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Green Carnation - Journey to the End of the Night CD (album) cover

JOURNEY TO THE END OF THE NIGHT

Green Carnation

 

Experimental/Post Metal

3.41 | 81 ratings

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UMUR
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Journey To The End Of The Night is the debut album from Norwegian doom/ goth progressive metal act Green Carnation. Green Carnation was founded by Tchort (Terje Vik Schei) in 1990 and released one demo called Hallucinations of Despair in 1991 which is basically simple black metal. Soon after that the band disbanded and Tchort went on to play bass for infamous Norwegian black metal band Emperor. Tchort is featured on Emperorīs classic debut from 1994 In the Nightside Eclipse. Soon after the recording of the album Tchort would leave Emperor.

Emperor where going through some difficult times as guitarist Samoth was in jail for Arson. He had been a part of burning down some of the ancient Norwegian churches in the summer of 1992. Drummer Faust was in even more serious trouble as he in the summer of 1992 had murdered a young homosexual man who had made strong sexual advances towards him. Faust agreed to go into a nearby forest with the man and stapped him to death after being furious of the manīs advances. Faust was jailed in late 1993. After these events Tchort probably felt the need for a new horizon. I must admit Iīm not sure why he left Emperor, but itīs my guess that some of the above events had an effect on his decision.

As a sidenote Tchort is also a member of old school death metal band Blood Red Throne and black metal band Carpathian Forest.

When Green Carnation broke up and Tchort went on to play with Emperor the other remaining members founded In the Woods which is a band that is also featured on PA. After In the Woods disbanded in 2000 some of the members hooked up with Tchort again and they re-ignited the Green Carnation name. They recorded Journey To The End Of The Night and it was released in 2000.

Even though all members of Green Carnation holds strong ties to the Norwegian black metal scene Green Carnation is anything but an extreme metal band. The band uses doom metal guitar riffs that reminds me a bit of good old Candlemass when they are most up-tempo and melodic. When the riffs are slow and doomy they sometimes remind me of early My Dying Bride or Anathema ( itīs hard not to be reminded of My Dying Bride when the violin kicks in on Under Eternal Stars). The singing consists of female operatic soprano vocals and more ordinary male vocals. Note that there are no growling vocals on this album. The songs are generally very long. Four of them clocks in at over 10 minutes. I wouldnīt describe Green Carnationīs music as complex even though there are quite a few sections in every song. The music is very atmospheric. There are both distorted and acoustic parts on the album which means the album seems dynamic. Being a parent myself itīs hard not to be emotionally touched by the lyrics which are inspired by the death of Tchortīs daughter shortly before the recording of the album and the album generally has a very dark atmosphere because of this.

The musicianship is excellent but thatīs expected when weīre dealing with experienced musicians.

The production is very enjoyable.

I think this is a good album, but I must admit that Iīm having a hard time really getting into the music and finding catchy and memorable parts. Itīs without a doubt a progressive album, but I think the songs seem a bit too similar in sound for me to call it excellent. The guitar riffs are not very interesting either. Too generic. Itīs like they are just there to support the atmosphere and not to entertain which unfortunately for Green Carnation is one of the things I value most in metal ( Challenging and innovative guitar riffs for me thank you). I was in doubt if I should give the album 3 or 4 stars but Iīm not really hooked even after a substantial amount of listens so 3 it will be. I hear something though and I might upgrade this album some time in the future if it opens up to me.

UMUR | 3/5 |

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