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Stanne and associates crafted this short chapter in their brilliant career in the autumn of 1995. Intended as an "appetizer" to the subsequent masterpiece "The Gallery," this mini features four furious tracks imbued with gentle and intriguing melodies.
The title-track, preceded by a dark and brief intro, is a frontal assault with hyper-fast drums and ferocious guitars, where Mikael "gracelessly" screams lyrics of great value, truly intimate compared to the immediacy of the musical offering. Towards the end, there is room for melodies with a vaguely folk flavor where the twin solos of Sundin and Johansson showcase great technique.
"With the flaming shades of fall" is thoughtful, celebratory. Opened by a lavish and solemn riff, it unfolds into delicate harmonies, though always supported by the violence of the singer and guitars that remain very aggressive. Once again, I highlight the class of the Swedish axemen's leads.
The following "Away, delight, away" does not stray much from the winning melo-death formula pioneered by 'At the Gates' except for a grand finale crescendo where once again Stanne dominates with a captivating and bitter-as-poison singing.
"Alone" (a reprise of the final track from "Skydancer") gently sweeps us into a whirlwind of sorrowful notes. Slow and epic, it harks back to the acoustic-folk atmospheres of the aforementioned debut album, benefiting from a more rounded and careful production, thanks to the glorious Fredman, then as now.
A small gem of Nordic beauty "Of Chaos and eternal night" will serve in the future as a source of inspiration (and mimicry) for numerous acts that will never reach the same heights.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Away, Delight, Away (05:23)
[Henriksson, Johansson]
As false as our minds our eyes refuse to see
They claw for the falseness in me
From where all life springs anew
We are cleansed through the crystal fire
Fill me with sound, fill me with hatred
Let my life bring life to the soil
The soil beneath my feet
Messenger of pain sailing silence
Commander of my sorrow riding rage
Infinity is eternal - never born so it may never die
Colours speak my name
Through the crowns I am baptised in the
First gnawing rays from a blackened sun
In the name of my blood I curse thee
Shelter me under the trees
Spread your twilight wings
My broken body is dripping with sin
Your skin so delicate
Your undemanding bliss will carry me far
I bid farewell to this godforsaken land
Nevermore shall I return
I join with the riders on the horizon
For they are my blood!
For they are my saviours!
They bring me hatred, bring me fire
They take me down to the land I know not
Then crush me - Take me down
Then they build me once more again
Slayer of my anger sailing silence
The angel of my lust
She is tasting shame
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