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Rating: Formed in 2004 as a response to Arcturus, Winds, and the various groups belonging to that movement born in Norway known as Avangarde, the Age Of Silence are nothing but another project in which some of the most prominent musicians of the Norwegian extreme scene have participated, featuring in their lineup:
Lars Eric Si - Bass (already with Winds)
Lars Nedland - Vocals (Borknagar, Solefald, Carpathian Forest)
Extant - Guitars
Kobbergaard - Guitars
Hellhammer - Drums (Dimmu Borgir, Winds, Arcturus, The Kovenant)
Andy Winter - Piano (Winds, Subterranean Masquerade)
Released in 2004, "Acceleration" represents the first and so far only album, excluding the 2005 EP, composed by the Norwegian sextet: the product moves on lines balanced between progressive metal and classical music, creating a musical "pastiche" which, although not particularly original, is easy to listen to. Structurally, the album, despite showing a certain compositional staticity, manages to offer numerous instrumental subtleties, without ever getting lost in unnecessary digressions and thus not betraying the black roots of the musicians involved in this project.
Rather powerful riffs and tight rhythmic parts that leave little room for airy passages continuously follow one another, supporting Mr. Winter's piano intertwining, intent on creating musical embellishments of fine quality that splendidly support Nedland's powerful and deep voice, the true added value of the album.
Starting from the opening, entrusted to "Auditorium Of Modern Movements", passing through episodes like "The Concept Of Haste" or the mini-suite (just 7 minutes) "90 Degrees Angles", they demonstrate excellent technical skills and sufficient songwriting ability, although they often reveal a weakness concerning the variety of the songs, which risk becoming dull due to their homogeneity unless good Andy intervenes to slightly lift the overall situation.
On one hand, this album deserves praise (technical aspects such as recording and mixing are excellent, as is the technique, never too showy), while on the other hand, more closely connected to the music, it proves, if not weak, still not entirely convincing because, even where a flash of genius is glimpsed, all the work is then nullified by a development of the ideas themselves not fully adequate.
The final result remains, in the end, satisfactory, although the album is not a masterpiece. For now, they pass with some reservations, and hopefully, they will do better in the future.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
08 90° Angles (07:19)
It has been done!
The return is completed!
Now to grow fainter
To be buried in soft shades of jade
I used to like the rainfalls - to feel tender bites
of grey city water on my white, clean face
pure from the start - dirty to the end
drawing diagonal marks - shutting me into a private prison with bars of water on skin
The smell of wet asphalt always softened up a hard world
90 degree angles, shiny surfaces covered in dirt
and worn out streets leading from nothing to nothing
Who put us here anyway? Did I ever take the time to find out?
Did they ever bother to ask? Was it even an option?
It's been returned
I wonder if the dirt has forced its way through my skin by now
Feels like it's there - itching from the inside, weakening my flesh
I need a sunblock or a dirtblock - something to protect me
Nothing's ever gonna be the same again
I'm on the wrong... surface
Nothing's ever gonna be the same again
Nothing's ever gonna be the same again
Open up the shell, wash away the facade
Let me out or let me in
Open up the shell, wash away the facade
Let me out or let me in
Please just let me, Please just let me
Please just let me, Please just let me
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Other reviews
By MBK1d
Keyboards and drums are the strengths of this album and the band, also because in the mixing they are at a much higher volume than the guitars and the bass which, as usual, you can’t hear even as a joke.
This is the real weakness of the group: the voice, I don’t like it at all... it would have been a markedly better CD with a different singer.
