CoC : Arcana - Dark Age of Reason : Review

Arcana - _Dark Age of Reason_
(Cold Meat Industry, 1996)
by: Gino Filicetti (5 out of 10)

Hailing from the majestic Northern land of Sweden come Peter Pettersson and Ida Bengtsson, the heart and soul of Arcana. Although this is the couple's first release, Arcana is widely known in the Scandanavian folk music scene. The music on this CD can be very majestic and awe-inspiring at times, but also very dark and tragic. There are ten songs on this recording, fortunately though, most are not of epic length. The entire CD was finished in 35 minutes, something I found weird about a band that plays this kind of music (take for example our buddy Mortiis, who loves pumping out the twenty minute soundscapes!). Some tracks I found particularily inspiring were "Source of Light," a faster paced piece with beautiful pianos that exploits both male and female vocals. Also the title track was excellent, a very dark and brooding song that is sans vox. "The Song of Mourning" also appears on the Cold Meat Industry compliation _...And Even Wolves Hid Their Teeth_. Altogether an OK album, but not something I found all that interesting.

(article published 12/8/1996)

ALBUMS
7/29/2012	C Drishner	8	Arcana - As Bright As a Thousand Suns
10/27/2003	X Hoose	6	Arcana - Inner Pale Sun