SACRAMENT

This third album form White Willow is definitely better than their previous Ex Tenebris but there is still one thing that annoys me quite a lot here: the vocals from Sylvia Erichsen. Closer to laments and very childish IMO (but I already outlined this for Ex Tenebris . And it draws this album in the downwards direction.

It is sad because the instrumental parts are dark, rich and very well performed. The cold beauty of Anamnesis has an enormous emotional power: it is really a moving track. I wish it could have been an all instrumental piece of music. It is almost a highlight.

I am comforted into my feeling while I listen to The Crucible: a wonderful and poignant track. It is a true gem of symphonic music and holds a superb and magnificent fluting. It is my favourite numbers from this album; no wonder that it is an instrumental one. The closing electric guitar part is just sumptuous but the whole is a marvel of song and deserves the title of masterpiece.

Gnostalgia is a pastoral song that will remind you of the great Trespass. Emotive acoustic guitar combined with sweet fluting. Did I say Trespass? The band could have called this Nostalgia, right? This song holds a lot of the excellent wave of Swedish bands from the nineties. It is another highlight.

The dark mood, the sobriety and the beauty of the closing number is another fine moment from this album. At this point, there is no hesitation: this is a very good album. The Reach is a perfect summary of this album. It has it all: tranquil coldness, immaculate beauty, emotional parts. In all, it is another highlight from Sacrament.

This album is fortunately mostly instrumental and therefore I wouldn't take off a star from my rating because of the weak vocals. Four stars. My favourite White Willow album so far.