SACRAMENT

White Willow is a band that I know for years but never was able until 2009 to get hold of one of their albums, is the third release from 2000 named Sacrament. To tell the truth at first spin I was disappointed, to mellow and to slow musical portions are present. After more spins the album begun to grow slowly but sure. Now I considered this release quite good even great in some parts. The combination of folk almost pastoral at times atmosphere with some symphonic passages the result is pretty much ok. Opning with a mellow tune Anamnesis combined with some edgy moments, that did nothing for my ears only from third piece The Crucible - White Willow manage to really capture my attention. Is an instruments track that beggins slowly and with mellow passaged and then after 3 min it dransforming in some killer tune with amazing musicianship and super arrangements. The flute , keyboards are absolutly killer here, very strong, the combination in a perfect mix between folk passages with some symphonic ones are top notch. Another highlight is the ending tine The Reach with some nice tempo changes from slow to more up tempo, nice breaks and the heavines is very well presented in this song, 11 min of grandious prog. In the end a very nice album, some considered their best, maybe, I only know this one and their newest one Terminal twilight from lats year and is definetly better then that one, but I do not see Sacement a truly great and inovative album, only some pieces are strong from 6 tracks only 3 are really good the rest are ok but nothing more. 3 stars maybe 3.5 in some places, anyway good album that needs attention.