Favna Abisal - Rerum Imaginaria - review

Favna Abisal - Rerum Imaginaria - review

Cover image of the reviewed item
Style
Post-metal
Release date
May 05, 2012
Reviewer
8.8
7.6
Tracklist
01. El Juicio De Aronnax
02. El Observador
03. Energía Demencial - Parte I
04. Océanos Mentales
05. Energía Demencial - Parte II
06. Imaginaria
07. Rey Abisal
A review by
Milena
July 23, 2012
Do you like being surprised by metal but avant-garde is usually too incoherent and dissonant for you? Or perhaps you like incoherence and dissonance, but would like to hear something different this time? Don't mind bands singing in their native languages? Are you in the mood to be taken on a journey? You've come to the right place.

Imagine someone asked you to write a soundtrack for a big-budget adventure movie. Perhaps one about mountain climbers trying to reach the summit of Aconcagua. Or, since Favna Abisal = "fauna of the abyss", a movie about adventurers trapped in a submarine in the deep waters of the Pacific, battling horrifying sea monsters on their way (which would be a rip-off of "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea", but hey, it's a Hollywood production, and that is to be expected). Your only problem is - the only thing you feel like writing is really weird metal. So you write some bad-ass prog-based avant-garde stuff in such a way that it completely reflects on the subject matter - fill it with highs, lows, introspective parts, ridiculously epic parts, the whole deal. Make it as non-linear as possible. Slap some theatrical, slightly folky male vocals on top, write lyrics in Spanish and finish with a couple of non-metal touches. That's Rerum Imaginaria in a nutshell.

And it works great. A friend of mine once said genres should be treated as ingredients and not recipes for making music, and if that is the case, you're in front of one complicated dish. It is both psychedelic and calm, electronic and organic, trippy and down-to-earth. There's some flirting with black metal and jazz going on, too. It sounds like a bizarrely specific niche to be in, but Favna Abisal are lounged so comfortably in it, you won't question any of their solutions while listening to this, not even for a single second. And if your tastes are eclectic enough, every niche should be your niche, right?

It took me almost two months to write this review, because, in all honesty, I had no idea how should I tackle such a mature, ridiculously multi-faceted debut. Let me set you straight - if you're on the same mental page as this Chilean band, you're in for a ride. Balls will be busted, jaws will drop.
Written on 23.07.2012 by
Written on 23.07.2012 by
A part of the team since December 2011. 7.0 means the album is good.

Comments

Comments: 27 Visited by 333 users
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Staff

Posts: 18617


Permalink
23.07.2012 - 22:08
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Staff

Posts: 18617


Definitely will check out the full album. Thank you for the review
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass

Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.

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Permalink
23.07.2012 - 22:18

Posts: 751
Very well written ( and convincing ) review , will check out asap .
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23.07.2012 - 23:21

Account deleted
Sounds pretty interesting, and I love bands that sing in their native tongues. Wishlist'd.
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Zap

Posts: 3650


Permalink
23.07.2012 - 23:41
Zap

Posts: 3650


Checked it out, it's quite unique and once you get used to the vocals, it's... rewarding, for lack of a better term.
PS: The thing your friend said is true and very cleverly put.
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I hate bonus tracks
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Dark Blood
The Avenger

Posts: 1435


Permalink
24.07.2012 - 03:16
Dark Blood
The Avenger

Posts: 1435


Very interesting and well written review. Though I'm very demanding with vocals, specially when singed in their native language, this is certainly something to check out.
----
It is humanity who must pay homage to the greatness of the Universe... not the Universe to the human narcissism.
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Unhealer
Eclecticist

Posts: 2311


Permalink
24.07.2012 - 05:18
Unhealer
Eclecticist

Posts: 2311


This is definitely for me. Well, I don't usually like music sung in my native language, but this seems worth the shot.
Wise saying by your friend.
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Nefarious
Doom Knight
Staff

Posts: 5548


Permalink
24.07.2012 - 11:53
Nefarious
Doom Knight
Staff

Posts: 5548


Will check this out soon
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"FUCK!!! You're the fucking 5th person asking me in an interview about the woman in the bathtub?The problem is that I AM the fucking person in the bathtub, and I AM a fucking MAN, for fuck's sake! I hate you all!" ~ Herr Morbid
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X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Staff

Posts: 18617


Permalink
24.07.2012 - 11:57
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Staff

Posts: 18617


Written by Unhealer on 24.07.2012 at 05:18
Well, I don't usually like music sung in my native language.

