앨범 감상하면서 시간나면 이 앨범 리뷰를 쓴 해외 유저의 글을 읽어보심도 좋을듯해서 퍼와봤다. 길어서 접었는데 누르면 펼쳐진다.ㅎㅎ.. 이런거 보면 난 역시 리뷰에 넘 약한듯....
Written by Wahnsinn on June 26th, 2005
Wow.. I'm speechless. I can already tell this review will take hours to write (regardless of length) because I am struggling to find words to justify how great this album is. How are you supposed to find words to truly capture something this epic, melancholic, and downright overwhelming? Wow...
Well, here goes. This album, being a gothic metal album, has a similar sound to bands like Tristania. That is the closest comparison I can come up with, although it is disgustingly unjust, because they are so infinitely better for so many reasons. One, they are much more riff-based, which means they are much more metal. Two, their atmosphere is twenty times more effective. Three, their vocals FAR surpass Tristania. Four, the keyboards are put pretty far back in the production, just enough to make an impact, but not too much to drown anything out. Five, this album is perfect, Tristania are not.
Yep.. Penumbra's closest comparison is miles away.
Basically, when you hear a gothic metal album, you usually hear excessive use of female, almost pop-like vocals, you hear keyboards that are far too loud, you hear songs based on the keyboards, you hear violins and shitloads of strange 'wtf' instruments that don't really belong in metal, and you hear some otherwise uninspiring attempts at atmosphere.
When you hear this album, you hear incredible gothic riffs, instead of violins they use distorted guitars to play their leads, the keyboards are there, but the songs are not based on them, the vocals are downright fantastic, and everything about this album just works. Incredible songs backed by incredible atmosphere.
Let me tell you this album is so overwhelming I've backed out of reviewing it four times, just because I have felt my review is unjust. I hope I'm really portraying how effective this album is now..
Many goth albums have strange interludes that seem random and out of place, Penumbra has these too, except they work, they are convincing, and they are perfectly called for. They really use every member in every song, to their full extent and effect. Think Dream Theater like instrumental interludes, with emotion, and atmosphere, and instead of showing off, they just put you in a fucking trance that you will NOT escape from.
Just listen to the introduction, Tragical Memories. The opening guitar sucks you in, followed by male growls and finally clean female vocals. Note the riff in the background, that's right, the RIFF! Not the keyboards, not the violins, not the assorted fucked up instruments, but the RIFF! With keyboards set in the background, adding to the atmosphere. The song then turns into clean male vocals backed by acoustic guitar, which totally fits! Then there's a small break, then it explodes back into a beautiful riff and oh my fucking god!
That's one song. That one song had more effect on me than most albums do!
Anyways, I fear if I say any more (there is much more to be said, but I guess those who haven't heard it wouldn't understand) you will be discouraged. I urge you, pick this album up, it has an amazing atmosphere, amazing songwriting, amazing vocals, and I just can't describe the feeling it gives me whenever I put it on.
Most definately.. the best metal album I have ever heard in my life.
[Album Line Up] Anita Covelli Group Member, Vocals Jarlaath Group Member, Oboe, Vocals Ameylia Saad Soprano Hubert Piazzola Baritone Emile Lesbros Alto Emmanuelle Zoldan Alto Zoltan Group Member, Keyboards Loïc Taillebrest Flute, Pipe Dorian Group Member, Guitar
