STORM SEASON

Obviously there were a lot of changes in the band since the release of their album SACRAMENT four years before. Bass player Johannes Saeboes switched to guitar, there is another keyboard player and in addition they are using a cello. And during listening to STORM SEASON one can hear these changes clearly, the folk influence mostly disappeared and there are a lot of parts with heavy electric guitar. Their music not only became more heavy but as well darker even somehow depressing and desperate (but not in a negative way).

At the beginning of the first song Chemical sunset everything still seams to be as it was before, a traditional melody played by flute and Sylvia's voice full of sadness and oppression, but then low-tuned guitar riffs are setting in and later on there is a nice interlude with cello. In Sally Left the main person of the album's concept is been introduced, obviously the hopelessly looking girl on the cover's picture. The style of the song is in some way different to everything they've done before reminding a bit to recent stuff by Dutch band THE GATHERING. In the middle part there is a quite floydian guitar solo. Endless science which they played already on Nearfest in 2001 is the shortest and the most positive song. Soulburn is revealing undoubtedly their new style, heavy guitars combined with beautiful cello playing. The whispering vocals on this one are provided by Finn Coren. Insomnia is the only song not written by Jacob Holm-Lupo, but by the new member Lars Fredrik Froislie and therefore quite dominated by keyboards. This musician is a great addition to the band. The rather bizarre title song is the most desperate one of the album. Accompanied by some distorted rhythmic tunes Sylvia is singing a melody based on a baroque Adagio. After a while dark keyboard and Mellotron tunes are setting in. Last track Nightside of Eden is again a quite dark heavy one with a couple of nice solos.

As a summary their latest album is showing a rather newly defined band and really became an MASTERPIECE. I think it's a great effort by the band and it's a definite MUST-HAVE for anyone liking dark and heavy music from Scandinavia.