 I really love doing reviews of not so well known bands. Especially if I think the band has potential. I like to do this for several reasons. Firstly, when people are scrolling through a review section of a website, and they see something they haven’t ever heard of, it grabs their attention, and second, because by writing a review for a unknown, or lesser known band, you actually feel like your review matters, because usually, new and unpopular bands don’t have hundreds of reviews the day after an album is released.
Anyway, I found this album on a website that specializes in free metal albums. Meaning, it is mostly demos, and debut albums of some bands. Over old Hills caught my attention, and I downloaded it off the official website. Mystic Shadows delivers a special kind of sound. Being symphonic black metal, you may just expect some very heavy riffs with some symphonic elements thrown in every now and then. Mystic shadows does really well in making sure you are wrong there. Unlike many black metal albums, it doesn’t focus on brutality, and heaviness, there is some of that stuff there, but it isn’t the main focus of the album.
The first thing I really noticed after listening to this album the first time, is how calm many of the songs were, at least in the beginning of them. Sound effects often were the way a song began. From the marching feet of an army, to a choir chanting, the songs all generally started off slowly. Then, they would grow, and either turn into a full fledged black metal song, or veer off in the other direction and be a slow song with almost entirely orchestral and symphonic instruments. Either way, the songs turned out quite good. An example of the orchestral/symphonic songs, would definitely be “Ode to the Braves” which is about as symphonic as it can get, while still keeping “metal” instruments there. However, you may barely even notice the metal instruments if you don’t listen closely.
For all these good things I am saying about this album, you’d think I’d give it around an 8 or 9. Enough praising, let’s get to the dirt!
Firstly, what really bothered me on some of the songs, was the vocals. They really need to be improved. They are not what you would call bad, but calling them good would be lying to the greatest extent possible. They are your typical rasping vocals, but they sometimes sound like someone was playing with the equalizers while the band was recording. They sometimes sound fairly decent, but oftentimes they just don’t cut it. Being repetitive, and sounding way too scratchy than they should isn’t a bonus, not only that, they were too slow at times. That was one of the major problems I have with this album.
Instrumentally, the band pulls it all off fairly well. But, common, you didn’t really think I would just leave it at that. Of course, this album’s drums fall into the repetitive haze that haunts black metal a few times. This only really stands out on heavier songs, and in the non vocal sections, more so than when there are vocals. After awhile, it’ll start to sound like the drummer is simply playing one note over and over again, until the tempo finally changes, or the song ends. Guitar –wise, they honestly pull it off well. There’s not much I can complain about, they all seem to fit in with the music, and are all in tune with the other instruments.
One thing that I can whine about, however, are the symphonic elements of the songs. I never really understood what black metal fans hated about symphonic black metal so much. Until now, that is. They over use them. It’s as simple as that, with that one short sentence, I can say the exact problem. At times, it even seems like the symphonic layer drowns out the guitars, that’s really not a good thing. Most songs on the album feature at least one part where you wish they would make it just a bit more raw.
In the end, I will have to recommend this album. Although nothing is done perfectly, nothing is done terribly either. There are some catchy riffs, some interesting lyrics, and not to mention, some great effects. It certainly has it’s flaws, and those aren’t all just small ones. But, seeing as the price of this album is free, you can’t really go wrong in getting this, if nothing else, you’ll probably get at least 10 to 20 minutes of enjoyment out of this whole album. Happy listening.
Patrick Burent
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01. Under The Red Sky
02. Ode To The Braves
03. Home Of The Gods
04. Into The Mist
05. Pagan Memories
06. Our Kingdom Is Rising Again
07. Lake Of Ice
08. Tears Of An Ancient Brave
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