PAN.THY.MONIUM

The bizarre close to Pan.Thy.Monium's concept album trilogy finds the Edge of Sanity side project going out on a high. The running time here is pretty brief, with only the first two tracks really offering the sort of full bore avant-death metal the group is known for and the last two providing an ambient coda to the sequence, so perhaps they realised that their weird house style was running out of steam, but what a high to go out on, rampaging though a Mr Bungle- esque calvacade of musical styles with sometimes only the "burping frog" vocals to retain the death metal connection.

Pan.Thy.Monium's third and final album is excellent to say the least, and it assures the band is one of the best forces in their genre and are unable of producing something less than amazing. This album concludes a trilogy of concept albums all combined together with some kind of story about a battle between the gods. Never had the interest of searching the lyrics to those albums actually. One element that sticks with the band throughout their albums is the clock motif, every album contains several times, clocks ticking, interesting, and i wish i knew how is it connected to their overall story. This time the band is going back to producing long prog epics instead of shorter songs, the album has 4 songs but it is actually 2 epic songs, one ambient track and another one minute silence track, so what we are left here with, is about 27 minutes of the band actual style of music, which today hardly qualifies as an EP. The band's style continues in the same line of the previous two albums, extreme death metal with avant tendencies and of course some jazz.. The sound on this album is a beast, it has a bigger impressive sound than before, everything is huge from the drums sound, guitars and the bass too.

What i like best about this group is the fact that they are so progressive!! Nothing is conventional, the music is moving forward and evolving from one minute to the next each time to a different direction, no way of knowing what's on their mind next. The quality of the music is very high, the writing is exceptional and even more progressive than before. Songs are complex and intricate. Clearly the band have come a long way since their first EP was released in 1990, each release saw the band getting more and more progressive, till now you can hardly see them as the same band they were only six years before, ordinary death metal songs turned to metal songs with prog influences, that in the next album was reduced to riffs inside a prog song, and now are gone completely leaving us with a pure 100% progressive extreme metal.

The music as before is a wild mix between the extreme metal, jazz and avant-garde, it's not too freaky, the avant parts are all combined inside the music and that's what makes it so progressive. The riffs are outstanding and powerful ranging from slow doomy stuff to fast intricate guitars, solos are just right, the playing is excellent. Bass by Dan Swano has a groovy sound, he likes to use chorus effect on his guitar as he did before, which gives the music a more melodic touch, he goes along with the music and have some really good ideas. After the bomb unleashed on our ears is over, "Behrial" an ambient track comes to ease are minds, beautiful track, done only with keys and some drums, which i feel, have a reason for it's being there, ending this trilogy. Overall the band is as tight as ever and it is always a pleasure listening to those great musicians. Too bad this one is their last album and we haven't heard anything from them for the past 16 years, this is one of the few comebacks i would like to see sometime in the close future.

In conclusion for their last album Pan.Thy.Monium definitely went all the way, expanding their ideas further more and presenting us with what i consider their best album. For those of you interested in extreme metal but still gotta have that prog, you can not go wrong with this one or with anything by this band actually. Inovative, progressive, powerful and totally awsome this is 5 stars.

Dawn is a demo tape released in 1990 by Pan.Thy.Monium, one of Dan Swano's early project, even preceding Edge Of Sanity's debut. Usually i don't go for this stuff at all, but because of my big appreciation for this fantastic band, i wanted to check out their early recordings as well. After listening to their 1991 EP recording which wasn't to my liking, i approached this with no expectation at all, and i must say i'm positively surprised. First of all the sound quality is very good for an unknown swedish brutal death metal demo tape, drums are well recorded and mixed, guitars are heavy and loud and the keys are noticable. Overall pretty good.

So what do we have here...4 songs, three of the songs will be rerecorded and released later, two in their debut and one in their second album. The music here shows the band's brutal death metal side definitely not straight forward but with some interesting ideas mixed together. Tom Nouga which was responsible for the soloing guitar and the saxophone in their albums hasn't joined the band just yet, so this is less experimental but still does show the band has some original ideas. The music is doomy and slow but also fast and brutal at times, the songs are short but are not stuck on a main heavy riff, there are some changes in riffs and in tempo, i wouldn't go far and call it progressive but still interesting and well played, this is one of the most exceptional demos out there.

Although this was meant for the underground swedish scene, it shows the band's potential for a different kind of songwriting, this of course turned to be one of the best and most experimental bands out there. 3 stars is adequate for this genre.

The first thing i have to say about this EP is that i like it's anguished, tormented cover. Pan.Thy.Monium had always a thing for clocks, all their albums have the clock motif, i believe it's related to their concept story presented on their albums. This is an early recording of the band, featuring Dan Swano on bass guitar, and another Edge Of Sanity member, drummer Benny Larsson.

