LIVE AT THE CALEDONIEN HALL

Dark, heavy, atmospheric and emotional are all words that describe the music of IN THE WOODS... very well. I actually purchased this double live recording because it was the very last concert the band would play together. As a big fan, this recording is very special and significant to me. The lead singer Mista Transit is in fine form. I really like some of the things he says between songs. Synne the female vocalist adds so much as usual to these songs. Those high pitched vocals that at times seem so tortured are perfect for this music. The Botteri brothers(bass, lead guitar) make an appearance on this recording playing on the whole second disc(second half of the concert). Here are some of the highlights for me.

"Heart Of Ages" from their first album of the same name is fantastic ! Especially Synne who offers up some incredible vocal melodies. Dual vocals as heavy guitar comes in at 3 1/2 minutes. "Beer" is funny because he opens by saying "We have a new song that doesn't have a name, so for this occasion we'll call it beer". Love the grinding guitars in this one. They then cover "White Rabbit" by JEFFERSON AIRPLANE. Transit sings the lyrics but Synne is all over this too with vocals and vocal melodies. "Mourning The Death Of Aase" might be the best track on here. Great beat to open as guitar comes in. It settles right down as Synne comes in with reserved vocals. A minute later she offers up these high pitched vocal melodies that are absolutely amazing, this has to be heard to be understood. Aggressive guitar takes over as she stops singing. "299.796 KM/S" is so powerful and heavy. Drums and dual vocals before 1 1/2 minutes. The tempo picks up. This is intense as the tempo continues to change. "I Am Your Flesh" is heavy and aggressive right off the bat. Killer sound. As soon as he sings "I am your flesh" it settles right down a minute in. It kicks back in as Synne joins in vocally. Love the sound before 4 minutes. Check out the bass. "Weeping Willow" is another thunderous track especially after 4 minutes. The mood and tempo does change throughout.

At the start of "Omnio(Pre)" Transit says "This one is for my mother, I think." Then at the end of "Omnio(Bardo+Post)" he points out his mom in the audience and says "I am so proud of her, you wouldn't know anything about it." "Empty Room" has some great atmosphere to it as well as some ripping guitar and riffs. Check out the emotional singing of Transit before 4 1/2 minutes. Awesome tune. "Don't Care" is a headbangers delight. Straight up metal on the chorus with him screaming "I don't care anymore, get out of my life !" "Path Of The Righteous" from "Strange In Stereo" is so uplifting after 5 1/2 minutes. "Titan Transcendence" features some powerful and emotional singing from Transit before Synne comes in after 3 1/2 minutes like a light in the darkness. They then cover "Epitaph" by KING CRIMSON. This version isn't as pleasant(haha) but very powerful and dark. It's so beautiful when Synne starts to sing the lyrics. Transit joins her on the chorus. He then takes over the vocal duties after 2 1/2 minutes and blows me away. Dual vocals after 5 minutes.Synne ends it with a big finish in this 8 minute cover. Unbelieveable ! "Closing In" is from "Strange In Stereo" and is the perfect track to end it. They can't possibly sound any better then they do on this last song. Emotional vocals after 3 minutes. What a performance !

A must for IN THE WOODS... fans and fans of dark and powerful music. I had a young customer come in the store as this was playing last week and he asked me to write down the name of this band and their best recordings. He said it reminded him of TOOL.