CoC : Sub Luna - In the Shade of Time : Review

Sub Luna - _In the Shade of Time_
(Dagaz / Equilibrium, 2006)
by: Pedro Azevedo (main CD: 5.5 out of 10; bonus CD: 7 out of 10)

Firmly rooted in the dark folk genre as Sub Luna may be, there seems to be an element of popular melody creeping up from among the male vocals and melancholic guitar touches, rather than a more northern feel. _In the Shade of Time_ consists mostly of acoustic guitar and percussion, led by the aforementioned vocals, but other types of strings are also used -- not violin or cello, but instead the likes of slide guitar. The music is generally relaxed, built from laid back melodies and repetitive rhythms. Therein lies the problem as far as I am concerned, because _In the Shade of Time_ tends to lose my interest for that very reason: each song rarely goes anywhere different or evolves into something gripping. As it is, the music remains quite pleasant to the ear, but ultimately of little consequence or enduring effect.

The limited edition of _In the Shade of Time_ includes a bonus six-song CD, clocking in at about 23 minutes, titled _The Spring of Resentment_. This bonus disc consists of older material of a more apocalyptic tone. The songs are darker and less refined than the new material, and I for one prefer the bonus CD to the actual album, which seems rather ironic.

Contact: http://www.dagaz-music.com

(article published 29/10/2006)