Actually i can't believe this is the same band who released three magnificent albums in the next 5 years, but then again a band has to start somewhere. Their music at the begining was nothing more than your usual death metal songs, i would have never guessed they would take such a giant leap to release their superb first full lenth album only the next year, an album with clear experimental writing, and a very mature approach. The band sticks with the usual instrumentation, no great solos (or solos at all), and no saxophone just yet. Keys are added, but still doesn't have such a good effect. The songs are really not bad, they are just quite simple, and not impressive. The music is based on the heavy riffing, and when those are mediocre, than there isn't much left to save this release. The band does work as a whole though, and plays a coherent death metal, but not more than this. This would appeal more to fans of the underground swedish death metal scene, or fans of the extreme metal without the progy influences. The sound is actually quite good for an obscure EP and The CD reissue offers a bonus track, which is cool. I really like this band, but i don't have any desire to listen to this again, i suggest to go for their debut. 2 stars, for collectors only!

Pan.Thy.Monium's second album Khaoohs is pretty much a continuation from where they left us with Dawn Of Dreams. For you who are unaware of this group, it's another project out of the many headed by Dan Swano, well actually it's not just another project, it's the most progressive one and maybe the heaviest one by him, and if i may say, it's definitely my favorite. Swano uses this band to go wild, to be weird and most of all to experiment not just with music but on the vocals department too. Although known for his great vocals, clean or growls, Swano leaves the growling job for his band mate Robert Karlsson, which is doing a great job and manages when he likes, not to be harsh but as pleasant as those vocals can be. The music essentialy is a good mix between extreme metal, jazz and other avant ideas. I'm not a fan of the extreme metal genre at all, but this group just grabbed me with their cool mix of styles and above all great playing.

What makes them one of the best progressive acts are two things, one is their instrumentation, that aside from your usual metal music instruments there's the addition of keys and saxophone, the second is the fact that they are totally progressive, and knows how to write good effective music, the ideas are unusual and interesting, the music is going forward and is not being stuck on a main riff idea, it spreads to all kinds of directions. The band is tight and just knows how to play together, it all sounds very coherent and powerful. Another element that characterizes the band are the guitars, rhythm guitar has a very low sludgy tone that suits the vocals perfectly since they are low and sludgy too, Lead guitar does not have that typical extreme metal tone or that metal way of playing, the sound is very clear and not that distorted, and has very jazzy touch. The solos are amazing, played a lot of times with wah wah which makes it very groovy, with all sorts of jazzy lines and some bluesy lines too. Swano's bass playing is also good as he uses some chorus effect at times, giving the music some melodic touch.

Although half the album contains short songs, that doesn't hold them of being any less progressive than the longer cuts, every song is going in it's own progy way, the ideas are not repeating theirselves, and every song contain something unique, like saxophone/guitar riffs, funky jazzy solos, beautiful melodic parts, all sorts of keys parts, avant-garde and excellent riff after riff. The music goes from slow doomy riffs to faster breaks and all sorts of avant progressive additions. I believe nothing can prepare you to what you are about to hear because it's all pretty unexpected. I wasn't impressed the first time i heard it but definitely felt something special. As it grew on me every time i played it, i realize that it might be better than their debut. You can't go wrong with any of their albums, and this one is also superb. 4.2 stars for this genre. Recommended!!

Pan.Thy.Monium is maybe the most obscure project out of the many projects headed by Dan Swano. The band keeps falling into obscurity even more since they haven't released any album in the past 16 years, but still remains a minor classic in the underground scene of avant-metal. Released in 1992 this album is one of the pioneers to mix extreme metal with clear jazzy influences and other avant-garde elements. I remember hearing two songs from it on the radio in a metal program in 1992, and thought "This i never heard before", not only the music was special but one of the songs was 22 minutes long!. At that time nobody knew it was a Dan Swano project, the musicians listed here are with...well you can say avant-garde names as well. The band has a very interesting sound, and what appears to be clear at first is the contrast between the instruments. Rhythm guitars and the riffing has a very low sludgy tone, it's like the strings are about to fall, guitar sound when it solos does not have your typical extreme metal sound but has a very clear sound with a very jazzy touch, it's like all of a sudden Alan Holdsworth joined the band. Vocals, like the guitars are very low and heavy growls but are not in your face, they are like low quiet growls almost whispering at times, heavy but pleasant. Keys are a nice addition and are done with great taste, always gives the perfect atmosphere to that doomy feel. Saxophone is another unexpected addition and gives that final avant-garde touch, with all kinds of shrieks and avant playing. Bass is groovy, making his way between the riffs, and is not just there under the music, What i like the most are the guitars, the riffs are impressive and the solos are just right, hitting all the right notes with fast playing and great jazzy feel.

