Opium Dream Estate - Unveiled [2011]

It's a cold sunny day and I'm sitting at the door of the balcony of my ancient house. The hot coffee in my cup gets colder as I drown in my thoughts and sounds. It's been a good while since I told you a story of my musical adventures, so you might wonder what weird direction they'd take this time. Let me give you a hint – as winter winded away, I was reminded of a certain interesting project – Opium Dream Estate, and it's their new album that blew my mind today.


The easiest way to describe this music would be to call it dark neofolk, and indeed it has the special cold and solemn sound of that genre. It is a very old-fashioned music, kind of soundtrack you imagine reading Victorian books.

The opening intro creates quite dark atmosphere, but it soon gets balanced by more oriental and trancing melodies as Entwined unrolls. I wouldn't say it's the music very original in its genre, but it gives a really nice, moving shade to long, cold afternoon and I bet it'd make a thrilling effect during late evening discover-your-gothic-city walks.

In the whole record, my personal favourites are vibrant, mysterious An English Garden and Solace – more idyllic, happy-spirited song that I still remember enchanted me on previous EP of the band - Through The White Landscape.

Another interesting composition is made out of Wherever The Wind May Blow – a mixture of dark, industrial loops and guitar's consonance. It's also hard to resist melancholic charm of My Evening Tea and the cover of Dead Can Dance's In Power We Entrust The Love Advocated– probably one of the best versions I've heard.

My head is still too busy to write a lot of words, but if you enjoy dark side of the music, you must try Unveiled and use your work break for some sweet, dark dreams.

Melissa Auf Der Maur - Out Of Our Minds [2010]

I must confess I'm not a big fan of girls in rock. For many years my reaction to them was 'meh', 'well, that's quite ok' or 'I'd sing it better'. Till today in my Top 30 LastFm's you can see only two chicks and three bands that have them from time to time. Surprisingly though, last year brought a couple of great women to me. Meet my newest sweetheart – Melissa Auf Der Maur.

What most girls do in the band? Sing. Not her though. She started career as a basswoman for Hole, toured with The Smashing Pumpkins and led a cover-band singing Black Sabbath... In the meantime she became quite a photographer as well. That's a spirit! But someday, our girl sat down and thought – well, I could enjoy singing at last – so soon she made her super-energetic solo debut, followed by a unique 2010's Out Of Our Minds.

Whereas the debut - Auf Der Maur seems like a rage of a young metalhead girl, Out Of Our Minds is a well-considered grown's woman statement. Instead of screaming in passion, Melissa seduces you with more swinging, old-fashioned melodies, but keeps her favorite low basses and very guitarish basement. Together with an album she released a short movie and a comic book which I really hope to see one day.

I just love The Hunt – it's probably one of the best instrumental intros to rock albums. But it's the bluesy title track that catches your ear first.

If you're listening
You're a dreamer
So come in

Will you take that trip? Will you dive into her mysterious, female world, quite Lynchy at the first sound? I already mentioned though (check out Fever Ray) that women are very moody creatures. There won't be much drifting in 50s', as there is so much more great music in the world! We have to rock into deep, heavy, guitar-fizzing Isis Speaks. Sweet Melissa... this song is a head-cracker, a Niagara of sound! (did I mention she's Canadian?)

A main difference between Melissa's two albums is guitar's composition. Previously a bit annoyingly heavy and noisy, whereas now – intense, but subtle in its heaviness. Veeeery hearable in Lead Horse. It's quite classic for girls to sing mainly about love, but Follow the Map is a story of a boy with a broken heart turned to leather. Oh is it so? Masculine heart breaks into leather? It's a very pleasant tune, filled with grief and regret...

22 Below is a bit of a psychotherapy, beginning very innocently and suddenly releasing sadness in pain.

Fire deep inside,
Spinning us through time,
The heart of the matter,
I hear it getting louder

I can't help but associate these lyrics with splendid movie The Indian Runner ('I want to feel that fire deep inside me... again!')

I'm your healer and... you're mine!

Yeeep. Bass is a really sensual instrument, and so is Melissa's voice. Any other singer performing Meet Me On The Darkside would sound either kitschy or slutty. SHE is gorgeous and super hot while speaking to those low, low, deeeep melody. This can be only followed by instrumental miniature and a duo with Glenn Danzig over Father's Grave. Freaking lucky Melissa, composing with her lifetime idol! In this excitement I can only complain that good The Key is a bit lost before thrilling The One. This song wins a prize for a motivational piece of music during exams. Nope, I didn't sing it to any of my lecturers, still, it was a hell of a headbanging bridge between integrals.

Honestly, I wouldn't need any more songs on this album, but I don't mind happily ironic 1000 Years – it brings a nice wind of change to my sitting dance, moving my hips not arms. Did you ever tried to dance weird combo of rumba, tango and belly dance while typing codes? Try, there'll be no regrets! Same for rocking Mother's Red Box.

This might not be the most detailed piece of recommendation, but drowning in studies as I am and impressed as I feel – I shall be excused. Now go listen!

Crippled Black Phoenix - (Mankind) The Crafty Ape [2012]

First of all – dear band, I'm sorry. I really wanted to hold on to original release day, but I so need you these days, I couldn't refuse trying the leak. Still, I humbly promise to buy your album the moment it enters stores. But today's story isn't about my remorses – it's supposed to focus on newie from one of the most fabulous modern bands. Crippled Black Phoenix. (Mankind) The Crafty Ape. How ironic and yet actual this phrase is.

