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

Giöbia "X-ÆON" (2025)

 

Kicking off with Voodoo Experience, X-ÆON conjures a hypnotic, esoteric persona through the lens of its re-imagined instrumental Psychedelic Rock. Atmospheres croon in a hazy wash of colors as delicately incrementing melodies brood whilst entangled by rocking repetitious grooves. A kaleidoscopic swirl of electric energies emerging as lengthy songs venture through gorgeous assembles of dazzling lead guitar and Berlin School era synths. Together, they intermingle with a soothing ease, cruising on the rock steady percussive foundations that root us to reality. This Psychedelic nature has touches of an old spooky horror, a tone from the 60s yet deliciously woven in without cheese or fear. Its subtle organ drones, occasionally warbling, along with these reverb drenched guitars paint a stunning trance. Very fitting of its inspirations but feeling so far ahead of any nostalgia inducing curb.

 Mostly an instrumental rock, the vocals lack a spark. Its the three minute radio friendly The Death Of The Crows confides the progress formula to a brief stint that feels like its crying for more space as its shimmering synth leads sparkle without room to expand, which the formula usually suggests is coming. On the flip side, 1976 is the records best track, a love letter to youthful memories of forgotten music scenes and revolutionary action. Spoken word sections guide us through historical events, with rose-colored impressions of a fond past. Its back and forth exchange between voice and instruments a delight, an endearing number where one can feel the passion.

From this steady start, the record meanders into aimless noodling as its four part La Mort De La Terre descends into jam territory. A curious assembly of sounds, lacking structure and direction. Mildly entertaining but better served in the backdrop as its ebb and flow lacks gratification beyond its immediate aesthetics. Certain themes and moods emerge but mostly this lengthy wanders into obscurity. An impressive album but one stained by its ending which simply fizzles out, exhausting its initial magics.

Rating: 6/10 

Drown In Sulphur "Blackwind" (2019)

Its time to throw myself back to my youth and enjoy some Deathcore! Blastbeats, slams and ludicrous gutturals here we come! Browsing Youtube's endless music videos, the song Blackwind caught my attention, purely for being comically fun and brutal with its stomping onslaught of metallic noise and guitar abuse. The song however has legs and so do the other five tracks that accompany it on this new EP, the groups second. Having had a glimpse over their older releases, it seems the Italian band has stepped up their game after a three year silence from their last single.

Their production has scaled too, despite being unsigned the band have put together a competent sound that doesn't feel flimsy or tacky as some of these kinds of records can do. Instead its the perfect podium for Deathcore aesthetics with its crunchy stomping guitars, regularly delivering textural low notes for the breakdowns. The vocals are meaty, a constant barrage of flat throaty growls, shrill pig squeals and general ridiculousness that hovers above all else. It could be a turn off for most but fits in well given the context. The drums deliver battering barrages of groove, culminating nicely with the guitars that border Djent and yet still find a little flash of color in places.

The songwriting is where Drown In Sulphur may stand apart from others. Its no mastery or revelation but they bring more excitement and freshness with a slight deviance from the norms, never settling on the bog standard approach. It gives almost everything a fraction of spice that occasionally blossoms into a fiery whirl of energy as the constant rolling over of riffs finds a peak in the wandering arrangements. Its free structural form plays big into their hands as repetition could of grinded this record to a halt. Fortunately the balance is fair. After many listens I'm still getting a kick.

Blackwind's best parts tend to be the big concluding riffs towards the end of a track however on a number like Serpenthyne a little bit of Iwrestledabearonce alike mania on the fretwork goes down a treat and so does the reverberated acoustic interlude Sulphur. Essentially, where they deviate most from the basic formula of the genre they succeed and with such a variety driven approach their writing pays off! Nuclear Dawn however fumbles through monochromatic riffs and a mid-track drop of intensity as sections don't quite link. Although I am pretty much done with this type of music, its good to keep an eye out and maybe this band is one to follow in the near future!

Favorite Track: Blackwind

Rating: 6/10