Band:	Estatic Fear
Album:	Somnium Obmutum
Style:	Symphonic doom metal
Release date:	1996
A review by:	KwonVerge

01. Des Naechtens Suss' Gedone
02. Somnium Obmutum
03. As Autumn Calls
04. Ode To Solitude

Estatic Fear hail from Austria, a country with a big history in the world of classical music, and believe me, their ancestors would be proud if they had the chance to listen to their compositions.

When classical music, doom/death metal and folk references came together Estatic Fear were born, harmonizing so beautifully together all these elements in the most appropriate way. Keeping either the bombastic or fragile atmosphere classical music can evoke, but lending it a metal edge in a doom/death metal manner, with grunting vocals and distorted guitar riffing along with some folk passages as well, Estatic Fear managed to form quite a personal sound back in 1996 with their debut album, "Somnium Obmutum".

The album consists of 4 compositions, yet it will accompany you for around 57 minutes and travel you to magical worlds of deep emotions, evoking a sense of olden times with its intensity and overall feeling. The role of the guitars is very important for the sound of the band whether they are heavily distorted and unleash their inspired guitar riffing or offer high quality acoustic passages with the classical guitar's affected ideas caressing the listener's soul with a weeping rose's petals. Except for the stunning classical guitar passages and the inspired distorted riffing the high quality of the band can be mirrored as well on the creative solo-oriented guitar work that makes its appearance at times.

Also, I shouldn't forget to mention the variety of instruments like the flute, the lute, the keyboards etc that lend their sound to the inspired orchestrations that adorn the melancholic and exceptionally depressive atmosphere of Estatic Fear. They mainly evoke a fragile atmosphere, without being afraid to sound more vivid and intense, escalating the emotional charge of the compositions. The rhythm section is not so much in the foreground and, in my opinion, it's not something really bad since all the other instruments manage to veil this "problem" with their sound in a succesful way. The vocals, whether they are ethereal/operatic female ones floating in the air like sirens weaving song or powerful male grunting/growling ones, sound utterly expressive and they give voice to the lyrics in the most beautiful and ideal way.

As I said above, "Somnium Obmutum" consists of 4 compositions of which "Des Naechtens Suss' Gedone" and "As Autumn Calls" are two fragile and atmospheric acoustic/orchestral instrumental pieces. "Somnium Obmutum" is a 32-minute long epic, filled with many changes and utterly inspired ideas, raging and bombastic at some times, emotional, fragile and heart-rending at others, and "Ode To Solitude" is what the title says, a real ode to solitude, adorned with grieving acoustic/orchestral passages that will touch you deeply, but having also soul-crushing and powerful outbursts that will make the veil of melancholy rise to new standards!

If you're searching for original music and you consider yourself a doom metal fan then Estatic Fear's "Somnium Ombutum" should be the next CD to become part of your collection and haunt your CD-player and inner world as well!