CoC : Empyrium - Songs of Moors & Misty Fields : Review

Empyrium - _Songs of Moors & Misty Fields_
(Prophecy Prod., 1997)
by: Pedro Azevedo (10 out of 10)

Consider the songtitles in _Songs of Moors & Misty Fields_: "When the Shadows Grow Longer", "The Blue Mists of Night", "Mourners", "Ode to Melancholy", "Lover's Grief" and "The Ensemble of Silence". Now try to think of skillfully rendered music and lyrics that consistently suit these titles, and a picture of what _Songs of Moors & Misty Fields_ is about may be forming. If none of what I wrote above has at least sparked your interest, forget about it -- it's best that you just skip to the next review right now, because this album wasn't made for you. Still with me? If so, then you might want to check my October Tide review below after you finish this one, because the ideas behind what I just wrote apply to them and to the work done so far by other sincere doom metal bands like Katatonia, My Dying Bride and Anathema (to name but a few). Well, back to Empyrium, they combine in _SoM&MF_ the expectable metallic elements and synths with piano, acoustic guitars, flute and cello; however, none of this ever seems to have been just 'thrown in', something which bands who use this kind of enhancements to their metal are often (sometimes accurately, others needlessly) accused of. Everything fits here; everything has a purpose, and the musicianship found in this very doomy, yet majestic album is truly remarkable. The deep, clean vocals found in _SoM&MF_ may not be everyone's favourite style, but they suit the music so well that it just doesn't matter. These clean vox are quite varied too, and both deep spoken and various kinds of chanted parts are to be found, as well as several blackened vox sections. _Songs of Moors & Misty Fields_ is a major improvement upon the very interesting _A Wintersunset..._ and an album to contend for best CD I heard in 1998. Extremely moody and superbly executed.

(article published 13/4/1998)

CHATS
5/3/2000	P Azevedo	Empyrium: Songs of Sorrow For the Sleepless

ALBUMS
27/1/2015	M Dolson	9	Empyrium - The Turn of the Tides
18/1/2007	P Azevedo	8	Empyrium - A Retrospective...
1/9/2002	P Azevedo	9	Empyrium - Weiland
12/8/1999	P Azevedo	7	Empyrium - Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays