11 songs / 62 minutes
Metal Blade
- 8 -
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11 songs / 62 minutes
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The song remaind the same? Not really, because apart from band leader Aphazel, the only remaining musician from the last CD 'The Grand Grimoire' is Jesus Christ! (never forget the exclamation mark). Already the third female singer for three following CDs, not too bad. After the sweet looking half Asian Kimberly Goss and the American witch Erichte, it's this time the Italian Deadly Kristin who doesn't match the skills of the other two beauties, but as she doesn't sing that much, it's not really disturbing. What counts is the music, and it is a fact that Ancient have matured again. They are one of the very few black metal bands that have a rather warm sound, and the production is absolutely perfect for the black metal genre, especially the guitar sound is really unique. Just listen to 'The Battle Of The Ancient Warriors' and 'A Woeful Summoning', and you know what I mean. There's even a 10-minutes-long epic track ('The Halls Of Eternity'), and the groovy rocking 'I, Madman' is something no one would have expected by a band like Ancient. The only thing that's going on my nerves is the last song 'Arrival' which is nothing but 5 minutes of cheap synthie melodies. Ancient are one of the bands who improve piece by piece without revolutionizing themselves and thus still have a long road in front of them. I prefer that to bands like Dimmu Borgir or the really awful Cradle Of Filth who gave all they are able of giving already after their first or second albums. Black metal hardliners might think 'The Halls Of Eternity' is too commercial, but for me it's one of the best dark efforts of 1999. |
