Windfaerer-Tenebrosum

Windfaerer is a Black Metal band with a lot of atmosphere. The reverb was pushed too high for all of the instruments, but it was nice to hear something different with melody that can transport me into their world of the wind across unknown waters. The atmosphere created by the reverb really made me feel the journey. Production was good with all of the instruments audible from the bass to the double bass with guitars. It is as if the Mastering did not compress all of the instruments into this mesh like other bands do. Either that or they did not Master it, but either way it was good that every instrument could be isolated by me. The guitars really did a good job at bringing the listener from high to low points and elevating my mood and bringing me down to a point of somber happiness.

The electronic violin that is present on the tracks really brings me into a state of old world appeal that captivates my soul into a peaceful state of bliss.

"Celectial Supermacy" begins off with these amazing Dissection style riffs but they do not continue on this line of musical thought for the rest of the tracks. From the beginning to the end of this song it is really soulful and euphoric. The violin and guitar riffs blast through the darkness of the night. the double bass is driving and everlasting. The precision of the work on this song is terrific to listen through.

"Finisterra" has these beautifully placed acoustic riffs that bring the listener into a lull of peace, but the rifts attack at the heart of melodic peace with a unique aggressive nature that just makes you want to listen to more. Again another Dissection style in the beginning of the song but then this fades into the style of Windfaerer with multiple overdubs that take away from the main song.

"Tales told in Oblivion" sustains the violin throughout the song and keeps the listener interested by incremental additions to the whole song, yet at points it is aggressive enough to make them worthy of the Black Metal stage and make me want to see them. Overall, there is an instrumental feel to the whole CD.

"Santeria" comes in hard and fast with multiple overdubs of guitar and the electronic violin and swift melodies. But the Mastering Compressor / Limiter is really heard throughout this song, first at 0:05, 1:00, 1:15, 2:12, 2:59,3:56,

Benjamin Karas is a very talented violinist and the blending of the violin with the duel guitar is euphonious to my ears. In the middle of the song the violin and then bass really complement one another in their duel melodies. And even without vocals you have to just listen to the song and close your eyes. The only bad thing is that the violin becomes a little repetitive from the beginning of the song to the end.

"The Everlasting" sounds like old school Black Metal, and the bass is ever so pronounced on this song which is nice to hear. Usually the bass does the guitar parts but here the bass has its own baseline, reminiscent of old school Black Metal musicians. The beginning sounds a little sloppy with the drumming, it was as if the guitars and the drums were not perfectly lined up. The whole song "The Everlasting" seems to have a phaser on it but that is because of the overdubbed tracks with each track probably having their own reverb which has been placed on like number 1000, well not really.

The bad thing about this CD is the problem that most Black Metal bands error on which is creating a CD that is vulnerable to ear fatigue. And because of the extra reverb and overdubs, the tracks seem to fade into one another and then in the end nothing really stands out and you come away with the CD having sounded the same. The reality is the every song is unique but in their efforts to create atmosphere they really overwhelm the auditory nerves. And Yes, I know that listening to Black Metal is not the same as regular music, but I have to consider this and other Black Metal bands in an objective manner, and similarly I say that you need a rest form the first song to the last.

"Morir en el Olvido" is surprisingly melodic and catchy. It was something like a Helltrain riff and I just couldn't wait to hear where WIndraerer was going to to with this riff. It was so nice to hear that they were able to create a catch riff and progress with a Black Metal feel. In the middle of the song, they break into this independent riff which at first sounds awesome, but then you think it lasted 8 bars too many, and then when you hear the song for the second time you definitely know that they lasted the riff for too long. But by the third time you listen to the break point riff you feel like forwarding that part until they get back into the main riff once again. They tried to do the something that they did on the first track "Celestial Supremacy" but they could not reproduce that type of greatness twice. Maybe if they had a female vocalist I might have been more interested by the end of this song.

Overall, it is a good band and theme. Music is challenging and yet so complex at times (not virtuoso complex, but Black Metal complex). The songs command your attention. Their sound is old school Black Metal served with extra reverb for your listening enjoyment. The violin was a nice addition which probably saved them from a bad review but to say that this is more unique than it is, I can't quite say. However, I will say that if you are into atmospheric Black Metal with a twist of lime then you have to have it, you will definitely not be disappointed. The CD starts off more powerful than it finishes off. Unfortunately, being objective sucks because this is really just another Black Metal band trying to make it's mark and by the end they really did not do that, and I fear these guys will fade like so many other Black Metal bands. I really wanted to give them a high grade but by the third listen I was correct that they rely on their ambience too much and reality is that they have to cut down on the song length and the heavy ambience in order for a perfect grade. I will say that it is better than most bands and on those cold days of loneliness this is the type of music that you crave. Hint, don't listen to this type of music if it is like 100 degrees outside cause the ambience is just not the same as when the cold is bearing down and life is at a standstill outside, I will give them a 3 out of 5 guitar picks and by the end everything seems to have blended together and I wished that there was more uniqueness to the CD, in that each track was more memorable. But their next CD has to be more than just Tremolo picking and double bass. Please go back to "Storm of the Lights Bane" and really listen to the uniqueness of that CD, whereby songs don't have to be 7 minutes long to be good. Even Opeth's Orchid is a good CD with long songs but a uniqueness to it. I look forward to their next CD, and ease up on the violin, come on, not every song demands a violin. 3 out of 5 guitar picks.

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