OPPROBRIUM
"Serpent Temptation" 3CD 2023
(High Roller Records)
While all Opprobrium fans await the new LP, I thought I'd check out the deluxe reissue of their debut album "Serpent Temptation", which celebrated its 35th anniversary last year. Mine is the 3CD clamshell edition, but it was also released in a 3-cassette box set with the same audio content. Needless to say, High Roller Records did a very good job as usual. So the box contains a voluminous 20-page booklet with the lyrics of the debut album and lots of great archive photos, a cool double-sided poster with quality album art and a photo collage matching the vinyl insert, and each disc in a separate card sleeve. Now let's see the audio materials in detail. Disc 1 contains the original 1988 version of "Serpent Temptation", restored and remastered by Patrick W. Engel as befits all HRR releases. On this debut album, the trio did not yet play pure death metal, but rather a mixture of songs from the early demo period and newer songs, perfectly showcasing the band's thrash metal background as it slowly but surely transitions into death metal. This material was already considered a classic when it was released in 1988, but now it has rightfully gained cult status. Needless to say, "Serpent Temptation" with its 8 songs and 38 minutes playing time is a must for all thrash/death metal fans worldwide! Disc 2 contains the band's first demo "Supernatural Death" from 1987 in all its glory, with a total of 10 tracks. I write this because die-hard tape traders know that the original cassette version of this demo only contained four songs. In this demo, the tracks sound pretty raw, but all the instruments can be heard, except maybe the bass lines, which somehow get buried under the huge guitar sound. The full track list for this awesome demo is "Death", "Hell's Fire", "Serpent Temptation", "Sadistical Sinner", "Cataleptic", "Voices from the Grave", "Rigor Mortis", "Incubus", "Blind Vengeance" and "Assault". More than 34 minutes of great thrash metal repertoire with some death metal touches, a real treat that has finally been released in its entirety. Disc 3 is the pinnacle of this box set featuring 11 songs from 1987 recorded live at the VFW Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 28, 1987. The soundboard recording sounds very good and enjoyable despite some minor mixing issues. This was the material that combined the demo songs with new songs from the then-unreleased debut album. At the time, the band distributed it on cassette along with the advance tracks of the "Serpent Temptation" LP. All recordings of the box set feature the same members, namely Scot W. Latour (vocals/bass), Francis M. Howard (lead guitar) and Moyses M. Howard (drums). This is such a perfect anniversary reissue that I can only recommend it to everyone!!!
PESTILENCE
"Exitivm" CD 2021
(Agonia Records)
"Exitivm" is the ninth studio album by Dutch death metal pioneers Pestilence, consisting of twelve chapters in their easily recognizable style. Like all previous studio albums, this one also has a different line-up, so this time the mastermind Patrick Mameli (vocals/guitar) gathered the following musicians around him: Rutger van Noordenburg (guitar), Joost van der Graaf (bass) and Michiel van der Plicht (drums). This album also marks the beginning of a new alliance with Poland's Agonia Records, which will hopefully be more fruitful and lasting than any previous one. The nearly 39-minute album opens with the ominous sounds of "In Omnibvs (Intro)" filtering through to the listener from deep space. This is followed by two crushing death metal songs, "Morbvs Propagationem" and "Deificvs", both represented by online music videos, and incidentally, both deal with Ancient Ones lyrics. Then there is the slightly more abstract "Sempiternvs", mainly because of the very experimental solo part in the middle. It is noticeable that the modern sound and elements of the last four albums have continued to develop in the songs of "Exitivm", but if I had to keep it short, I would say that it is a fresh combination of the "Testimony of the Ancients" and "Spheres" records. Although there are more twisted and technically insane songs like "Internicionem", "Mortifervm" and "Dominatvi Svbmissa", where some of the drum patterns reminded me a lot of Meshuggah. "Pericvlvm Externvm" is one of the less successful tracks on the album, overall I found it a bit worn and boring. The next piece, "Inficiat", has a lot of ultra-heavy and modern riffs and exciting drumming, but somehow it's not Pestilence-like at all. The album's title track has such a massive "Spheres" vibe that it could have been part of it back then. And if I may say so, "Immortvos", the eleventh song, even added a dose of "Testimony of the Ancients" to this "Spheres" effect, but of course everything here sounds thicker and more brutal. The album closes with "Personatvs Mortem (Outro)", which starts very upset at first, but later ends quite peacefully after the croaking crows. Thanks to Agonia Records, you have many formats to choose from. I have the digipak CD version with the slipcase and the 12-page booklet, and I have to say it's pretty cool. I would also like to highlight the striking sound production of Jory Hogeveen and the fantastic cover by Michal "Xaay" Loranc, with whom they already worked on the cover of the "Hadeon" album. What else? That's it, a must for Pestilence fans!!!
