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Anima Morte - Upon Darkened Stains CD (album) cover

UPON DARKENED STAINS

Anima Morte

 

Symphonic Prog

3.71 | 46 ratings

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Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer
3 stars I picked this up some time ago based on the guest list as well as this band being described as being greatly influenced by Horror movie soundtracks, in particular Enio Morricone and GOBLIN are mentioned by the band. Well expectations can really put a damper on things can't they? This is rightly listed under Symphonic but the modern sounding guitar, synths along with the outbursts of power didn't do much for me. On the other hand the mellotron kills on this album and it's on every track. We get 12 short songs and oh yeah the guests include Mattias Olsson(ANGLAGARD), David Lundberg(GOSTA BERLINGS SAGA), Ketil Einarsen(KAUKASUS) and two other guests. As much as I enjoy this album except for some of the reasons listed above, quite a few songs seem to be extended just for the sake of extending them in my opinion.

"Blessing Of The Dead" opens with piano as mellotron, church bells, strings and drums join in. This builds and falls throughout. "Illusion Is The Catalyst" opens with piano and synths but it turns dramatic very quickly before settling in with synths and piano out front. Sudden outbursts come and go before it turns powerful. We get mellotron and strings as well as themes start to get repeated. Not a fan of the first two songs. "Ephemeris" is a top three though and it opens with flute, cymbals and atmosphere before the drums and more arrive. I like the sound of this one a lot. Some nice drum and bass work too. Gotta love the flute on this track as well. "Fear Will Pass Over Your Mind" starts with an eerie mood as drums, atmosphere and intricate sounds lead the way. It picks up before a minute and I really dig the mellotron choirs after 3 minutes. "Wakeless" is another top three for me. Picked guitar as the drums and bass join in then mellotron. The guitar starts to solo then the piano leads. The mellotron is back in full force. Nice. Then the guitar returns soloing and it's quite emotional a minute later. "Interruption" has some slicing violin before a minute and mellotron as well. I like the low end sound here.

"The Darkest Pattern" opens with intricate sounds and synths as the drums join in. Synths lead after a minute and some nice bass 1 1/2 minutes in. The guitar leads before 3 minutes then back to the synths. The guitar is back late. "The Carrion Crow" opens with picked guitar as drums and bass join in. Piano and more follow. A catchy beat here and the organ helps out as well. Mellotron 2 minutes in then piano and violin late. "Echoing The Red" picks up quickly with beats and pulses as the organ, mellotron arrive then the strings and guitar play over top. "Isomorphia" turns quite powerful with the guitar out front fairly quickly and the guitar is expressive here. "First Snow On The Last Ashes" is more like it as it's more relaxed, especially the mellotron a minute in and it will come and go. "Halls Of Death" is my final top three. Atmosphere to open as intricate sounds play over top. It picks up and there's an orchestral vibe because of the strings slicing away. It settles down with flute then picks up again.

I can see myself revisiting this album in a few years from now and wondering why I didn't give this 4 stars. Well, right now it's about expectations and it falls a little short. 3.5 stars.

Mellotron Storm | 3/5 |

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