| CD REVIEW Quintessence Mystica |
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Band: Quintessence Mystica Quintessence Mystica are a Ukrainian project by Master Alafern – think Thunderkraft and Triglav. The project started in summer 2008 and after a few weeks, the music for a first full length had been written. The material got recorded in winter 2008-2009 with producer / engineer Vladislav ‘Munruthel’ Olegovitch (Kolo, Silentium / Munruthel, ex-Nokturnal Mortum, Vetche etc) at MHStudio (production, mix, engineering and mastering), and after signing to Schwarzdorn Production at the end of 2009, this album was prepared for distribution, just to please, or irritate, the audience. The 5th Harmony Of Death lasts for forty three minutes and brings a raw, unpolished form of orchestral and symphonic Black Metal of the mystic / mythic kind. The keyboards are of undeniable and anti-underrating importance – think Dimmu Borgir or Emperor, or country-fellowmen Nokturnal Mortum (a band Master Alafern worked with as session musician), if you want to. But the performance is slightly different, with same-minded ideas like Dagorlad or Hollenthon, I guess. The rest of the instrumentation is rather supportive and comes with a raw, slightly under-produced sound (sometimes, unfortunately, painfully tiring). But all instruments (and vocals as well) are flawlessly interwoven. And what to think about the injection of somewhat creepy violin lines? What about the nearby border with Pagan / Folk on the one hand, and old styled occultism at the other? What about the original approach, closer related to a horrific soundtrack than a live-on-air intended opus? It works in Quintessence Mystica’s case, it does, and with just one pitiful detail (that superficial, down-priced sound) to mention (which does lower the final quotation), this debut is a recommendation for those who like it the occult, illogical way. Finally this: the second full length, which is called Duality, will be released later this year. Hopefully with a better production… 85/100 Ivan Tibos. |