SODOM
"1982" CD 2023
(Steamhammer)
Die-hard fans of the band were able to enjoy this content even before the current CD/LP release, as these songs appeared in one form or another on the "40 Years at War – The Greatest Hell of Sodom" box set released in 2022. The difference is that while the "1982" CD boxed version only contained 4 songs, this new version contains a total of 5 songs. So, in some ways, this is an expanded version of the previous one. Another difference is that the title track was remixed for this release. So you can enjoy "1982" with some minor changes in the mix, like sharper guitar sound, louder and better sounding toms, different kick drum sound, additional effects on vocals, etc. This new remix really sounds more interesting, balanced, open and with more air. The other four old classics, "Witching Metal", "Victims of Death", "Let's Fight in the Darkness of Hell" and "Equinox" arrive intact. But since "Equinox" was previously only available on the cassette version of the box set, now we can finally enjoy it in CD quality. Hell yeah! Another significant and positive difference is related to the packaging itself, this time the CD comes in digipak packaging with an 8-page booklet. The booklet contains all the lyrics, credits and recording information. The line-up for this EP is Tom Angelripper (bass/vocals), Frank Blackfire (guitar), Yorck Segatz (guitar) and Toni Merkel (drums). This is a collector's item for sure. Every Sodom fan should have this nearly 19-minute CD in their collection. So buy it now or cry later!!!
SODOM
"Tapping The Vein" 3CD 2024
(Noise Records/BMG)
The reissue of Sodom's 1992 masterpiece "Tapping the Vein" was long overdue and has finally arrived in a luxurious way, especially if you look at the bookpack edition. To be honest, it's such a rad album with such excellent sounding production that I don't think it really needed to be remastered, but they did it anyway. When I compare the original sound of "Tapping the Vein" with the sound remastered by Eroc, I am happy to say that his remaster was not at all about loudness like it is today. It's just a bit louder than the original, and it mainly focused on balancing the frequencies differently, so the remastered album sounds more massive and less grainy (especially if you listen carefully to the guitars). For me, the original sound by the mighty Harris Johns is still perfect and flawless, but the remaster gives a whole new approach that I admit I also love and enjoy listening to. These 11 remastered songs with a running time of 46:20 are included on the first CD of this digisleeve release. The second CD contains 14 tracks at 62 minutes 17 seconds and is part of the "Tapping the Vein" (Redux version). These songs were mixed by the inimitable Andy Brings and mastered by Eroc. For me, the Redux version (11 songs) and its alternative remixes (3 songs with different vocal and solo takes) were a great experience, because the raw studio tracks gave me a completely new vision of the album. I had the feeling that Andy concentrated a lot on Chris' drumming and Tom's singing, so the other instruments were a bit overshadowed, but not in a guilty way. It really does feel like you're sitting in the studio with them as they're recording the album, which is fantastic in every possible way. The third CD features a complete concert recorded live in Tokyo in 1992, 12 songs with a duration of 45:54. Quite a great addition to this reissue. It sounds decent and the setlist is fantastic, but let me list all the songs here: "Sodomy & Lust", "An Eye for an Eye", "One Step over the Line", "Deadline", "Agent Orange", "Skinned Alive", "Shellfire Defense", "The Crippler", "Bullet in the Head", "Wachturm", "Body Parts" and "The Kids Wanna Rock (Bryan Adams cover)". The 8-panel digisleeve version comes with a 24-page booklet featuring a 6-page article by Ronny Bittner, lots of never-before-seen photos from the band's personal archive, original album and reissue credits and, of course, lyrics. Well, the latter not in all its glory, as the lyrics to "Hunting Season" and "Reincarnation" were somehow left out. There's one other little thing I don't like about this digisleeve edition, how the CDs are positioned, I mean the ones in the middle are quite a pain to get out of the damn sleeve. I don't know whose idea it was, but it sure would be better with proper CD trays. Oh, I almost forgot to add that in addition to the original cover, the digisleeve panels include the fantastic artwork of the Redux version by Krasimir Talev, as well as separate member photos that are not the ones from the original first press release, but different shots of the same photo shoot. Okay, enough chatter, this is a must-have for Sodom fans worldwide!!!
