Arcane Sun
Arcane Sun
[Ars Metalli]


After a demo and a promo, one of Ireland's finest finally get the chance to release a CD on the German label (who were going to do a CD for Graveyard Dirt too, no?), and I must admit it's a fantastic release. Such a treat in fact, that it stands out as a unique and ORIGINAL recording of powerful metal.

The amazing production allows the HUGE guitar riffs to shine, as well as Paul's vocals, which move from whispers, to guttural roars and black metal style screams, and most importantly into tortured cries. Not ONCE during the sixty minutes that this album lasts for do his vocals break apart or sound weak. I've personally not been blown away by a vocalist like this in a long time, especially in his clean delivery. This fellow is the King Diamond of death metal vocalists! Does any band have a vocalist who can sing as emotionally as this? Anathema? Candlemass (any of their vocalists!)? The old Evereve vocalist? No!

The drumming is over the top nifty as well: it never stops with the double bass and fills. The high hit batting at the end of 'Sundrenched (beneath the very skies we sought), or the more straight forward black metal blast during 'Your Name' snap my head straight off.

But I suppose it's the core music that makes the album what it is. From the most depressing (opener 'Canto I (the search)'), to full on epic ('I was Alive Then...") and intense ('Sundrenched (beneath the very skies we sought)') to atmospheric (the piano track 'We Stood With Time' or the fantastic ambient/classical closer 'Promised (so many years have passed)'), 'Arcane Sun' has everything. The guitar leads shine with such confidence that one would assume that this CD had been released by a band that had spent the last six months in the studio. Influences ranging from modern black metal and death metal to more classic doom/death shine though here obviously.

Arcane Sun blows the shite out of everything in their path! I can't even imagine what this band is capable of! New CD 'Fade' will very easily be my most anticipated CD for the new year...

Obviously this CD gets my rare highest recommendations!


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