KONTINUUM
Eclectic. Yes, that’ll do. Iceland’s Kontinuum are eclectic. Initially sounding like a bunch of indie kids experimenting with metal, their ambient, post-black metal bears many a varied element. Everything from black metal to shoegaze to goth to punk to doom to (whisper it) indie gets a look in. Sometimes challenging, sometimes questionable, and sometimes stirring, ‘Earth Blood Magic’ is always interesting. Mellow, contemplative, dramatic, melancholic, morose, fired and furious, Kontinuum’s experiments shouldn’t work but do. Their proficiency at combining disparate genres with subtlety and finesse is exceptional. With tracks ranging between five and just over nine minutes long, Kontinuum’s canvas is broad, their palette opulent, and their sonic images lavish without being garish, gaudy or grotesque. Though some of the songs tend to drag on with little in the way of variation or much that holds the attention, Kontinuum are adept musicians with an ear for depth and atmosphere and they have a distinct ability to draw the listener in to their sensual aesthetics.
With metal’s gene pool swelling (or dulling, if you prefer) by an abundance of styles being levered in that not so long ago would have been frowned upon, Kontinuum’s approach is focussed upon making all parts equal and allowing the music to develop of its own accord without leaning too heavily in one direction or another. Thankfully, this doesn’t fit anywhere and so the chameleonic nature of the musicians is allowed to flourish and proffer a few gems. There are more than a few moments where their efforts don’t work and the songs feel weaker than they perhaps could’ve been, but maybe that’s just a question of taste. In drawing on such a wide range of music, Kontinuum could be in danger of spreading themselves a little too thin but I suspect that Kontinuum’s audience will be as diverse as their musical influences with few sharing favourites but with much to discuss. That is this debut album’s success.
With metal’s gene pool swelling (or dulling, if you prefer) by an abundance of styles being levered in that not so long ago would have been frowned upon, Kontinuum’s approach is focussed upon making all parts equal and allowing the music to develop of its own accord without leaning too heavily in one direction or another. Thankfully, this doesn’t fit anywhere and so the chameleonic nature of the musicians is allowed to flourish and proffer a few gems. There are more than a few moments where their efforts don’t work and the songs feel weaker than they perhaps could’ve been, but maybe that’s just a question of taste. In drawing on such a wide range of music, Kontinuum could be in danger of spreading themselves a little too thin but I suspect that Kontinuum’s audience will be as diverse as their musical influences with few sharing favourites but with much to discuss. That is this debut album’s success.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Candlelight
Album
EARTH BLOOD MAGIC
Review by Jason Guest
RUNNING TIME:
55:41
RELEASE DATE:
13th August 2012
TRACK LISTING
1) Endgame
2) Steinrunninn Skógur
3) Moonshine
4) Stranger Air
5) Lightbearer
6) City
7) Lýs Milda Ljós
8) Red
9) Í Gljufradal
2) Steinrunninn Skógur
3) Moonshine
4) Stranger Air
5) Lightbearer
6) City
7) Lýs Milda Ljós
8) Red
9) Í Gljufradal
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Iceland
"...‘Earth Blood Magic’ is always interesting. Mellow, contemplative, dramatic, melancholic, morose, fired and furious, Kontinuum’s experiments shouldn’t work but do."