The first part of the album contains a 22 minutes long piece of superb progressive extreme metal. The music goes from one idea to the next easily without being repetitive at all. Great riff after great riff, the music builts it self, and goes from slow doomy stuff to faster breaks which keeps the listener on his toes all the time, not knowing where they are going to be in the next minute, this is really progressive in the most classic sense of the word. Again keys gives the perfect mood and suites the music perfectly with a very good sound, perfectly mixed. After about 14 minutes of ever-changing music going in several direction the band is calming down, and the music changes to some latin language like spoken vocals, when in the back clean guitar and bass are babbling, and are actually very good. It then goes back to the heavy music and as it approaches the end it slows down and some piano notes are joining in along with the sax to finish the piece in the most beautiful way, giving it a very good closure feel. Amazing! This is one of those music pieces that goes by so quickly that makes you wonder "Was that 20 minutes now??" This track is worth having the album alone.

The second part includes six tracks ranging from 3 to 4 minutes songs, all contains interesting and unusual riffing or instrumentation but still are less progressive and exciting than the first piece, they do not bring the album down although at first listen can be considered as more straight forward, which they are definitely not. All songs are untitled BTW, so another highlight is the sixth track, which starts with something that sounds like a saxophone under water, bass plays the main riff and as the heavy distortion bang comes it reveals a beautiful clarinet line, than all joining in the riff as it switches time signatures few times changing the main riff slightly, superb, superb, superb!!

In conclusion even after 20 years after it's release and as evolving as this genre is, the music still is refreshing, exciting and full of ideas. Extreme prog metal lovers that don't mind heavy growls in their music, will lick their fingers on this one, secondly this would appeal to fans of bands like Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Mr. Bungle and other avant extreme bands. As it may seem weird at the begining, it's really rewarding at the end. If the rest of the album would have been as interesting as the first track i would rate it with 5 stars without hesitating, but being slightly inferior this is a 4 stars minimum. Highly Recommended!

The debut album from this band and an album who created quite a stirr back in those days.

This album is by no means straight death metal as expected from all albums at that time. There is in fact a lot of avant garde stuff and some very strange notes on this album. That includes some jazzy stuff too. Pan.Thy.Monium was one of the first avant-garde death metal bands in the scene and responsible for a lot of the bands who followed in their footsteps.

Dawn Of Dreams still hold up against the advent of time. The death metal is at times a bit too standard. But the avant garde and jazz stuff sounds good. The sound is dirty and the same goes for the growling. This is a good avant garde death metal album and one for those who loves this type of music. Unfortunate, I am not one of this flock though. But this album still sounds good to me.

3 stars

The Dream II EP is the first official release ( if you don´t include their demo) by Swedish experimental death metal act Pan.Thy.Monium. It was first released as a 4 track 7 EP vinyl only in 1991 but was re-released in 1995 by Avantgarde Music as a 5 track mini-CD ( EP) with the song IV as a bonus track. Pan.Thy.Monium is one of Edge of Sanity/ Nightingale frontman Dan Swanö´s many projects. Here on Dream II he plays drums and bass under the pseudonym Day DiSyraah. Edge of Sanity drummer Benny Larsson appears on the EP as Winter.

The music style is sombre and sinister death metal with lots of atmospheric keyboards. The vocals are brutal growls and this is probably not for the faint at heart. The songs are not as experimental as later output from the band but this is not ordinary old school Swedish death metal either allthough the music is certainly rooted in that genre. Aag aka Tom Nouga (Lead guitars, organ, barytone saxophone) has not entered the band yet and his future contributions on saxophone are especially missed on Dream II. The three first songs ( named I, II and III) on the EP are in experimental death metal style while the fourth track called Vvoiiccheeces is a short atmospheric keyboard track. The bonus track IV is in the same style as the first three.

The musicianship is good and the sound quality is actually pretty good if you compare it to the standard of those days. Raw and unpolished but still enjoyable.

Dream II is a must for the fans of the band and it should also hold some interest to fans of early experimental Swedish death metal. I find later releases more interesting but Dream II is certainly a worthwhile purchase. A 3 star rating but actually close to a 4.

...Dawn is a demo cassette tape release from Swedish experimental/ progressive Death metal act Pan.Thy.Monium. Pan.Thy.Monium is another one of prolific Swedish metal/prog rock musician and producer Dan Swanö´s many projects. His main band in 1990 was Death metal act Edge of Sanity but he also found time for Pan.Thy.Monium. In fact 1990 was a particularly busy year for Dan Swanö as he released three demos with Edge of Sanity ( Kur-Nu-Gi-A, The Dead and The Immortal Rehearsals. Edge of Sanity´s debut demo called Euthanasia was released in 1989) as well as ...Dawn by Pan.Thy.Monium. While Edge of Sanity was a pretty straight forward Swedish death metal band in those days Pan.Thy.Monium had a more experimental approach, something that Edge of Sanity would also develop in time.

