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JOURNEY OF THE SHAMAN

Nemrud

Psychedelic/Space Rock


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Nemrud Journey Of The Shaman album cover
3.89 | 174 ratings | 24 reviews | 33% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2010

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Part I (15:50) :
- a) In the World of Dreams
- b) Beginning of Divine Inspiration
- c) Revival
- d) A Stone in the Ocean
2. Part II (12:00) :
- a) A Farewell to Sun
- b) Fly to Underground Without the Past
- c) Fight with the Evil Spirits
3. Part III (17:20) :
- a) A Journey to Innerself
- b) Scourge of Nemrud
- c) In All Stages of Immortality
- d) Jump to Final Dimension Through the Seventh Sky

Total Time: 45:10

Line-up / Musicians

- Mert Göçay / guitar, vocals
- Aycan Sari / bass
- Harun Sönmez / drums, cymbals

With:
- Levent Büyük / co-arranger
- Mert Topel / keyboards, Moog
- Hakan Süersan / bass, fretless bass
- Dogaç Titiz / drums

Releases information

Artwork: V. Harun Sönmez

LP Rainbow 45 Records - R45R 0003-1 (2014, Turkey)

CD Lirik Müzik - 1002-2 (2010, Turkey)
CD Musea Parallele - MP 3213 (2010, France)

Thanks to rivertree for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
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NEMRUD Journey Of The Shaman ratings distribution


3.89
(174 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(33%)
33%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(40%)
40%
Good, but non-essential (19%)
19%
Collectors/fans only (7%)
7%
Poor. Only for completionists (2%)
2%

NEMRUD Journey Of The Shaman reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Rivertree
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator / Band Submissions
3 stars A professional debut from this Turkish outfit including Pink Floyd and Eloy reminiscences. Which means 'Journey Of The Shaman' is provided with dominant psychedelic respectively spacey elements as well as some sidesteps to other styles like symphonic for example. So here we have a concept album consisting of three epics telling the story about a Shaman living in Central Asia. Not really from the experimental side of life ... anyhow, I really like the album's consistent atmosphere now after having several listening sessions. The songs bear a blend of relaxed and uptempo moments which are comprising many repetitive patterns, however entertaining nevertheless. They are even offering some trance feeling with a slight eastern touch here and there - all in all the result of elaborated arrangements in opposite to endless noodling.

Part 1 basically starts Eloy oriented in a more relaxed manner, Mert Göçay's guitar though is often (not always) heavier edged, dominant in any case due to some overdubs handling diverse variations. He also cares for the vocals which are more of a recitative here. Decent synths coupled with acoustic guitar are reminding of Pink Floyd in between, although this sounds rather unique all in all. The reason is the variety in tempo and ambience while listening to the different four sections, also including funky rhythms, samples, spacey synths and celestial church organ to name a few gimmicks.

Heavy riffing guitars and minimoog excursions open Part 2 but it soon changes to a melancholic touch due to acoustic guitar and fretless bass. A catchy melody dominates the middle part ... and then it might be section three, named 'Fight With The Evil Spirits', which sounds Camel influenced in some way, where they once again turn to some exciting uptempo rocking minutes. 'A Journey To Innerself', the emotional first section of Part 3, offers a nice trancy start which then evolves to a groovy behaviour step by step including sparkling e-piano, additionally decorated with Göçay's riffs and excellent organ input. The longest track and an exemplar where I imagine some jamming basics too.

'Journey Of The Shaman' is a well-thought-out progressive psych album ... a speciality concerning the conceptual approach I'm quite sure when you consider the common Turkish conditions .... inspired by the golden 70s prog era but also made of a modern approach ... the multi-varied guitar contributions and the tricky drum work are striking first and foremost ... I recommend to listen carefully! Solid three and a half stars for this affair.

Review by DamoXt7942
FORUM & SITE ADMIN GROUP Avant/Cross/Neo/Post Teams
2 stars A promising Turkish Floydish outfit have come here, with three stories about Journey Of The Shaman.

This album is NEMRUD's debut one, with that they are trying to get a formal contract to some record label currently (for the day when this review was written). They say they should be much influenced by Pink Floyd or Eloy, and their stuffs can straightly remind us the Space Rock pioneers. "Part I", for example, definitely has the soundscape of Roger-Floyd's "Animals" ... a great album. Slow mellow space rock, as it is said, can flow quietly and monotonously. Guess this monotonousness like only the flatness of Floydian sounds might be important for them? (Exactly Mert's whispering voices are more monotonous for me) Yes, I'd like to be ... otherwise they might have less originality and get to be "the second SF". One story has some parts musically different from each other, and this matter might make this song lacking in unity rather than colourful I feel (especially a danceable boogie one in "Part II"'s middle part, and so on), but as I've mentioned above, Floyd's "Animals" or other albums have some modulation and climax in their slow mellow space rock, and this should be their originality ... on the contrary, this unrefined atmosphere may be essential for them in my opinion.

