The Spectral Eye
A Midnight Dreary

THE REVIEW

Inspired by the poems of E.a. Poe, this album is composed of distorted sounds combined with orchestras and drums almost close to metal, creating an absolutely original and extraordinary ensemble.

The mini-CD is a concept album of about 20 minutes, available for free download in MP3 format or purchasable in the traditional format.

The tracks

The "Intro" that opens the album lasts only two minutes, but it immediately allows us to enter the spirit of the CD, somewhat dark, obsessive yet sweetly melancholic, as easily deduced from the long phrasing of piano and lead guitar.

Next follows a spoken and sung track that repeats the magical verses of "Annabel Lee," one of Poe's most famous compositions. The start of the track is impressive, with the sound of the piano mixed with that of the waves, followed by a gentle base that gradually becomes stronger and more engaging, supporting the narration throughout. The sung parts are also good; in this first track, you hear the slightly distorted and altered voice that is present in every track: at first, you might need to get used to it... but then it fits well with the overall sound.

The following song is "The conqueror worm": a piece where the orchestra plays an important and very present role, which relies more on engaging riffs and captivating tempo rather than atmosphere. The strings and voice are well-timed, pleasant to hear, and placed within a more traditional song structure compared to the previous one.

The album closes with "A dream within a dream," perhaps the fastest and most decisive song, with very prominent drums and guitars in a style close to metal.

Conclusions

In summary, listening to the CD is certainly pleasant, flowing quickly and without boring, perhaps also due to its brevity.

Rating: 7.5 / 10

For listening to the tracks, visit
http://www.archive.org/details/ekleipsi50