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: : Below The Lights : :
 Below
The Lights could be album of the year, or at least a close runner up. Enslaved
effortlessly pull off a vast expansion of the brutally beaten to death black metal
vibe. I love the black metal vibe, don’t get me wrong, but something with a little
twist every once in a while is refreshing, and so terribly needed. Twist and turn
they do on their latest release. The first happy little track, “As Fire Swept Clean
The Earth” is a somber and expansive peek into the peaceful and horrifying feeling
just before the earth is engulfed in flames. I am surprised at the amount of raw
emotion the music evokes. Their incorporation of varying vocal styles throughout
the album allows for so much life, in death of course; animating a tale told by
different characters. The wise-ness or wickedness of their instruments also tell
parts of this story. Now that I write this I realize, as you do that any band
theoretically has different characters and the instruments each have their own feel,
but with most of the genre you hear the same thing over and over and over, mashing
your brain into bits. Enslaved, both men and instruments are truly giving birth to
a growing and evolving musical entity.
These guys are ballsy enough
to include funky 70’s type riffs on the futuristic and ancient track “The Dead
Stare”. “The Crossing” is a 9-minute plus barrage of pure black expansive soul,
being instrumental for the first 4 minutes or so, then from beyond comes a
different, meaner melody and the fade in of some sick black metal vocals. “Queen Of
Night” opens with a Jethro Tull-like flute, and “Havenless” begins with traditional
folksy chanting.
This is progressive black
metal. There I said it aloud. All you prog heads out there take notice of this one
baby. Very intelligent and dark indeed, said the master. Enslaved have raised the
black metal bar, creating atmospheric black metal without the stereotypical keyboard
player (yes I know there are keyboards on the album, just a bit here and there
though), or the haunting female vocalist in the background. Just three very
talented dudes. No complaints. Go Get This Now!
10 out of 10 Stars
Reviewer: Lord M
: : Visit the Artist’s Website : :
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