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THE REVIEW
The region of Päijät-Häme is located in Finland, surrounded by enormous bodies of water that remain frozen for most of the year.
It is here that Before The Dawn are born, and the notes of their latest effort are the deepest reflection of this.
'Soundscape Of Silence' undeniably belongs to those places, the sound is cold and glacial yet at the same time captivating, much like the great Finnish lakes.
The powerful backbone of modern-style Melodic Death, which forms the main structure of the entire album, is interspersed with more fascinatingly dark moments, becoming increasingly rarefied, and in this imposing sound structure, there is even space for tiny pearls of acoustic rock.
The atmospheres delineated with a firm and potent stroke are enveloping and intense. The alternating use of the two voices, growl and clean, always in perfect balance, works excellently and remains effective even after repeated listens.
It starts off strong and finishes beautifully, and it’s a great listening experience for the entire duration of the album: just 36 minutes.
The brevity of the entire composition proves to be a most wise choice; only 10 tracks are enough for BEFORE THE DAWN to brand this 2008, as it draws to a close, with fire, a 2008 that establishes BEFORE THE DAWN as masters at combining melody and power without ever descending into a sterile and mediocre rehash of what has been heard so far.
The lyrics, simple yet profound, are also an expression of progress, managing to remain credible even when dealing with themes like introspection, solipsism, individualism. The production does an excellent job on every single instrument. The way 'Soundscape Of Silence' is recorded is absolutely impeccable, with small electronic inserts enriching the sound and making it even denser and fuller.
Result: a great album of Modern Dark Metal, which as far as I’m concerned should be just like 'Soundscape Of Silence'; elegant, atmospheric, varied, well-played and excellently produced.
I believe I will remain immersed for a long time in the 'Silent Soundscape' of Päijät-Häme... I am counting on the sun salvation to come.
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Summary by Bot
The review praises 'Soundscape Of Silence' by Before The Dawn as a powerful and atmospheric melodic death metal album rooted in Finnish landscapes. It highlights the perfect balance of growl and clean vocals, excellent production, and diverse musical elements such as acoustic rock. The album's concise 36-minute length is seen as a wise choice that delivers a strong and captivating listening experience. Lyrically, it delves into introspective themes with simplicity and depth, establishing the band as masters of melody and power.Tracklist Lyrics
Before the Dawn
Before the Dawn is a Finnish melodic death/gothic metal band formed by Tuomas Saukkonen in 1999. The group released a string of acclaimed albums, paused activities in 2013, and later resumed in the 2020s.01 Reviews
