Band:	Rajna
Album:	Offering
Style:	Neoclassical
Release date:	2010
A review by:	Jeff

01. The Arrival
02. Ephesus
03. Cycleades
04. Offering
05. Eleusis
06. Illa Salde
07. Epidauros
08. The Dance Of Cleomene
09. Never Land
10. Quiet Hour

My metalheads friends, welcome to another world, a world of peace and beauty, the world of Rajna the famous French combo of ethereal and atmospheric music. Obviously, this new release is not for everybody and if you're only looking for devastating guitar riffs, please leave this place but if you like beautiful and tender music, if you're a bit open minded and love Dead Can Dance and this kind of music, come with me for a marvellous journey in the lands of the antic Greece?

Just imagine a sunny day in the old Greece, a walk on the cliffs in front of the sea, just imagine the beauty of the place, close your eyes and the music of Rajna will naturally come to your spirit. This is a bit weird to explain the feeling that you'll have when you'll listen to Offering but if you like movie sound-tracks and love Mediterranean mythological stories, you'll quickly fall in love with the music of Rajna which perfectly describes this universe. On a strict musical side, Offering is pure ethereal and atmospheric music, sad and melancholic, with folk instruments and classical music arrangements and could be featured on a lot of movies. This is clean as crystal, touching and emotive and the really good voice of Jeanne Lefebvre fits perfectly on the different tracks. All in all Offering is a perfect way to relax at home if you're just want to listen to music to have "fun" but if you're a real music lover, you'll also be surprised by the quality of the arrangements and the interpretation of the music. This is not really surprising but Offering is really deep and complex?

Perfectly produced, the album doesn't really suffer of any problem. The sound is great, the musicians really good, and you'll even find a vocals guest performance of Aret Madilian (founder of Deleyaman) on the excellent "Quiet Hour". Offering just doesn't lack of anything and if you're into this kind of music, or even gothic stuff actually, I invite you to have a look at this release which clearly deserves to be known.

If you like movies soundtracks, if you're into peaceful atmospheric music, if you're looking for musical spiritual journey in some antic lands, Offering is a must. Sure this is not really metal but fans of progressive and gothic stuff will find really good things for them in this album and if you just like music in general, you'll enjoy this release. Offering is magic, beautiful, full of emotions and really addicting if you like to listen to music alone at home in peace.