Well where will their next story go? I'm very curious ...

Review by snobb
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
2 stars Debut album from unknown new Turkish band with some high ratings on PA?I am curious to hear if it's a new masterpiece.... Happily, all three album compositions could be heard from band's site ( and it looks for a moment it's the only way to listen this work).

First 15+ minutes long album's composition is heavily influenced by middle era Pink Floyd. Or, better to say, it sounds as Pink Floyd tribute, but unfocused, too long and with uninspired vocals. I really like when modern band uses 70-s prog legacy in their music, but it will be really nice to hear not only some copy/paste musicianship, but something more original from musicians.

Second composition (12 min) only supported my worries - down tempo relaxed Pink Floydish music is long, too simple, and not enough original to attract listener to listen so monumental compositions. To play another "Animals" is very risky business, and if someone just is makes such a risky step, he should be very prepared musically, technically and artistically. Unhappily, Nemrud is not the one. Such target would be extremely difficult even for much more capable bands.

Some heavy guitars riffs and Middle Eastern tunes included is good trick to re-fresh the composition, but it's far not enough to save it in full.

Third, final album's part, is the longest one (17+ min). It opens with stereotypic spacey synth sounds. Some Eastern tunes are added again, but how much I need some energy or action there! Even their main influence PF music never was a music for relaxed meditation! Same spoken vocals can add nothing, and I really become tired: it's not easy to listen three lo-o-ong compositions with not much added inside. For real meditative music there are not enough musical master ship demonstrated, for spacey album for listening all the material is very unfocused, too long and uninspired. In fact, possibly from all this album's raw material it was possible to play and record few short good compositions. Or, by other words, this album's music is two short compositions because of some reasons played all album long.

In all, it's nice some new bands returns to prog classics in their sound. But for such steps it will be nice to have more own ideas, material and try to find own way not just simply copying giants.

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars This seems to be one of those "love it or hate it" type albums. It's interesting that most of the negative reviews focus on how much they sound like ELOY and PINK FLOYD. For me ELOY did come to mind but only because of the accented vocals and those spoken word passages. Now this guy doesn't have as heavily an accented voice as the guy from ELOY thankfully but it's there. What I love about the Psychedelic genre is that it's not about complexity or virtuoso playing, it's about creating emotion and a mood while being inventive. And these guys have succeeded. I also like the story line and the fact that they don't mind letting loose with some rocking passages. We get three long tracks between 12 and 18 minutes.The band who is from Turkey "Is named after mountain of Nemrut, which is the place embracing the Middle of the Ground and the place that Mitos passes while going to the Underground". Mitos is the Shaman of our story here.

"Part I" opens with atmosphere as gentle guitar comes in. Drums and a heavier sound arrive around a minute. Spoken words come in then vocals after 2 minutes. I like the guitar that follows.The organ floats in the background. A change 6 minutes in as we get a calm then an uptempo section takes over. Nice bass after 6 1/2 minutes as it settles briefly. Riffs follow as the drums pound. Another calm before 9 minutes then spoken words after 10 minutes.Vocals are back as it picks up. Soaring guitar before 14 1/2 minutes. Beautiful stuff. Heavier guitar and drums end it.Nice.

"Part II" opens with thunder and rain. Drums and guitar then take over. So good. Water sounds and picked guitar 3 minutes in. Atmosphere then spoken words join in.Vocals 5 minutes.The guitar kicks in at 7 1/2 minutes and the organ follows as the drums pound.They "rock out" to the end.

"Part III" is spacey to start, very atmospheric.The guitar comes in after 1 1/2 minutes with cymbals. Cool sound here. It's building. Spoken words join in before 4 minutes. A change after 6 minutes.This is great. Heavy riffs after 7 1/2 minutes. Nice. Some prominant bass before 10 minutes then organ before the vocals arrive. Catchy stuff. A change before 14 minutes and we get a great sound as a result with the guitar playing over top. A calm with nature sounds after 15 1/2 minutes then this laid back guitar with atmosphere takes over. Spoken, almost whispered vocals join in to end it.

This is very well done and they should be proud.

