ELDERWIND ?– ?????????? ????? ??????? / The Magic Of Nature

	€		150
	$		174

Titles translation from Russian:
1. In the Snow
2. The Magic of Nature
3. Shining of the Stars
4. The Nature Stuck in a Dream
5. The Last Winter Night
6. The Coming of Spring
7. When the Rain Starts Again
8. Cold in the Soul

8-page booklet.
Review Summary: An excellent atmospheric black metal album that shouldn't be overlooked.
Elderwind is a Russian black metal outfit formed in 2009 by Persy Vyacheslav. After a few years of experimentation, Persy added drummer Andrey Bykov and vocalist Alexander Sinyugen to the mix for Elderwind’s 2012 debut album, “The Magic of Nature.” If you’re looking for a black metal kvlt classic, you’d best look elsewhere as TMoN is a beautifully structured ambient piece of music where Vyacheslav really shows his talent as a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, doing all of the guitar, bass and keyboard playing, as well as most of the songwriting on the record.

That being said, this album is still a black metal album, and a damn good one at that. It breaks the cardinal rules of black metal with prominent bass and keyboard playing throughout the 52 minute experience, and it’s a fairly soft album through and through. One could draw comparisons to bands like Agalloch, but an album this good shouldn’t be reduced to a clone of other popular atmospheric black metal; it may not pioneer into new territory, but it’s certainly unique enough to stand as a notable accomplishment on its own. Let’s get into specifics.

The album opens with “In the Snow,” a purely ambient song with a wall of guitars in the background complementing the keyboard playing in the foreground. A couple minutes into the song, the listener is greeted by Singuyen’s harsh vocals which last for the duration of the five and a half minute intro, then fading out as the title track starts up. “The Magic of Nature” opens with a slow guitar and keyboard part that picks up drums and then vocals for the rest of the 8 minute song. It isn’t until track six, “The Approach of Spring,” that we get closer into black metal territory with blast beats and vocals that overpower the instruments for the first time on the album. This lasts for about nine minutes until “When the Rain Starts Again” follows suit with a harsher sound with more focus on the vocals than any song on the first half of the album. “In the Cold” finishes the record with a six minute masterpiece that shows the mastery of this band in all of the instrumentation on the song. They keyboard is simple but effective, the guitars rock and the drums keep the listener engaged.

My only real gripe about this album is that the same formula is used in many of the songs: Ambient intro, add drums, vocals, include a few instrumental parts here and there, fade out, rinse and repeat. Plus it’s not really anything new, though it is exceptional for an album of its type. I understand this won’t be for everyone, but if you’re into ambient music that uses black metal to compliment atmospheric passages, “The Magic of Nature” is worth a listen.
(sputnikmusik.com)
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Gorgeous atmospheric metal - 100%

Just to get right out there and say it, this has got to be one of the best black metal albums I've ever heard. Hands down. I gave it a listen after it showed up in my YouTube recommendations, and I was completely and utterly blown away by this album.

Most atmospheric black metal I've heard so far is very dark and gloomy. Take Xasthur and Leviathan for example. Granted they're technically ambient/depressive, but they still are extremely atmospheric. Their music puts you in a dark place, a place devoid of light and happiness. Elderwind, on the other hand, to you to a beautiful nature sanctuary. It simply makes you feel good listening to it. Each song is layered with keyboards, strings, and the occasional ambient track, creating a bright atmosphere that sticks with you all day. The guitars usually play simple melodies in the background, adding to the overall tone. It's worth mentioning that there are barely any riffs on this album: it's purely melody driven, and it's a wonderful thing. This is backed up by a somewhat out of place raspy whispery scream, similar to what you hear on Xasthur's albums, but they really make it work. I do kind of wish there was an instrumental version of the album, but it's still perfect the way it is.

The overall tone of the album is one of a melancholy cheerfulness, if that makes any sense. A better way to put it is the musical equivalent of the light at the end of the tunnel, the silver lining of a dark cloud, or the dawn of a new day. It's a feeling of hope when you think all was lost, and it's a simply wonderful feeling. You feel like you're on a quest through some mystical wilderness in an ancient fantasy land, surrounded by nothing but the sounds of the forest. It truly makes you feel the magic of nature through its simple but powerful melodies.

All in all, this is definitely an album worth checking out. I rarely am privileged to hear such an awe-inspiring display of auditory bliss. This is definitely quickly shooting up into my favorite albums of all time. It's that good.

Favorite tracks: In the Snow, Shining Star, The Approach of Spring, Cold in the Soul

Least favorite tracks: None, they're all fantastic!

(metal-arcives.com)

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PRIVATVERKAUF !!!

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