 | Tracklist: 1. Look
2. To Face The End
3. I Would Dance
4. Together
5. You Loved The Only Blood
6. Lonely
7. Gigula
8. Trinity
Release Date: 2005 | |
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5 of 5 thought this review was well written
Blasting from Czech Republic in the mid-1990’s came an animalistic band ravenous for their creations to be, firstly: danced to, and secondly: HEADBANGABLE. Combining Slavonic folk music with mid-tempo doom metal, Silent Stream Of Godless Elegy have, four albums into their career, unraveled the Grammy-winning (citation needed) Relic Dances. Radek Hadja, the only remaining original member, claims there’s a gothic overtone in addition to the other influences, but clearly in a more Romantic-era fashion rather than the eyeliner-boys cutting themselves with nail filers. No, this is for hairy-chested men and their fiddles dammit.
Overall, each song loosely follows its own stream, allowing the traditional folk influence to rush in freely. It should be noted that not only are the folk sections played passionately, but the whole band breathes new life into these sounds while staying true to the aesthetic. The heavy passages are essentially as simple as it gets, yet neither the riffs nor the improvisation lose their flair at any moment. As the punchy, palm-muted guitars chug through their 4/4 passages, without warning the accents change and the violins swerve the song to a new venture while the other instruments effortlessly follow suit. There are, of course, louder sections (I Would Dance) where the traditional instruments take a backseat to powerful rhythms of drums, bass, guitar, and the low gutturals doom fans have grown to love. Along with the screams we have two female vocalists. The ladies sing and harmonize together with the grace of falling feathers above the heavy riffing and growls. Whenever they add their parts to the songs, you get an immediate “gypsy” sentiment, especially during the acoustic Together. No matter what anyone in the band is doing at any point, whether it be the surprising variety of crescendos, violin melodies, or random catchy choruses, Relic Dances never sounds trite or, more importantly, trying to be something it isn’t.
Relic Dances has done everything right down to each folk chant, and refuses to care if you appreciate its unique take on music. Passages such as the interlude in You Loved the Only Blood, the hollow-sounding Lonely, and the extremely danceable elements of about 75% of the record illustrate that this is nothing like a gimmick because one listen of the album will be evident enough to express the feeling of how this band is doing it just like Romani nomads playing and dancing around a large campfire under a full moon. Though you may not want to run through the forest naked with this on your headphones, the point is Silent Stream pass with flying colors. Saying otherwise would leave your soul to the wolves.
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Album Rating: 3.5
it's hard to think of other recommendations for this I hate when that happens
| | | About time this was reviewed. i like this band's dynamic. Although the songwriting could be improved, the vocals/cello rock. Nice review. I think they have a new album.
Digging: Botanist - I: The Suicide Tree / II: A Rose From the Dead Digging: Botanist - I: The Suicide Tree / II: A Rose From the Dead
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
*new ep. actually 2006, hardly new anymore 
| | | Could have sworn myspace had new demos. I dont use myspace anymore because I cant configure adobe. Fuck that shit.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
mmm I shall look into it
you were right there are 2009 demos, well demo samples
| | | The closing minutes of To face The End has some sick violin soloing. I take back the songwriting comment.
| | | This band is terrible.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
that was really funny to me for some reason
| | | what can i say, i'm a funny guy
| | | did these guys ever do a cover of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir? if so then I've heard their music and it was
pretty good
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
yes they did
| | | First paragraph had me laughing my ass off. This sounds interesting but I have too much to listen to right now (will have to be put at the bottom of the list, sorry). Review was like my sister....# 1 prostitute in all of Canada.
Digging: Vaura - Selenelion
| | | No way to talk about your kin wizard...even if it's true. LOL.
| | | No, this is for hairy-chested men and their fiddles dammit.
Single funniest thing I've ever read in a review
Pos'd
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
actually I wasn't kidding about the grammy, in the czech republic they won a grammy haha it's on their site, also @ wiz and balls: lolocaust
| | | In America, my sister would be # 4 best prostitute.
| | | I want her number.
| | | good review fireice
oh and Balls, I so would love to put the same kind of avatar for myself, only replacing the american flag with an estonian one. But that would mean I need to lose my mystic blue guitarist and that is a sacrifice I am just not ready to make
Digging: Rosetta - The Galilean Satellites Digging: Rosetta - The Galilean Satellites
| | | There should be more people reviewing Czech music!
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