Review by apps79
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
3 stars Named after the Nemrut mountain in the depths of the Turkish lands, this Istanbul-based group started in 2008 under the force of guitarist/singer Mert Gocay.Maybe the biggest influence on forming the group was his meeting with with his idol Eloy's Frank Bornemann during the summer of 07' in Hannover.Nemrud had some line-up changes in the beginning and recorded their debut ''Journey of the Shaman'' at Studio 18 in Istanbul as a trio with Aycan Sarı on bass and Harun Sonmez on drums.From the guest musicians, keyboardist Mert Topel would later join the group.The album was released in 2010 on Musea Records.

Consisting of three long, epic tracks, ''Journey of the Shaman'' shows some tremendous energy in the opening 16-min. ''Part I'', kicking off carefully with psychedelic guitar textures and the angry, expressive vocals of Gocay, before turning into a guitar-grooved electric crescendo with strong riffs and a powerful rhythm section.The later outro with the spacey synths and the smooth organ definitely reminds of mid-70's ELOY.''Part 2'' clocks at 12 minutes, again Gocay and his mad, psychedelic guitar solos will lead the way to a stretched FLOYD-ian acoustic move.ELOY's influence, circa-''Floating'' era, strikes again.An almost Kraut Rock enviroment with spoken vocals, edgy synths and a hypnotic groove gives its place to an Ethnic-inspired guitar explosion with the voice of Gocay becoming reedy and the track obtaining a passionate, rhythmic line.The closing ''Part 3'', over 17 minutes long, starts off with an orchestrated, haunting prelude, slowly becoming another psychedlic, hypnotic electro-acoustic trip with distorted vocals.The middle-part scratching rhythmic tunes are absolutely great, very close to Chileans PLATURNO or maybe sounding like a lighter TOOL version.Strong vintage inspirations follow, again in a very ELOY-like way, with nice organs, striking solos and expressive vocals.The closing theme has again a spacey, slightly oriental touch with background keyboards, emphatic vocals and the narcotic guitars of Gocay.

Fans of early ELOY and PINK FLOYD should not even think about purchasing the album.Very good Psychedelic/Progressive Rock with spacey and Heavy Rock touches and long, well-composed tracks.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.

Latest members reviews

3 stars According to prime mover and bank worker Mert Gocay listening to a Pink Floyd album at the age of 15 totally changed his view on music: he went back to the basic of progressive rock and ended up listening millions of times to the Classic Prog bands. As a young guitar player Mert loved David Gilm ... (read more)

Report this review (#1891981) | Posted by TenYearsAfter | Wednesday, March 7, 2018 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Nemrud, one of those bands every proghead should have heard about. Last few weeks I tried to get the two Nemrud albums. I guess I'm a bit of an old cynic when I hear claims that a band is the reincarnation of the great days of the 70s or that they have somehow reinvented their own genre. I c ... (read more)

Report this review (#1332428) | Posted by danyboy | Thursday, January 1, 2015 | Review Permanlink

5 stars This is Journey of the shaman, by Turkish band Nemrud. It is their first record, and it shows them evolving into their trademark sound at the beginning. This is some of the most theatrical progressive rock I do believe I've heard. Beginning vibrantly, very moody "Part I". Here is where the ... (read more)

Report this review (#1013623) | Posted by bufftitanium | Thursday, August 8, 2013 | Review Permanlink

5 stars This is one of the best albums from my all-time favourite Turkish group. Album starts with the 16 minute epic "Part I". This is not for symphonic fans, it's a long dark journey through psychedelic sound-landscapes. Absolutely brilliant! "Part II" starts with thunder than very moody guitar riff rev ... (read more)

Report this review (#977601) | Posted by thrak1001 | Friday, June 14, 2013 | Review Permanlink

4 stars This is a kind of "hard to understand" album. At first listening I said what is this ? I really dislike this album. However when I played this album at right time, my mind blow up and I think this is cool album. After 15-20 listening I decided this is one of the best work from turkey. I really Impr ... (read more)

Report this review (#504489) | Posted by Wh1sKy | Tuesday, August 16, 2011 | Review Permanlink

5 stars The reason why Nemrud so much deserves better status as an epitome of the best Turkish prog of all times is the fact that its three efforts are highly remarkable masterpieces in which complexity and beauty are taken to their maximum levels.One of the greatest albums of 2010. Yes, this does sta ... (read more)

Report this review (#490346) | Posted by hhesse86 | Monday, July 25, 2011 | Review Permanlink

