THROUGH SHADED WOODS

Released back in November, Through Shaded Woods is the 7th album of Lunatic Soul, the progressive rock/metal side-project of Mariusz Duda, vocalist and bass player of Polish prog-metallers Riverside. Since its inception in 2008, Duda has always used Lunatic Soul as a vehicle for releasing the more experimental sides of his music - be it ambient instrumental music, electronic-tinged rock, or acoustic folk - and Through Shaded Woods is no exception. Here, Duda pushes to the fore his acoustic and folk influences, resulting in an album that could sit comfortably in a record collection alongside Hexvessel, Wardruna or Heilung.

Differently from some of the bands named above, however, the six compositions included on Through Shaded Woods Soul maintain a distinctive rock/metal sound, as they all revolve around tight, rhythmic riffs that are not so distant from what Duda's main band Riverside use in their music. A major difference, however, lies in the instrumentation: the electric distortion that we can find aplenty on Riverside's albums is almost entirely absent here - bar the use of sporadic distorted bass lines, like on "The Passage" and in the second-half of "Summoning Dance". Acoustic guitars, bass and piano dominate the scene instead, giving the album a very sedated and intimate feel. There is also a greater emphasis on folk-infused themes, with several songs displaying a traditional dance-like character. This is further accentuated by the use of simple beats and percussions that impart a ritualistic feel to the songs. Sporadically, keyboard interjections and sound effects are used to add depth and color to the music, but for the most part the backbone of the songs is kept unplugged and low key.

The simple background is ideal to let Duda's unmistakable voice shine and take centre stage. His melancholic, heart-on-the-sleeve performance perfectly complements the music and reaches a high-point on the spending closing track "The Fountain", which is perhaps one of the most moving songs ever written by Duda. There are also beautiful multi-layered vocal harmonies throughout the album - a distinctive trait of Duda's songwriting that is even more prominent on this record. Also notable is Duda's choice to play all instruments himself on the album. Despite the inevitable simplification in the arrangements of some instruments (most notably, the drums/percussion), the choice actually pays off as it gives the album a more intimate and natural feel that matches well the record's general spirit.

Overall, Through Shaded Woods is another successful chapter in Mariusz Duda's remarkable career. It's a delicate and intimate album that, although it does not have the impact and power of some of Riverside's best albums, possesses a unique, hypnotic allure that keeps drawing me back for more. Duda's one-man side-project Lunatic Soul may have stayed off the radar of most metal fans, but you should give Through Shaded Woods a try, especially if you are into acts that sit at the intersection between metal and experimental neo-folk music.

(Originally written for The Metal Observer)