LIVE AT THE CALEDONIEN HALL

Very good double live album, unfortunately a farewell concert! Good selection of classic original tunes of the band, as "Heart of the ages" , "Mourning the death of Aase" "299796 km/s" "Omnio", "Karmakosmik", "Closing in", as well as covers - "White rabbit" (Jefferson Airplane) and "Epitaph" (King Crimson) showing respectively the psychedelic and prog influences of the band. In general, the playing is good and powerful as the rhythm session, rhythm guitars, and the melancholic male vocals, but I was particularly impressed by the female vocals of Synne "Soprana" Larsen, I think as good as or better than her performances in the studio albums - listen to "Mourning the death of Aase" (A Great Gig in the Sky - Pink Floyd´s heavy influence) and "Karmakosmik". Unfortunately one of the soloing guitar is out of tune in the track# 2 of CD1 at 7:40 onwards and soon they finished the track possibly ashamed, but later the guitarists get better and play OK, including the nice and atmospheric effects and riffs. Sadly this is the last performance of this innovative and awesome Norwegian band that has adapted and included heavy psychedelic and progressive influences to their doom metal origins resulting in delightful music. I hope someday they reunite!!!!!

One of the best sounding live recordings I've ever heard, and it's because the band splurged on a huge PA system to allow them to recreate the full complexity of their studio textures, delicate, layered ambience over churning black and thrash inspired metal riffs. This is a sprawling album and must have been a fitting homage to long-time fans of the band that got to see this final concert. The song selection covers their whole career although focuses mostly on their two proggier studio albums Strange in Stereo and Omnio, as well as the single-collection Three Times Seven on a Pilgrimage. What this means is that the listener gets a lot of really well composed epic tracks that build slowly, withholding no atmosphere and effects until they are broken magnificently into their riffs and sections. It's hard to describe the unique-ness of the sound this band achieved, but the balance is almost pitch perfect between ambience and heaviness, and the arrangements allow the instruments to keep moving through these soundscapes, not settling for monotony. Of interest to prog fans might be the epic cover of King Crimson's Epitaph, pushed to a logical and emotional conclusion with male and female vocals and melancholic tune-age. The whole album is full of truly gripping moments, almost a flawless live album through and through, although some brief noticeable mistakes.

Dark, heavy, atmospheric and emotional are all words that describe the music of IN THE WOODS... very well. I actually purchased this double live recording because it was the very last concert the band would play together. As a big fan, this recording is very special and significant to me. The lead singer Mista Transit is in fine form. I really like some of the things he says between songs. Synne the female vocalist adds so much as usual to these songs. Those high pitched vocals that at times seem so tortured are perfect for this music. The Botteri brothers(bass, lead guitar) make an appearance on this recording playing on the whole second disc(second half of the concert). Here are some of the highlights for me.

"Heart Of Ages" from their first album of the same name is fantastic ! Especially Synne who offers up some incredible vocal melodies. Dual vocals as heavy guitar comes in at 3 1/2 minutes. "Beer" is funny because he opens by saying "We have a new song that doesn't have a name, so for this occasion we'll call it beer". Love the grinding guitars in this one. They then cover "White Rabbit" by JEFFERSON AIRPLANE. Transit sings the lyrics but Synne is all over this too with vocals and vocal melodies. "Mourning The Death Of Aase" might be the best track on here. Great beat to open as guitar comes in. It settles right down as Synne comes in with reserved vocals. A minute later she offers up these high pitched vocal melodies that are absolutely amazing, this has to be heard to be understood. Aggressive guitar takes over as she stops singing. "299.796 KM/S" is so powerful and heavy. Drums and dual vocals before 1 1/2 minutes. The tempo picks up. This is intense as the tempo continues to change. "I Am Your Flesh" is heavy and aggressive right off the bat. Killer sound. As soon as he sings "I am your flesh" it settles right down a minute in. It kicks back in as Synne joins in vocally. Love the sound before 4 minutes. Check out the bass. "Weeping Willow" is another thunderous track especially after 4 minutes. The mood and tempo does change throughout.

At the start of "Omnio(Pre)" Transit says "This one is for my mother, I think." Then at the end of "Omnio(Bardo+Post)" he points out his mom in the audience and says "I am so proud of her, you wouldn't know anything about it." "Empty Room" has some great atmosphere to it as well as some ripping guitar and riffs. Check out the emotional singing of Transit before 4 1/2 minutes. Awesome tune. "Don't Care" is a headbangers delight. Straight up metal on the chorus with him screaming "I don't care anymore, get out of my life !" "Path Of The Righteous" from "Strange In Stereo" is so uplifting after 5 1/2 minutes. "Titan Transcendence" features some powerful and emotional singing from Transit before Synne comes in after 3 1/2 minutes like a light in the darkness. They then cover "Epitaph" by KING CRIMSON. This version isn't as pleasant(haha) but very powerful and dark. It's so beautiful when Synne starts to sing the lyrics. Transit joins her on the chorus. He then takes over the vocal duties after 2 1/2 minutes and blows me away. Dual vocals after 5 minutes.Synne ends it with a big finish in this 8 minute cover. Unbelieveable ! "Closing In" is from "Strange In Stereo" and is the perfect track to end it. They can't possibly sound any better then they do on this last song. Emotional vocals after 3 minutes. What a performance !

A must for IN THE WOODS... fans and fans of dark and powerful music. I had a young customer come in the store as this was playing last week and he asked me to write down the name of this band and their best recordings. He said it reminded him of TOOL.