5 stars A great epic journey by this well respected potential legendary Turkish progressive rock . 'Journey of the Shaman" (Musea Records) is a very expressive album and offers a wide range of tones and moods with a superb blend of classical and progressive chamber rock. Nemrud's debut is a hea ... (read more)

Report this review (#380341) | Posted by freitagg | Saturday, January 15, 2011 | Review Permanlink

4 stars NEMRUD "JOURNEY OF THE SHAMAN" (Musea Records) Nemrud is the first progressive rock band to emerge from Istanbul, Turkey. Their newly released debut album titled "Journey of the Shaman" (Musea Records) already fixed them an international appeal. The band is four piece led by Mert ... (read more)

Report this review (#368782) | Posted by Cosmik Debris | Friday, December 31, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars A very good, soft ambient spacey progressive rock album, with some heavy symphonic pieces. Drum and bass create a very solid, strong rhythm section, that counterpoints the more atmosperic spacey/floating keyboards, with occassional edgy guitar. Great solo-ing throughout the album. The more hea ... (read more)

Report this review (#323272) | Posted by thickasafrick | Wednesday, November 17, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Nemrud's debut album is a fine work which develops simple rock songs stickied together to make a "prog" epic structure. It has great energy in it, ofcourse it can get a bit boring sometimes becouse of their amateur approach. The three parts has some memorable segments, and they rock pretty well in i ... (read more)

Report this review (#314746) | Posted by peyotes | Friday, November 12, 2010 | Review Permanlink

3 stars Well, I have come to the album after all the hype in this and other sites. I find this album quite enjoyable after several spins, I am the kind of guy that feels admiration for the trio thing, as these three songs are basically guitar, bass and drum based. The storyline about a shaman journey f ... (read more)

Report this review (#308361) | Posted by migue091 | Friday, November 5, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Excellent refinement and consolidation of the sympho-space rock style debuted from Turkey. A true concept album that listening to it must be in one time from start to end. No songs should/can be skipped. I think that Nemrud got their own sound and direction in this very first album which made them u ... (read more)

Report this review (#302255) | Posted by Raskol | Tuesday, October 5, 2010 | Review Permanlink

2 stars If you are fan of bands of the psychedelic-prog as ELOY & PINK FLOYD, I think I have good and bad news for you. Before, however, it would like to highlight that I don't have anything against to bands that present in his sound forts influences of other bands in which were inspired. The good ne ... (read more)

Report this review (#296275) | Posted by maryes | Thursday, August 26, 2010 | Review Permanlink

4 stars This is a very serious, sad and moody record, and it made a very big impression on me. The songs have stunning melodies, and the overall feeling is very psychedelic. The production date 2010 but i hear 70's sound it is revealed by some moog and guitar sounds, which could not have appeared last ... (read more)

Report this review (#295474) | Posted by alexdean | Friday, August 20, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars I must say this has to be possibly one of the best albums I have ever heard. As a debut album, it contains a great variety of styles and sort of blending them together to create a spacey and experimental kind of style. The bands influences and the variety of styles give it a unique style, bringing t ... (read more)

Report this review (#293344) | Posted by cavallo | Wednesday, August 4, 2010 | Review Permanlink

4 stars Nemrud's debut is considered by many to be a cornerstone of new area of progressive rock music. Honestly I've listened "journey of the shaman" three times only from streaming and this is not going to be easy writing down review which i couldnt listen from official cd yet!!! "Part I" Typical Pin ... (read more)

Report this review (#292961) | Posted by ultravox | Sunday, August 1, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars What a fantastic debut album... "Journey of The Shaman" is a three tracks concept album of breathtaking beauty and refinement. This is one of the potential legendary prog albums that must be considered in the whole history of progressive music. The album is based upon the tale of pysical and ... (read more)

Report this review (#292689) | Posted by courtzz | Friday, July 30, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars This is my first review on PA and one of the first intentionally listened Space Prog albums. What a great luck that it's also pleasant, melodic, challenging and offers everything that one can achieve in this genre. Every song on the album is a keeper and the three spoken word tracks actually co ... (read more)

Report this review (#292212) | Posted by Wasabian | Wednesday, July 28, 2010 | Review Permanlink

5 stars Unexpected surprise from the Turkey This is a concept work and the sound is very Pink Floyd and Eloy like but at the same time different the band have their own identity. Parts of it reminds me of the Eloy's Inside and Pink Floyd's Meddle. The album very much flows from one track to the next ... (read more)

Report this review (#292085) | Posted by antonyus | Tuesday, July 27, 2010 | Review Permanlink

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