Emyn Muil "Elenion Ancalima" (2017)

Successor to the remarkably delightful Túrin Turambar Dagnir Glaurunga, Italian one man band Emyn Muil pivots their musical approach, searching for an epic adventure that doesn't grip me with the same intrigue. Structured by an intro and outro track, the meat of its thematic concept sits within three lengthy songs that limits the scope and variety explored last outing. With fervent stride, a sense of saga pervades, a struggle between forces climaxing. Uplifting theme of heroism illuminate melodies, tone and temperament resting in highlands stride, as tremolo guitars elongate its main motifs.

The Lay Of Numenore's drama and sense of scale plays vast but drifts from focus into mood and feel as repetition constrains this protracted number from blossoming. Ar-Pharazon offers a touch more as chunky guitar riffs break up the recycling themes. Far Umbar relieves itself of tensions built as the synth interlude doesn't find different grounds to land the song on. In general, the steady atmosphere of these songs simply linger, gradual shifts to subtle for action and theatrics that aid creating memorability.

The opener hits a fantastic note with a powerfully sung melody of adventure awaiting. Its closing track is the records highlight. Again, a voiced melody champions its merits as we slip into an Ethereal realm of sleepy synths and dreamy tunes blessed by misty singing through the distant airy fog, reminded me of Enya's music in ways. Elenion Ancalima is a fine, ambitious effort, unfortunately it didn't quite click with this listener.

Rating: 6/10

Emyn Muil "Túrin Turambar Dagnir Glaurunga" (2013)

For fans of the Austrian visionaries Summoning, here plays a love letter to their cast of Tolkien led Black Metal. With passion and talent in stride, originality is not of question. Embracing the blueprint of metallic extremity, keyboard symphonics and synthesized percussion, Italian musician Emyn Muil dispatches us upon an epic voyage across Middle Earth. With triumphant roars from shrill guitar leads and mighty horn sections, we frequent triumphant emergences from the guttural howls and bleak tremolo guitars that bark through nostalgic low fidelity origins. This genial balance is striking, as songs command the horrors of this fantasy realm, yet offset it in stride when gleaming Fantasy melodies arise, trumping the burdensome mood with majestic narrative. 

The record rarely falls a spell to its sullen side. Darkly twisted distortion guitars lurch in narrow spaces, wretched screams flail above. A heroic element always accompanies. Colorful keys singing noble war songs, the marching drums of battle hang the struggles of good and evil in balance. Delightful passages frequently develop out of different origins. My personal favorites include the warmly embraced drum machines with deep reverberated floor toms. The music can seamlessly weave between them and traditional drum patterns for the genre. As an album, it thoroughly entertains.

Its ten songs naturally ebb and flow with varying intensities and many melodic themes enchanting along the path, yielding much joy. As its stride concludes, Path Of The Doomed and Death Of Glaurung are gems providing much gratification as finality approaches. They soar to new heights in gallant stride. I'm left invigorated by the revival of a sound I loved decades back. The fantasy realms of Middle Earth are brough to life again in this flavor I adore. Excited for the next chapter, this is just the first of three!

Rating: 8/10