manuscriptreplica
08-23-2004, 10:26 PM
(Technical Death/Grind) Lykathea Aflame - Elvenefris
http://tinypic.com/konpg
1. Land Where Sympathy Is Air (5:50)
2. To Become Shelter And Salvation (4:35)
3. Bringer of Elvenefris Flame (6:00)
4. Flowering Entities (5:45)
5. To Give (3:58)
6. On the Way Home (6:36)
7. Shine of Consolation (3:39)
8. Sadness And Strength (8:05)
9. A Step Closer (7:20)
10. An Old Man And A Child (9:10)
11. Walking In the Garden of Ma'at (11:15)
Ptoe - guitar, vocals
Andy Maresh - bass
Ondra Martinek - guitar
Tomas Corn - Drums
This band is the most unique band I've heard. They are also one of the best bands I've heard. They mix the gutteral, uncomprehensive vocals of Cryptopsy, with some of the most brutal sounds ever, and mix it with these melodic interludes that wouldn't be out of place in an Elton John record. And the way they mix it is excellent as well - they will go from a growl and some blasts to a soft melodic thing with keyboards and clean guitars. The vocalist, with his crushingly heavy growls, has a really nice clean voice as well, and his spoken word bits are almost spooky, but great still the same. The best way to describe this band is a brutal Opeth.
Talking about drummers, this particular drummer, Tomas Corn, is a freak. He has to be heard to be believed. Think of Necrophagist, with a real drummer, and you probably have Tomas Corn. In my opinion, he is better than Flo Mournier. He is a human drum machine. His left hand technique is incredible. His double kicks are lightning fast. He adds so much to the music, adding in fills that no drummer can dream of doing, tom rolls, extra snare hits, he has it all. There is no possible way that the drums could have been better on this album. Guitars are amazing too: two different guitars, with different tones, doing different things! It's amazing I know, and it sounds excellent. The occasional keyboards are excellent too, it's used to perfection.
The musicianship is great, too. Songs rarely stay in 4/4 for longer than 4 bars, without there being a little 2/4 bar with a drum fill, or just an extra beat somewhere, or something. It isn't pretentious, like Spiral Architect or something, you can still follow it easily, nod your head to it etc. and it doesn't get boring. A testament to their great song writing. The lyrics, unlike about 95% of death metal bands, aren't about gore and death, rather they discuss subjects like redemption, longing and sadness. The lyrics are wonderful, I suggest you read them (you can't really understand them)
Recommended songs: The opening track, Land Where Sympathy is Air is the finest track on the record, by far. Not to say the other tracks aren't good, they all are, but this one just stands so much taller than the rest. One of the best songs I've ever heard. Sadness and Strength is one of the longer songs, and my 2nd favourite. Both songs are kind of similar, they both use that Arabic type tone (found at the start of Land Where Sympathy is Air), both have spoken word bits (the one at about 6:00 in Sadness and Strength is the best one on the CD) and both basically kick tremendous amounts of a ss.
Rating: 5/5. Probably my favourite death metal CD. It has something for every metal fan in general. I highly suggest checking out some stuff, preferably the recommended songs. There isn't a bad moment in the whole CD.
http://tinypic.com/konpg
1. Land Where Sympathy Is Air (5:50)
2. To Become Shelter And Salvation (4:35)
3. Bringer of Elvenefris Flame (6:00)
4. Flowering Entities (5:45)
5. To Give (3:58)
6. On the Way Home (6:36)
7. Shine of Consolation (3:39)
8. Sadness And Strength (8:05)
9. A Step Closer (7:20)
10. An Old Man And A Child (9:10)
11. Walking In the Garden of Ma'at (11:15)
Ptoe - guitar, vocals
Andy Maresh - bass
Ondra Martinek - guitar
Tomas Corn - Drums
This band is the most unique band I've heard. They are also one of the best bands I've heard. They mix the gutteral, uncomprehensive vocals of Cryptopsy, with some of the most brutal sounds ever, and mix it with these melodic interludes that wouldn't be out of place in an Elton John record. And the way they mix it is excellent as well - they will go from a growl and some blasts to a soft melodic thing with keyboards and clean guitars. The vocalist, with his crushingly heavy growls, has a really nice clean voice as well, and his spoken word bits are almost spooky, but great still the same. The best way to describe this band is a brutal Opeth.
Talking about drummers, this particular drummer, Tomas Corn, is a freak. He has to be heard to be believed. Think of Necrophagist, with a real drummer, and you probably have Tomas Corn. In my opinion, he is better than Flo Mournier. He is a human drum machine. His left hand technique is incredible. His double kicks are lightning fast. He adds so much to the music, adding in fills that no drummer can dream of doing, tom rolls, extra snare hits, he has it all. There is no possible way that the drums could have been better on this album. Guitars are amazing too: two different guitars, with different tones, doing different things! It's amazing I know, and it sounds excellent. The occasional keyboards are excellent too, it's used to perfection.
The musicianship is great, too. Songs rarely stay in 4/4 for longer than 4 bars, without there being a little 2/4 bar with a drum fill, or just an extra beat somewhere, or something. It isn't pretentious, like Spiral Architect or something, you can still follow it easily, nod your head to it etc. and it doesn't get boring. A testament to their great song writing. The lyrics, unlike about 95% of death metal bands, aren't about gore and death, rather they discuss subjects like redemption, longing and sadness. The lyrics are wonderful, I suggest you read them (you can't really understand them)
Recommended songs: The opening track, Land Where Sympathy is Air is the finest track on the record, by far. Not to say the other tracks aren't good, they all are, but this one just stands so much taller than the rest. One of the best songs I've ever heard. Sadness and Strength is one of the longer songs, and my 2nd favourite. Both songs are kind of similar, they both use that Arabic type tone (found at the start of Land Where Sympathy is Air), both have spoken word bits (the one at about 6:00 in Sadness and Strength is the best one on the CD) and both basically kick tremendous amounts of a ss.
Rating: 5/5. Probably my favourite death metal CD. It has something for every metal fan in general. I highly suggest checking out some stuff, preferably the recommended songs. There isn't a bad moment in the whole CD.