I guess that opinion which I shared a few years ago was the fault of many power/heavy metal bands that sing in spanish. But bands like Mar De Grises, Poema Arcanus and this one (just to name a few) are awesome.
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass

Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.

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Milena
gloom cookie
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Posts: 4603


Permalink
24.07.2012 - 12:11
Rating: 8
Milena
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Staff

Posts: 4603


Written by Unhealer on 24.07.2012 at 05:18

Wise saying by your friend.

This friend of mine reminds of you, actually, especially his preferences in music
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7.0 means the album is good
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Posts: 111


Permalink
24.07.2012 - 14:00

Posts: 111


Great review
I really want to check this out, but unfortunately the band/album is so obscure that I can't find it nowhere...
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Milena
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Permalink
24.07.2012 - 15:41
Rating: 8
Milena
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Posts: 4603


Written by Starchild on 24.07.2012 at 14:00

Great review
I really want to check this out, but unfortunately the band/album is so obscure that I can't find it nowhere...

There's a couple of tracks over at their bandcamp.
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7.0 means the album is good
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Unhealer
Eclecticist

Posts: 2311


Permalink
24.07.2012 - 18:18
Unhealer
Eclecticist

Posts: 2311


Written by X-Ray Rod on 24.07.2012 at 11:57


I guess that opinion which I shared a few years ago was the fault of many power/heavy metal bands that sing in spanish. But bands like Mar De Grises, Poema Arcanus and this one (just to name a few) are awesome.

Yeah, I also think it is because of that. Same with music in oriental languages, I keep relating them to anime openings and I can't stand awesome music such as Dir En Grey's latest outputs.
I'll get over it one day.
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Posts: 4
Permalink
25.07.2012 - 04:15

Posts: 4
Written by Milena on 24.07.2012 at 15:41

Written by Starchild on 24.07.2012 at 14:00

Great review
I really want to check this out, but unfortunately the band/album is so obscure that I can't find it nowhere...

There's a couple of tracks over at their bandcamp.

Hello i'm the drummer of Favna Abisal, and since it's difficult for you to reach us, we decided to let you listen the full album in streaming, please go to this url.

http://favnaabisal-rerumimaginaria.bandcamp.com/

Greetings and sorry for my english!
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X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Staff

Posts: 18617


Permalink
25.07.2012 - 19:58
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Staff

Posts: 18617


There's some pretty brilliant folky touches in this album. Check it out guys!

Written by Anoplogaster on 25.07.2012 at 04:15

Hello i'm the drummer of Favna Abisal, and since it's difficult for you to reach us, we decided to let you listen the full album in streaming, please go to this url.
http://favnaabisal-rerumimaginaria.bandcamp.com/
Greetings and sorry for my english!

Very nice of you guys. Thanks a lot for the link! Keep it up!
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass

Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.

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Unhealer
Eclecticist

Posts: 2311


Permalink
26.07.2012 - 00:54
Unhealer
Eclecticist

Posts: 2311


Written by Anoplogaster on 25.07.2012 at 04:15


Hello i'm the drummer of Favna Abisal, and since it's difficult for you to reach us, we decided to let you listen the full album in streaming, please go to this url.

http://favnaabisal-rerumimaginaria.bandcamp.com/

Greetings and sorry for my english!

Awesome! Gracias
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Stabby
Account deleted
Permalink
26.07.2012 - 01:31
Stabby
Account deleted
Uh oh, an album that Mora loves. That either means I'm going to dig it or be absolutely terrified . Or both. We'll see *jumps right in*

I love that they sing in Spanish, which means that I'll understand maybe 1 in 10 words. My highschool Spanish teacher would be so proud...

