This is a beautiful collection of acoustic folk songs, beautifully sung with beautiful harmonies - so full of beautiful intentions.
It is hard to explain, but the death metal precursor-influence
of Tribulation guitarist Jonathan Hultén is evident in all – and no, I can’t
explain that. Mentioning I hear the folk sound of Ian Anderson’s early Jethro
Tull folk sound doesn’t fill the void either.
Despite the album’s title this isn’t linked to chanting.
There are hymnal tones throughout and this gives it the overall feel of a sombre
beauty. I am reminded of Zakk Wylde from Black Label Society and his solo
journeys into harmonious territory – there is a magical opposition between the
heavy to the peaceful [a crude antithesis] where the latter is the embodiment of
all the former isn’t.
Is it a compulsive urge to differ? To counter? To balance?
I suspect not.
And there is no articulation of the opposition in the ‘la/la/la/la/la/la/ing’
of a sweet song like Holy Woods. That
the next Where Devils Weep is as
sweetly soothing – with whistling – confirms it quite simply is what it is. Comparisons
I have read to folk icons like Nick Drake and John Martyn seem entirely
misplaced. Simon and Garfunkel on Where
Devils Weep, however, would do nicely. But that is a singular touchstone.
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