The End Records-Compilation |
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Not exactly The Beatles' White album, eh? And listening to the first contribution from a group called Odes of Ecstasy and their song "Abstract Thoughts", what could be any more true to form? In an almost dream sequence, layered in gentle harmonies and provocative instrumentation harkening back to the chivalrous days of yore. Well anyway, there are eight other artists featured on this End Records Compilation so let's not get carried too far off. An antithesis of sorts to the soft sounds of the opener, Sculptured's "Snow Covers All" bases its nature on a heavy guitar background, not in a riff-happy sort of way but rather open-chord strumming over dark vocals. The overall vibe one gets as they listen through to all of the various contributors is that while each sounds different in their own respect, their united in one fashion or another, as characteristic of a deep Gothic sound, comparable to what many of the Black Metal persuasion have evolved into in recent years. Agalloch is one of the strongest bands featured here and their "Hallways of Enchanted Ebony" reminiscent of just about any early Fates Warning instrumental out-take, and cut from the same cloth as English Goth-vets Fields of the Nephilim, will likely be one of the stand outs for this label before long. Also deserving of mention are the closing efforts of Nokturnal Mortum, which grabs the title for causing the greatest disturbance amongst the participants. Mystifying, majestic, and oftentimes shrewdly seductive, The End would seem just the beginning for their latest roster of talented artists ready to claim their rights to Gothic/Black Metal supremacy. Released by The End Records. 556 S. Fair Oaks Avenue #101-111. Pasadena. CA 91105 USA. Tel : 626 403 6952 Fax : 626 403 2848 Website : http://www.mythosmedia.com/theend Email : theend@mythosmedia.com Review By Vinnie Apicella |