Battlelore - Evernight - review
Battlelore - Evernight - review
Tracklist
01. House Of Heroes02. Ocean's Elysium
03. Summon The Wolves
04. We Are The Legions
05. Into The New World
06. Longing Horizon
07. Mask Of Flies
08. The Cloak And The Dagger
09. Beneath The Waves
10. Doom And Oblivion [bonus] [limited edition version]
11. The Tale Of The Downfall [bonus] [limited edition version]
A review by
KwonVerge March 01, 2007
Well, Battlelore hail from Finland and during February, 2007 managed to return with their fourth full-length attempt through Napalm Records and all I can say is that the band worked really hard to accomplish a very good album. The very first impression on an album is being formed by the cover artwork and then the title and both cover and title pace beautifully together in this occassion! The artwork lies in shades of grey and shows a team of people in boats sailing down a lake amidst mountains and forests towards the unknown, probably soon to reach the point of "Evernight". As for the music it is hard for me to label it since it incorporates epic, folk-oriented, atmospheric and metal elements, one thing is for sure, the overall outcome is expressive, intense and emotional, making you care not about the categorization of Battlelore's music.
The band keeps an expressive balance between the vocals, the guitars, the keyboards and the rhythm section (which holds the compositions really well and lends the ideal groove) and all together create the ideal atmosphere. The guitar riffing is powerful and in some more melodic passages lie hidden some more folk-oriented ideas that blend beautifully with the charismatic female vocals and the keyboard chants, at times though the riffing steps behind and gives its place to some more acoustic passages that offer their own fragile beauty into Battlelore's compositions. The ethereal female vocals are just dreamy, enchanting, a bittersweet atmosphere of their own, imprisoning the listener under a violet veil of overflowing sadness, whereas the grunting male vocals are very good, could be better though, but they fit the music really well, lending a sharper edge to the compositions. Some polyphonic passages couldn't be missing since some passages ask for it so as the sound will be more complete and along with the floating keyboard melodies unleashing their either more symphonic or more fragile dreams the soundscape seems perfect.
The songs that managed to tear me apart and then synthesize me all over again from the start were the elegiac, emotional and intense "House Of Heroes", the epic and surrounding sadness of "Longing Horizon" and the outstanding "Beneath The Waves" with the dramatic epilogue of both the song and the album that leaves you asphyxiating in the depth of the sea in search for your dreams..
Concluding, "Evernight" is a beautiful piece of atmospheric metal generally speaking, an album that will accompany you in a world of fantasy and bittersweet beauty for a long time
"Buy your own dreams, beneath the waves..."
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 8 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 8 |
| Production: | 8 |
Comments
Comments:
9
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Really, you make me want to listen to this CD again, after reading your review...  It's beautifully written  I have to say, though, that "Sword's Song" is a classic album to me, and this disc just has not measured up yet for me... It certainly has a very even approach, and therefore flows better than anything they've released. I just found little interest in the songs themselves.. To me, songs like "War of Wrath" from Swords Song made this band unique and grand, but there is nothing on this CD that's caught my attention yet. But, I will give it another try...
---- "After silence that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." - Aldous Huxley
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Well i guess i have a third opinion, because mine varies from both of yours. My favourite album is 'Where The Shadows Lie', its superior in every way to any other album. Ill admit ive only heard selected songs of the new album, they sounded ok, but i just dont like the new vocalist, Patrick sounded more like an.... orc and was better. 'Third age Of The Sun' is another that you find some songs are good some not, the vocals from the new guy are just hard to interpret, Patrick was quite clear with words.. Ill still buy this album soon, it doesnt sound all that bad, and i need to complete my collection hehe.
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Hmm. Guess I should listen to it. I got the promo a few weeks ago (along with some others) and the title "Epic Fantasy Metal" didnt really appeal to me :')
---- The silent moment, right before the dusk fades away I open my eyes, but the darkness stays
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| Carrion
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Posts: 52
I'll have to say I agree with you on how when i first listened to this band i didn't really like them overly that much, however I got given a copy of 'Third Age of The Sun' and gave it a spin, ended up really liking the band lol >_< So now iv been looking forward to this album I'm glad it got a good review
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I've been meaning to check out this band for a while and after reading your review I decided that the time has come! This album just came yesterday and I've gotta say it's amazing! They captured the darker atmosphere perfectly and created a beautiful and addictive sound. I see what you mean when you say the folk elements are "hidden" beneath the powerful guitar riffing and rhythm section. This combined with the floating clean vocals create a certain magic that's rare to hear. I wasn't as thrilled with the grunted vocals - just that they didn't seem to be mixed very well at times and stand out unpleasantly during some songs. That's the only minor drawback. I am so enjoying how lovely and intense this music is; not intense to the point of draining you emotionally, though. It's great Thanks for writing this Rozz! After this album sinks in I'll be checking out their back catalogue.
---- "A life all mine Is what I choose At the end of my days" --The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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| A Kat Person
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The cover art is pretty obvious, they're sailing on the Anduin just before the falls like in the finale of Fellowship of The Ring
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Why is it that when I see this CD for sale in many places on the internet it says "Charlie Dominici" ? If you see this somewhere please tell them I have nothing to do with this CD. Charlie Dominici
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