TANKARD
"Alcoholic Metal" CD 2024
(High Roller Records)
The Tankard demos were first unearthed in 2002 as a bonus disc for the "B-Day" album. Then in 2011, HRR released them in a more professional way. But now with this current reissue, HRR has surpassed even the previous edition, at least I personally think so. First of all, this version comes with a slipcase, and the pages of the booklet have been increased from 24 to 32 pages. Then there's a little bonus poster with both demo covers, but with a colored background, just like the slipcase. But the biggest advantage of this reissue is that these demos have been newly transferred from the original cassettes courtesy of Gerre, Buffo and Patrick W. Engel. The latter completed the transfer, mastering and audio restoration in October 2023. So from now on we can enjoy the 8 songs of the "Heavy Metal Vanguard" demo from 1984 and the 9 tracks of the "Alcoholic Metal" demo from 1985 with a slightly different soundscape. These demos sound pretty raw, but they give a perfect picture of Tankard's beginnings, early musical direction and perspectives. The best of both demos were re-recorded for the debut album "Zombie Attack" (1986) and some other rarities were re-recorded for later releases, such as a new version of "Alien" with different lyrics for the mini-album "Alien" (1989), "Death by Whips" for "Disco Destroyer" (1998), "Incredible Loudness" for "Kings of Beer" (2000) and "Rundown Quarter" for "B-Day" (2002). These early demos were recorded in the classic line-up of Tankard, which was together until 1989 and consisted of Andreas "Gerre" Geremia (vocals), Andreas Bulgaropulos (guitar), Axel Katzmann (guitar), Frank Thorwarth (bass) and Oliver Werner (drums). If you're a Tankard fan, I don't think I need to tell you twice to have the current version of the demos in your collection. Available formats: CD, cassette and vinyl (two colors). Hurry up to get your copy in time!!!
TANKARD
"Himbeergeist Zum Frühstück – Frühschoppen Edition!" CD 2024
(Reaper Entertainment)
In May 2024, Tankard's current record label, Reaper Entertainment, announced the reissue of three classic albums: "Disco Destroyer" (1998), "Kings of Beer" (2000) and the second album from their side project Tankwart, "Himbeergeist zum Frühstück" (1996). Since these re-releases are expected on October 18, 2024 in CD and LP formats (and limited edition box sets containing all three albums will also be available), a 4-song promotional CD has been released as a precursor to properly prepare those interested for these well-designed reissues. The CD opens with "Himbeereis zum Frühstück", a cover of the Hoffmann & Hoffmann schlager song. Needless to say, this Tankwart variant takes on a rather metallic form. This is followed by "http://www.planetwide-suicide.com", a song from the album "Disco Destroyer" that still has painfully relevant lyrics. The third song is the title track of "Kings of Beer". Quite a moody song to be honest. Incidentally, this album also marked the debut of guitarist Andy Gutjahr. The promo's extra track is "Diary of a Nihilist" from Tankard's latest full-length album, "Pavlov's Dawgs" (2022). The CD has a playing time of approximately 18 minutes and comes in a cardboard sleeve. The audio of the three aforementioned reissues was carefully remastered by Alexander Ecker at Pearlsound Studio. Then there are these absolutely amazing redesigned covers by Kai Brockschmidt. In short, I'm very excited about these reissues and can't wait to examine them in detail. So die-hard Tankard/Tankwart fans can start collecting the money like I am doing.
TANKARD
"Reaped CM-Years" 3CD 2024
(Reaper Entertainment)
The following is a limited edition boxset containing three remastered classics, two from Tankard and one from Tankwart. I must admit that the packaging is very nice, especially with the three old covers redesigned by Kai Brockschmidt and his fantastic collage design on the front of the boxset. This boxset would be perfect if it weren't for the poor quality of the old images transferred from the "Disco Destroyer" CD, which are so pixelated that they could have been downloaded from the internet in the mid-90s. I don't know who was responsible, but it's definitely screwed up. Sonically, the 13 songs of "Disco Destroyer" are not to be complained about, as Alexander Ecker has done a fantastic job with their remastering. Fortunately, everything about the "Kings of Beer" album is perfect – the quality of the old and new pictures and the sound. So here you can enjoy not only the 11 remastered tracks, but also the visuals that go with them. Then there is the third CD, which contains Tankwart's second album, "Himbeergeist Zum Frühstück", originally released in 1996. At some point it's a strange addition to this box, although makes the mood of the listener with all the schlagers being metalized the Tankwart way pretty much worth it. I am pleased to write that this reinterpretation has also been well done. In a word, only the "Disco Destroyer" booklet and the corresponding back cover have been undeservedly spoiled in this boxset. I'm completely satisfied with the rest of the content, but all I can say is that every Tankard/Tankwart fan has to decide for themselves if this boxset is worth the investment. Oh, I almost forgot to add that this boxset is also available on vinyl. So if you're interested, hurry and get this boxset in the format you like best!!!
