BLESSED ARE THE BONDS

Blessed are the bonds indeed. Here's a gift that needs to be revealed, like a precious and fragile creature behind a black curtain. There are no formulas, no obsessions with the past. This is essential honesty in the core of youth.

What is to be revealed, though, is not cuddly. It comprises differents shades of black and perhaps grey, each picture canalized through agressiveness and/or mellowness. It's a cry, it's a despair, it's impressive in it's horrifying beauty.

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Stage two: sober impressions.

The PAX CECILIA's 'Blessed Are The Bonds Album' can be obtained for free via their web site. I ordered one for the sake of curiosity. I've bee waiting for a few weeks, in the meantime, I concluded I won't receive anything and after that I forgot the whole thing. But unexpectedly, a postman brought me a tiny package with a U.S. Mail stamp on it - and I the whole thing came back to my mind. Tearing of the wrapped paper revealed a beautiful cover design, unmistakenly a self-released CD, although looking quite professional.

Being absolutely clueless what the music is all about, I pressed play.

The music immediately caught my attention - for the simplicity, honesty and beauty. Simplicity here stands for simplicity in a structure, however, this is a very diverse album. No solos, no pretentiousness, but many gorgeous layers - cellos, guitars, piano.

The production is - I dare to say - perfect. Do you know common attributes attached to a particular CD production? It could be analog, digital, thin, clear, muddy, warm, old or new, good or bad. This one is...just what it needs to be. The piano sounds like a piano, the cello sounds like a cello. The guitars are being quiet, or howling, but you can hear everything at any time.

After an introspective, mournful piano section, the band starts to reveal its diversity - the moment the screaming guitars and vocal announce metal side of the record, the picture is changed drastically, but in its essence remains the same, guiding us further on. Great riffs - nothing too spectacular, but simply pleasant, hooking drums, and screaming high-pitched vocals seeking comfort. Strings rhythmically playing with guitar riffs.

I'm not mentioning any musical references. Here's only one: CAROUSELAMBRA.

Am I wrong or this music is full of sorrow? Despair? This is a perfect music to die with, if you feel so inclined.