Band:	Secrets Of The Moon
Album:	Carved In Stigmata Wounds
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	February 22, 2004
Guest review by:	TheBigRossowski

Disc I
Prophecy
01. Crown
02. Cosmogenesis
03. Miasma
04. Psychoccult Hymn

Destiny
05. To The Ultimate Embers And Ash
06. Kaosthrone
07. Evolution Valour Admission

Extinction
08. Epoch
09. Carved In Stigmata Wounds
10. Dust

Disc II [bonus CD: "The Ambience of a Dead Star"]
01. The Lonesome
02. The Devils Temptest
03. The Rite Of Mercury
04. The Protagonist [Dead Can Dance cover]

Carved in Stigmata Wounds is divided into three sections: Prophecy, Destiny and Extinction. Each song seems to come to life and from the calmness, everything swirls into utter chaos.

The first song is streaming and the voice you hear is the unforgettable voice of Aleister Crowley. The music matches perfectly in tune with his humming and carries it in on from there. Crown is definitely an untouchable intro song. This same sound is carried into "Cosmogenesis" leading to what I can only describe as its "musical rebirth". The title song itself is the very precise demonstration of what Secrets of the Moon have to offer. This twelve and a half minute epic has everything that encompasses the band. The guitar, bass and drum work are always lined up flawlessly. The song seems to be calming down and then suddenly picks up again into the albums final climax. The album ends in the same manner it began, but the departure is executed more eloquently. The piano in the last song, "Dust", is played by Cornelius Waldner of Sagittarius. It is as breathtaking as anything you can imagine. It carries the sound softly on black wings into the distance and brings the album to its final closure. Every piece of the song feels as if it pierces your soul. In fact every song is of notable mention for this release! After MANY listens, I can't break every song down for the listener. That's up to the individual whether he or she finds the album worthy of their time.

Instead, I will provide a summary of what the overall band provides throughout the release. In every song you have the great sound of sG's vocals. It's not like your average black metal voice; it's something beyond it, really transcending the genre itself. Daevas played bass and made back-up vocals on the album, following through with the non-standard vocals. The guitars all well thought out and planned. For a band of this genre, the guitar work is VERY intricate and one could even say technical. There isn't a song that is just the same old sound, they add layers of different riffs and really reach out here. The drumming of T. Thelemnar is a brilliant addition to the album. He is precise and accurate with every blast. The cymbals always play a focal role in creating a part of this unique sound. He has what seems to be the perfect beat for every song, not just sticking to the basics or non-stop blasting, but surpassing it and showing what he's made of. The drumming fits in greatly with every riff. The timing is on point throughout the entirety of the album, for all instrumentation that is. The production is of fine quality, not the average day sound, but definitely not of the poor garage quality.

To find a conclusion, I have listed a few favorite tracks that are good for someone just discovering the album or the band: Cosmogenesis, To the Ultimate Embers and Ash and Carved in Stigmata Wounds.

"Recommendable listening at maximum volume."