THE CRYPT
"Provenance" CD-R 2022
(Self-released)
In the case of The Crypt, you can never be sure what the next material will be like musically, as Nate is constantly straying into new areas and is never afraid to experiment. This time, the song "Provenance" properly avoids the usual metal elements, instead using a completely classical musical approach. The music itself was written by Nate Yuggoth (who plays bass and guitar on this single) and Adam Haste, while the lyrics were also provided by Nate. The orchestration was done by Fredber Hernandez and the hymnal vocal themes were served to a high standard by Vchyzhovych, Maria Elia & Millicent Chimonyo-Ntubi. Despite this, the epicness and anthemic nature can still be compared to certain metal bands, such as Manowar or Bathory. I can easily imagine this piece of art as the soundtrack of some medieval or more precisely Viking PC game, or even a film of similar inspiration. The nearly 9-minute disc also contains the instrumental version of the song, which was definitely a good idea, since there you can concentrate more on the fine details of the arrangements. The CD-R comes in a simple cardboard sleeve with Anna Gibson's cover photo on the front and all the information about the recording on the back. So, if you're into epic stuff, I recommend "Provenance", but hurry because this physical edition is limited to 50 copies!!!
THE CRYPT
"Рудий Ліс" CD-R 2023
(Self-released)
With the fifth full-length album, The Crypt pushes the boundaries of experimentalism even further. On this record, their music would fit an ambient-like post-apocalyptic motion picture. The metal parts are almost completely absent, although the vocal themes here and there remain quite metallic. The album's six tracks evoke different moods, but somehow form a common overall picture. In their music, I hear the gloomy reality of barren, bleak wasteland and areas soaked in radiation, although apart from these distressing elements, there are also many beautiful musical moments that sometimes border on progressiveness. However, the mood of the songs is mostly ominous. In addition to the main members, Nate Yuggoth (bass/vocals) and Adam Haste (lead guitars/organ/keys), many guest musicians took part in the creation of atmospheres and soundscapes imbued with mystery and horror. Let me mention them: Paul Taylor (lead guitar), Mazuz (sitar), Lukas Kubelka (drums), Tyybot (programming), Dony Larsan (programming), Mike Browning (theremin), Tommy Elbrich (percussion/flute), Alexander Kubyshkin (vocals/lyrics) and Olha Lishchyshyn (vocals/lyrics). Quite a lot, right? Oh, and let's not forget the importance of Zach Vogel (producer/main recording) and Daniel Pavlov (producer/engineer/mixing/mastering). The playing time of the album exceeds 45 minutes. The visual presentation of the sonic journey is well illustrated by the 6 matching photos inside the 6-page CD booklet. This particular edition was limited to 100 copies. Fans of all things creepy try to get your hands on this release!!!
THE CRYPT
"Истребитель" CD-R 2023
(Self-released)
Needless to say, when a band releases two full albums in the same year, it indicates extraordinary productivity. So did The Crypt, and unlike previous experimental material, "Истребитель" returns to the beloved death and black metal genres. The 9 compositions of the more than 34-minute material radiate a unique blend of the aforementioned styles and their unbridled dynamism. Their music is extreme, rather old school, but they try to preserve the atmosphere built on melodies. Sometimes I feel the influence of bands like Morbid Angel and Deicide. However, The Crypt has plenty of its own to spice up its repertoire. Their songs are full of blast beats, catchy melodies and plenty of thrash metal riffs. The vocals are also very varied there, but mostly deep death growls are paired with high-pitched screams. The core of the band on this record is: Nate Yuggoth (vocals/bass), Adam Haste (lead guitars/organ) and Aliaksandr Kubyshkin (lead guitars/vocals). They are complemented by quite a few guest musicians, namely Paul Taylor (lead guitars), Thamnos (rhythm guitars), Ian García (drums), Maria Elia (vocals), Mason Berglund (vocals) & Mortifer (vocals). Thanks to Daniel Pavlov, the sound is solid and proportionate. I used to worry that the band would get lost in experimentation, but with this record they've returned to what I love most about them. The 12-page booklet contains all the lyrics, member pictures, some nature photos and the great Doomesia cover. Which together means a perfect release that I can only recommend to every death/black metal fan!!!