...Dawn consists of four songs in sinister and dark death metal style. As on the debut album from Pan.Thy.Monium called Dawn of Dreams (1992) all musicians are working under pseudonyms and Dan Swanö calls himself Day Disyraah. Dan plays bass and keyboards on the demo and if you know his later work with bands like Edge of Sanity, Nightingale and his solo album Moontower (1998) his style is easily recognisable. The motifs he plays on ...Dawn is just a bit darker and weirder than his usual keyboard style. Aag aka Tom Nouga (Lead guitars, organ, barytone saxophone) has not entered the band yet and his contributions which helped to make the debut album such a great experience are missed even though the music is still interesting and experimental. The vocals are really deep and brutal. Very powerful IMO.

The musicianship is good but it is obvious that ...Dawn is a demo and you should not expect vacuum tight musicianship.

The production is raw and rather primitive. You can easily make out everything that´s happening though and as far as early nineties extreme metal demo productions go this one is one of the best I´ve heard.

...Dawn has been a pleasant surprise for me. When I saw that the demo was released in 1990 I didn´t expect much from the sound quality, the musicianship or the compositions but ...Dawn proved me wrong. If you like any other of Dan Swanö´s extreme metal releases you should most definitely seek this one out as well. A bit more brutal and primitive than most of his output but very enjoyable anyway. 3 stars is well deserved. I even considered a 4 star rating for a while but that´s what I gave Dawn of Dreams and that album is superiour to ...Dawn so a 3 star rating will do.

Dawn of Dreams is the debut studio album from Progressive Swedish death metal act Pan.Thy.Monium. Pan.Thy.Monium is yet another of the bands/ projects that prolific Swedish musician/composer/Producer Dan Swanö has been involved in. Just to mention a few of the bands/ projects that he has been a part of in some way I could mention: Edge of Sanity, Nightingale, Maceration, Katatonia, Bloodbath, Unicorn, Second Sky. But the list is longer than that. Dan Swanö is without a doubt one of the most important musicians on the Swedish progressive metal and rock scene. Pan.Thy.Monium is definitely in the heavy end of his musical output and people not used to listening to death metal will probably not by converted to a fan of the genre by Dawn of Dreams as it´s not the most easily accessible album in that genre ( Try Crimson by Edge of Sanity instead).

The music is progressive in structure and especially the 21:49 opening track is interesting. Lots of different sections. The other six songs are more basic death metal tracks but still hold progressive elements. All songs are named Untitled. No real names have been given. The metal style is Swedish old school death metal and you´re instantly reminded of early releases from other Swedish death metal bands like Entombed, Dismember, Carnage, Grave and Unleashed. Just add more complex song structures and progressive elements like occasional free jazz sax and spacy synths and you´re just about there. The mood is very sinister and the deep growling vocals sound dark and angry.

All musicians on the album use pseudonyms and it´s only because I know that Dan Swanö used the Day Disyraah monicker on the sole album from the Danish/ Swedish death metal project band Maceration called A Serenade of Agony (1992), that I realised that he was the one responsible for bass and keyboards on Dawn of Dreams. The growling vocals are handled by Derelict aka Roberth Karlsson (also vocalist on the Cryptic album from Edge of Sanity). Winter aka Benny Larsson ( Edge of Sanity) plays the drums while Aag aka Tom Nouga ( Dan Swanö´s brother and later member of Nightingale) plays Lead guitars, organ and barytone saxophone. Mourning aka Robert Ivarsson (Ophthalamia, Ashes, Incapacity) handles the rythm guitars.

The musicianship is excellent and I found myself enjoying more than one odd rythm and spacy synth part here and there. A really well playing band. The compositions are generally very strong too. One of the greatest assets to Pan.Thy.Monium´s sound is the saxophone. It´s not that it is used very often, but when it is used it sounds great and really gives the music some of it´s originality.

The production is pretty old school and sounds very good and raw to my ears but I´ve always enjoyed those early nineties Swedish death metal productions and this is no exception.

Dawn of Dreams is a very unusual death metal release even though there are many recognisable elements on the album. They are just put together in an unconventional way that works wonders IMO. Dawn of Dreams is one of the better albums Dan Swanö has participated on and deserves much more attention than it´s underground status provides it. Recommended to anyone interested in Swedish death metal with added unusual ( slightly avant garde at times) elements. The album deserves somewhere between 3 and 4 stars but I´m gonna go for a 4 star rating. An excellent album.