This is a great review by the way. Talent with words!
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K✞ulu
Seeker of Truth

Posts: 2574


Permalink
26.07.2012 - 10:26
K✞ulu
Seeker of Truth

Posts: 2574


Man, I wanna take that ride! Thanks for the review!
----
Savor what you feel and what you see
Things that may not seem important now
But may be tomorrow

R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner

Satan was a Backstreet Boy
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Milena
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Staff

Posts: 4603


Permalink
26.07.2012 - 16:40
Rating: 8
Milena
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Posts: 4603


Thanks for the comments everyone. Now hurry to their bandcamp, go, go, go, go.
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7.0 means the album is good
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Posts: 111


Permalink
27.07.2012 - 13:51

Posts: 111


Written by Anoplogaster on 25.07.2012 at 04:15


Hello i'm the drummer of Favna Abisal, and since it's difficult for you to reach us, we decided to let you listen the full album in streaming, please go to this url.

http://favnaabisal-rerumimaginaria.bandcamp.com/

Greetings and sorry for my english!

that's amazing, thanks.
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Spirit Molecule
spirit molecule

Posts: 1918


Permalink
27.07.2012 - 15:03
Spirit Molecule
spirit molecule

Posts: 1918


Their bandcamp had a couple of tracks earlier, which I did check out, but I didn't really like it too much. The vocals were a little of a put off for me :/ Not coz it's in spanish, but just the style.

Anyway will give the whole album a spin and see if it sits better

Good review by the way. Made me want to check the band out.
----
If you never wake up from a dream does it become reality?

Last fm
Don't click here
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Milena
gloom cookie
Staff

Posts: 4603


Permalink
27.07.2012 - 15:41
Rating: 8
Milena
gloom cookie
Staff

Posts: 4603


Written by Spirit Molecule on 27.07.2012 at 15:03

Their bandcamp had a couple of tracks earlier, which I did check out, but I didn't really like it too much. The vocals were a little of a put off for me :/ Not coz it's in spanish, but just the style.

Anyway will give the whole album a spin and see if it sits better

Good review by the way. Made me want to check the band out.

Yeah, the vocals might be a bump, but they clicked with me at once.
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7.0 means the album is good
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Posts: 4
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28.07.2012 - 05:31

Posts: 4
Thanks for the comments guys!
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Stabby
Account deleted
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01.08.2012 - 08:10
Stabby
Account deleted
It was really good. Progged to hell and back and a very powerful and impressive sounding guy singing in Spanish. I would follow that guy into battle
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Milena
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Posts: 4603


Permalink
01.08.2012 - 12:08
Rating: 8
Milena
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Posts: 4603


Written by [user id=106198] on 01.08.2012 at 08:10

I would follow that guy into battle

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7.0 means the album is good
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Posts: 5
Permalink
03.08.2012 - 04:23

Posts: 5
Written by X-Ray Rod on 25.07.2012 at 19:58

There's some pretty brilliant folky touches in this album. Check it out guys!

Written by Anoplogaster on 25.07.2012 at 04:15

Hello i'm the drummer of Favna Abisal, and since it's difficult for you to reach us, we decided to let you listen the full album in streaming, please go to this url.
http://favnaabisal-rerumimaginaria.bandcamp.com/
Greetings and sorry for my english!

Very nice of you guys. Thanks a lot for the link! Keep it up!

THANKS
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Posts: 107


Permalink
05.10.2012 - 00:32
Rating: 9

Posts: 107


The things I'd do to see these guys with Mar de Grises. This is such a great album. I couldn't imagine these beautiful lyrics translating well into English. I wish all of you knew Spanish in some way.

Milena, your taste in music is something else.
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Posts: 4
Permalink
10.10.2012 - 03:57

Posts: 4
Thank you guys for taking the time to listen the album!.
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