THE CRYPT
"Throne To The Setting Sun" CD-R 2024
(Self-released)
Unfortunately, the metal magic didn't last long, as The Crypt took another unexpected musical turn with this new 3-song EP. I thought I was fully prepared for the next attempt, but I definitely wasn't expecting the 80's synthwave vibe, ha-ha... Despite this, the nearly 18-minute EP still has details and influences reminiscent of traditional heavy metal. "Memories of the Sky" starts the record, which primarily focuses on the clean vocals and its melodies, unfortunately the background music has a very synthetic feel, so I think it can only play a secondary role in this song. Due to the epicness of the second and title song and its very cool vocal parts, it became a bit more metal, of course, here you have to imagine its softest possible version. The double bass drum parts make it heavy at times, but the vocal themes make this song a real hit. "Warwind" closes the EP, which is almost like the first song, giving off a melancholic ambient feel rather than traditional song structures. The cyclical melodies or rather patterns and the meditative vocal parts make the whole track quite mesmerizing. On this EP, The Crypt was: Adam Haste (synths/backing vocals), Skyler Champeau (vocals) and Nate Yuggoth (bass). But as usual, guest musicians helped them achieve the final result, and they are: Thamnos (rhythm guitars), Tyybot (programming/synths), Paul Taylor (lead guitar), Mazuz Shah (sarangi), Kaira Rouer (flute) and Frank Maloney (backing vocals). This edition comes with a 6-page booklet and is limited to 100 copies. It has some pretty unusual music, but if you like the retro 80s synth sound, definitely invest in this EP.
UNLEASHED
"Before The Creation Of Time" CD 2024
(Darkness Shall Rise Productions)
This CD compilation is a great addition to any Unleashed fan's collection as it includes all the material from the pre-album phase. Of course, there have been reissues of the "Where No Life Dwells" album before with some early stuff as a bonus, but not as complete as this DSR reissue. I will also point out that the recordings of these early materials are preserved in very good quality on this reissue. This is largely due to Patrick W. Engel (Temple of Disharmony) who has done a fantastic job of completely restoring and remastering the band's past sound arsenal from the original demo tapes. The contents of the CD are: "The Utter Dark" demo '90 (Tracks 1-3), "....Revenge" demo '90 (Tracks 4-6) and the complete Bielefeld recording session (Tracks 7-13), which contains songs from the "And the Laughter Has Died...." 7" EP '91, the "Century Media Promo Tape" demo '90 and songs from the Century Media Records compilation "In the Eyes of Death" '91. The first two demos were recorded at Kuben Studios in Stockholm, Sweden with the following line-up: Robert Sennebäck (guitar/vocals), Fredda Lindgren (lead guitar), Johnny Hedlund (bass) and Anders Schultz (drums). The third demo "And the Laughter Has Died...." (full recording session) was recorded at Nobel Studios in Bielefeld, Germany in the so-called classic line-up of the band, i.e.: Johnny Hedlund (bass/vocals), Fredrik Lindgren (guitar), Tomas Olsson (guitar) and Anders Schultz (drums). All three demo recordings were made in 1990, but the rapid development of the band's unique death metal style can be clearly traced through these materials. The 16-page booklet contains a wealth of archival information such as demo covers, band photos, concert/tour posters, flyers, reviews and even a recent interview with Johnny Hedlund about the beginnings. In short, this is a perfect release and a must for Unleashed fans!!!
VIDRES A LA SANG
"Virtut Del Desencís" CD 2024
(Abstract Emotions/Eternal Juggernaut Records)
"Virtut Del Desencís" is the sixth full-length album by Vidres A La Sang from Terrassa, Catalonia. And, as befits the sixth album, it also contains six rather long and varied compositions, totaling 44 minutes and 40 seconds. The kind of blackened death metal fusion that this four-piece institution presents really stands out from today's dull and drab music scene, because they are not afraid to weave together an incredible amount of avant-garde, experimental and ethereal elements. Their music has soul, character and atmosphere, which distinguishes them from the dozens of soulless bands and their boring creations. In addition, their sound production is very airy and incredibly well mixed, again thanks to Eloi Boucherie (vocals and rhythm guitars). He is joined by Albert Martí on lead guitar, Cristian Vilches on bass and Jordi Farré on drums. Believe me, the quartet plays masterful music that is outstanding to the extreme, and the lyrics, sung in Catalan, only add to their success. From the first track to the last, it's like an unexpected journey into the spheres of avant-gardism, where there are no musical boundaries or limits that require compromise. It's a perfect album that as many metal fans as possible should listen to, because it's not only impressive and progressive, but also very inspiring. Thanks to Alejandro Tedín, the album cover also has a deep meaning, which only adds to the visual atmosphere that is integral to the music. Oh, and let's not forget that the song "Sempre És Incert" features guest vocals by Arnau Tordera of Obeses fame, the only track on the album whose lyrics are from a poem by Miquel Martí i Pol. In short, Vidres A La Sang is an exceptional band with exceptional music, so you better pay attention!!!
