of a story than Griseus, with this album having intro and outro tracks as well as a few ambient pieces in the middle amongst the black metal songs. Amazing!
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"I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense." - Proverbs 30:2
"Music? Well, it's just entertainment, folks!" - Devin Townsend

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19.08.2023 - 16:46
Rating: 10
24emd
Theory Snob
I hope this madlad releases II sometime soon, I hope he doesn't pull a Wintersun like the review joked
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"I am too stupid to be human, and I lack common sense." - Proverbs 30:2
"Music? Well, it's just entertainment, folks!" - Devin Townsend

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