EPOCH

While I, too, am not much of a fan of black metal, doom metal or even metal, I have become more 'used to' the vocal stylings (thanks to the likes of MAUDLIN OF THE WELL, AGALLOCH, and ALCEST) of this music--as long as the music is good. And this is GREAT music! Even a notch above ALCEST's 2010 gem, "Écailles De Lune." The difference is in the changes in tempo, key and even, sometimes, sound and structure within each song. Plus, as one reviewer already put it, I love the 1970's 'feel' to the recording/production (especially the drums!). Some absolutely beautiful, deeply affecting music the lyrics of which I have yet to try to figure out (and, frankly, could really care less about: it's the music that reigns supreme for me!) I don't yet have a favorite (though "Of Wilderness and Ruin" is incredible!) There is such a great, almost seamless, flow and continuity to the album, from start to finish, I don't think any one song is that much better or worse than any other and may in fact all need each other to be able to attain the effect of transporting the listener to such a distant planet as it does. One reviewer also mentioned how this album exhibits the way in which a truly excellent drummer can elevate an album to such incredible heights. I couldn't agree more. Nothing too flashy, just great rhythm which, you can tell, is 'the glue that binds.' Love the band members' names!

***** 5 star songs: ALL . . . but "Carrier of Echoes," which earns, IMO, 4 stars.