VRAG
"Rendületlenül" CD 2024
(Filosofem Records)
The fourth chapter of Vrag's story has arrived. The recently released album is titled "Rendületlenül" and consists of six songs in a misanthropic black metal style. The album explodes with the title track, which is as cold as the north wind. The more than six-minute composition reveals the tried and tested Vrag formula, which rushes through the listener with aural black metal vengeance. This is followed by "Egyedül a világ ellen", which is a rather somber and meditative piece with slow and mid-tempo parts, mostly immersed in an ambient atmosphere. And, fittingly, it became the longest song on the album at 7 minutes 22 seconds. The third track is "Árny vagyok", which starts with a slow, distorted guitar intro and then seamlessly transitions into an icy guitar riff that goes on for quite a while, setting the mood in a Nordic way. Needless to say, the vocals are full of pure hatred and anger, and their combinations are quite devastating throughout. "Él a múlt" is the title of the fourth song, which starts off with fast blast beats and harsh melodies, but then suddenly switches to an ethereal acoustic guitar pattern, which then continues in a distorted way. This composition has great dynamics and a powerful vibe. One of my favorites on the album. Then comes "Ahol az érték megsemmisül", which starts with mysterious guitar playing, creating an epic atmosphere for the following riffs. In my opinion, this is the most hymnal black metal song on the album. The last track is "Önmegtagadás", which continues the epic mood. It is mostly mid-tempo and melody driven, but occasionally switches to fast blast beats that are uplifting. The lyrics are in Hungarian, but as usual, the 8-page booklet also includes English translations. Besides the lyrics, there are four photos of Vrag (all instruments & vocals) with a bludgeon in his hand and of course the impeccable cover design by Grafit & Hamu Artworks. The CD is 39 minutes long and is highly recommended for black metal fans all over the world!!!
WITCHER
"Boszorkányszimfóniák" CD 2024
(Filosofem Records)
WitcheR from Hungary is quite an active band. Their latest release is a 7-song EP, which cannot be called short with its 27-minute playing time. The special feature of this EP is that it contains covers of classics, and there are 6 of them. It's not like they haven't had covers like this before, but the current edition specifically focuses on them. The CD starts with Tchaikovsky's "Hymn of the Cherubim – Op. 41, No. 6.", which with its layered keyboard structures and gloomy monumentality also serves as a perfect opening song. This is followed by Händel's "Sarabande – Suite No. 4 in D Minor, HWV 437". It's a somber piece by nature. Here, the instrumentation is more metallic and northern, i.e. guitars and drums are also present in addition to keyboard instruments. We get a different approach from the original and a much shorter version that is completely in line with WitcheR's style. Grieg's "Åses Død – Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46, No. 2." is the third, a completely keyboard piece that transports the listener to landscapes full of incredibly sad feelings. Next comes Chopin's "Spring Waltz (Mariage d'Amour)", which somewhat breaks the concentrated sorrow of the previous three songs. This cover version also includes the metal parts, i.e. the guitars and drums. Then there's Ralph Vaughan Williams' "Three Shakespeare Songs: The Cloud-Capp'd Towers – No. 2", adapted entirely for keyboards and given a rather ethereal sound compared to the original choral version. The sixth cover is "Carmina Burana: Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi – 1. O Fortuna" by Carl Orff. I really like the evil and incredibly sinister feel of the original version, but here everything seems mechanical, mainly due to the drum patterns and the cold sound of the guitars, making the arrangements less legitimate in general. The seventh and final track of the CD is nothing more than a bonus, an own instrumental composition entitled "Summernight Melancholy", which was previously released in digital form in 2021. Despite its title, this song exudes an incredibly positive calm, and the keyboard parts are as epic as possible. In conclusion, I can safely say that Karola Gere (keyboards) and Roland Neubauer (guitar & drum programming) have put together a very interesting material, which will appeal not only to devoted WitcheR fans, but also to fans of atmospheric music!!!
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