BLACK LOTUS

The instrumental that kicks this opus off is incredibly serene, and highlights a band not afraid to venture away from the typical metal instrumental path of bombastic video game nastiness (most of the time). Agalloch are the obvious reference point that sprang to mind (something off their White EP perhaps?). Haunting use of cello, a striking of something for percussive effect, and a lilting acoustic guitar melded together to create something quite wonderful. Track two takes us into extreme metal territory, a little Immortal-a-like, and very well written. I won't say it's black metal (because it isn't), but they are definitely taking cues from it. I suppose we have to wonder if there is a need for a new genre tag here because, as with Agalloch, Fen, Janvs, et al, there is a melding of black metal to post rock and folk attributes that doesn't seem well served by any combination of genre labelling so far (post-black metal, folk-black metal etc). Anyway, leaving that to one side, I really like this; it's a style of music, regardless of its name, that speaks to me more than any genre of metal in recent years. As an example of this, it's grand and melancholic, but spits venom when needed. The keyboards add a nice layer to the majority of songs, although the introduction to 'Of Pathless Woods' is a little too 'RPG cut-scene' for my liking. All in all though a terrific little collection of songs.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Bleak Art Records

Album

HARVEST OF SEASONS

Review by Steve Cowan

RUNNING TIME:

44:00

RELEASE DATE:

2008

TRACK LISTING

1) Prelude
2) Signatura Rerum
3) Statues in Auburn
4) Of Pathless Woods
5) Terra Hiberna
6) Wreath of the Triumphant Sun
7) Awaken the Season of Old
8) The Fallow Earth

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Canada

"...grand and melancholic, but spits venom when needed."