Mistur - In Memoriam - Review

Mistur was started in Sogndal, Norway, by Espen Bakketeig and Andre Raunehaug, and the band was joined shortly after by Stian Bakketeig (Vreid, ex-Windir, ex-Cor Scorpii). After a demo, they landed a deal with Einheit Produktionen, and the debut album "Attende" was released in 2009 to rave reviews. Apart from some festival shows and a tour, the band became inactive for shorter periods, before the work on the follow up album started.

Dark Essence Records

Mistur wants to share more of their 'Sognametal' with us,but
the question is : Do we want it?

Personally I enjoyed their debut 'Attende' back in 2009 so I'm excited about 'In Memoriam'

The first thing that strikes me is the word majestic as the record spins.

When bands combining synth onto their metal or whatever, it can go so terribly wrong in many ways.

One thing is overdoing it, luckily that isn't the case here.

The album start up with a majestic & epic feel to it, I think 'majestic' is the keyword for 'In Memoriam'

Mistur has obviously grown in
every aspect and it clearly shines throughout the entire album.

For me personally, this is a step further than 'Attende'

The vocals are pitch'ed down a bit and there is some nicely fit clean vocals.

This is thanx to their new vocalist Oliver Øyien, and they also have a new drummer this time named Tomas Myklebust
, perhaps two new band members was the fresh breath the band needed.

I also enjoy the gitars whitch is what very much participates to the 'Sogna Metal' sound, allthough this time they have pushed the boundaries.

I'd say towards more complex and aggressive, yet they have kept the core essence of their style.

A must fans of Windir, but also such as Amon Amarth,Insomnium,Månegarm

Tracklist :

1.Downfall

2.Distant Peaks

3.Firstborn Son

4.Matriarch's Lament

5.The Sight

6.Tears Of Remembrance

Available on CD 26. April 

Legacy Of Emptiness - Legacy Of Emptiness

Genre: Symphonic Black/Pagan Metal
Country: Norway

This Norwegian band took me by surprise as soon as I started listening to their album witch starts out with a "John Lord" sounding intro!

They deliver solid metal with very powerful synth parties that gives me an epic/medieval feeling at times blended with great guitar solos.

The synth parts can at times remind a bit of Nightwish beautiful compositions,but besides that there is no similarities and this bands stand on their own musically.

A very uplifting album this is and the more I listen the more I like it! They have some descent ambient parts as well,just listen to "Valley Of Unrest.

Poweful & majestic compositions at it's best,the tempo varies trough the album some are slower and the faster reminds more of synth based black metal.

I have to state that I like the slower songs better,since the compositions is easier to hear on these,that beein said I cannot really find one negative aspect on the album except maybe it would be nice if they had used the clean vocal more.

Even though I've heard several attempts of trying to create what these guys do,this does not get boring at all and the sound is top notch!

So I suggest you check this album as soon as possible if you like a solid dose of athmosperic & uplifting metal,not sure if uplifting is the right word in this category,but who cares?


Vinyl Can be ordered here : hellishrecords.no

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