Release Date: 8th
June 2015
Label: Prophecy
The information about Dordeduh, I will admit, was not
filling me with positive thoughts about the album, as I saw the genre described
as black metal, but the description of Sunset in the 12th House, was
that they were mainly instrumental, meaning that my concern about “growled”
vocals waned a little.
Sunset in the 12th House is a 4 piece band
comprising Edmond Karban (vocals, guitar), Sol Faur (guitar), Sergio Ponti
(drums) and Mihai Moldoveann (bass). In effect, all the members are members of
Doldeduh, and Sunset in the 12th House seems to have been formed as
an outlet for music which didn’t fit the parent band style.
Mozaic is
a 6 track album with a total playing time of around 56 minutes. The longest
track on offer is track 2, “Arctic Cascades” which is 14:43 minutes long and
track 1, “Seven Insignia” is the shortest on the album at just under 6 minutes (5:48).
The opening track of the album, Mozaic, is “Seven
Insignia” (5:48) and starts with some steady riffing guitar which is joined by
drums and bass and drives along until the lead guitar soars with a terrific
passage above all else. Just after the 1:20 minute point, the music is added to
by growled lyrics which I am afraid do nothing for me apart from make me want
to hit the off button. As I am reviewing the CD however, I persevered and
actually enjoyed the music minus those vocals. The track is punchy and catchy
if you take the vocals away.
“Arctic Cascades” (14:43), the longest track is up next
and starts with some gentle electric guitar themes over a simple bass line.
This gentleness continues to build very slowly, ebbing and flowing, until just
prior to the 3 minute mark. At this point the riffing guitar kicks in with
pulsing bass/drums and lifts the track up several notches. The overall
impression is of a very atmospheric soundscape, and there are sufficient
changes of emphasis to maintain interest.
Next up, “Paraphernalia of Sublimation” (8:25) is another
atmospheric slab of audio landscape which merges more traditional instruments
throughout most of its length, before slipping into a more heavy metal style
with riffing and drumming to take the track out.
“Desert’s Eschaton” (10:56) is another slice of very good
atmospheric music which I found very mesmerizing. The penultimate track,
“Ethereal Consonance” (9:54) has the gentle guitar, simple insistent bass and
clipped drumming merging into a slightly faster tempo as it shifts along.
Simple guitar passages help the track flow along. Another winning track for the
atmosphere generated throughout.
“Rejuvenation” (6:49), the final track, maintains the
gentle start, but slightly faster tempo this time. There are some vocalizations,
but thankfully, no growling, and these add to the atmospherics of the track.
Apart from the growling vocals on the opening track,
which tried very hard to make me dislike the album, the rest of the album is
almost totally instrumental and my overall impression is that this is a very
good debut album. Mozaic will not
“set the heather alight” (a Scottish comment basically meaning “light up the
sky”) but is a generally satisfying atmospheric voyage. If you can get past the
vocals on the opening track, there is much to enjoy on Mozaic. Give the album from Sunset in the 12th House a
few listens and there will be few disappointed listeners.
4/5
Stars
Key
Tracks: Arctic Cascades, Paraphernalia of Sublimation, Desert’s Eschaton
Tracks:
Seven Insignia
Arctic Cascades
Paraphernalia of Sublimation
Desert’s Eschaton
Ethereal Consonance
Rejuvenation
Tracks:
Seven Insignia
Arctic Cascades
Paraphernalia of Sublimation
Desert’s Eschaton
Ethereal Consonance
Rejuvenation
July 14, 2015
Review
Provided By Write A Music Review
No comments:
Post a Comment