What can you do when everything you touch, turns into horror and failure? Yup, that was my today and I bet all of you experience it sometimes. So, any ideas? Well, if the lecturer kicks you out of the classroom, it is honestly a good idea to spontaneously go to the theater. It's not pretty bad to get lost as well. And that's where music becomes quite useful.

The Thread, they called the first part.
All of sudden, I find myself in the wrong bus. Scared, I jump out of it and recognize, I don't have a clue of where I am. Ok, calm down, J., just play some music and we'll find the way home. Hmm, let's check this new CBP. Oh, wow! That is indeed quite a threatening beginning! But it fades into idyllic shadow so soon... Let's buy some bread, I think we forgot about dinner again... Oh! My! Check the song's title, check that! Heart Of Every Country – what a guitar, mmm, I'm delighted. And it resolves with such a calm passion, wasn't Opeth like this before they fucked up? Or maybe rather Gilmour! Knopfler in his best years! That must be a great lyrics, pay attention next time! That bread ain't too fresh, but mmm, just eat it and walk. Awww, guitar solo and such deep piano! I think some people claimed it was 'one of the finest work by Pink Floyd', I second that!

No, I don't. That must be next track, Get Down and Live With It. Voices in the background, that's quite CBP's taste... oh, and drums like in King Lupus! Strings! Hmm, I really prefer female vocals like this, than those from Of a Lifetime, nice lows. Joe and cello! So much power do I feel. And isn't it the castle over there? If I get to it, I'll find out where I am. Yes, CBP will let me do that. Hah - le me walking dark streets with such epic passages in my ears! You can hide, Leo:P All post rock bands can hide as well. Next point? (In the Yonder Marsh) Well, that's probably what will offend PF fans most – a combination of heart beating, bells and electronic fuzzes in a space-like package. I don't think I mind though. Ups, did I sing And you run, and you run to catch up with the sun, but it's sinking aloud? That guy gave me such a strange look.

Air gets thicker now, as I get into some darker streets and I can't say A Letter Concerning Dogheads and its pessimistic atmosphere raise my heart up. But hey, I already know this song! It's a famous The Brain / Poznan, inspired by us, Polish fans<3 That's upbringing indeed. I'll have to praise those amazing instrumental parts if I ever write a review! What's the time? Ok, minute 6, noted. Oh, look Joanna! It's Old Town! I'm almost home.

Chapter II (The Trap):
Laying the Traps... That song lays good in my legs, how about a little walk before we reach home..? A hot coffee would be good idea as well... OH MY GOD!! *spills half of the coffee* Aaaa! Those drums!! I so wanna play that rhythm on my imaginary drum! And the chorus is terrific, note to self: listen thousand times to this song. They apparently wanna keep up pace in this part... yes, I'm definitely gonna walk a while longer. Wow, saxo?! Is it saxo Born In a Hurricane? Love the rock&roll ending! And now they Release The Clowns? r&r slow motioned? That's a really sexy tune, guess if such a music freak as me wanted to seduce somebody, she could use it as a musical help:P (What?) is it? Judging by greek-like guitar and chapter's name – I'd say somebody successfully sent a Horse to Troy.

Chapter III (The Blues of Man):
Ok, we've reached home. We should study. A Suggestion (Not A Very Nice One). I think I'll choose finishing this splendid album first. This song has a great, lazy base (drums&bass and bluesy voice) + broken rhythm. Yay, my feet love kicking rebelliously to it! But there comes an oriental bridge (Dig, Bury, Deny) and I'm watching Asia-oriented pics with my mind's eyes. Not for long - Operation Mincemeat – moves me to England and its foggy fields in the early, cold morning. It's the most incredible waltz I've ever heard, drifting in melancholy and dew.  

We Will Never Get Out This World Alive however – a sad, balanced piano miniature, urm, shall I say 'eargasm!' – puts my tired feet on the melancholic path leading straight to Faced With Complete Failure, Utter Defiance Is the Only Response – opus magnum – 15minutes of musical masterpiece, that proves CBP are beyond all genres, and no matter what elements of them they use – they become even better. I didn't joke about buying that album! And when I'm done, I'll find my old discman and take even longer evening walk.

Use your anger to creatively destroy your oppressors - as they say. Thank you my dear, now I'll study in peace.

Machine Head - Unto The Locust [2011]

Before the year comes to an end and the combat boots are changed to dancing shoes, I shall sing yet another hymn to you. A song about the album that shook my world in December and keeps me thrilled till tonight.
I can't say how come I listened to Unto The Locust, since I never liked thrash metal much. Maybe it was fate, maybe it's because I kept coming across it everywhere in Internet? But since I don't fancy philosophical speeches, let's allow music to speak.

I Am Hell (Sonata in C#) opens in a ceremonial, old-church-fashioned way almost like in Septic Flesh. But there's a hell in the title and it soon becomes touchable as the guitars and drums ride a devilish gallop, hurried by growls.
I am hell to thee
Down here all shall suffer with me
Well said, all will suffer from neckaches after that much headbanging.

The guitar introduction of Be Still And Know keeps the fire of sacral atmosphere. Further though they slightly distort, float with choired vocals and fly in bridges. What a power! What a melody! In the heaviness of this tale there is a lot of energizing optimism.

Locust was chose a promo single and I admit it was a damn right decision. It has absolutely everything that good metal song needs – fast solos, catchy chorus, good lyrics, amazing melody all song long and even an emotional bridge (some more famous metal bands would make a 5-minutes ballad out of it:P) Ay, que rico!

The beginning of This Is The End makes you think 'aha, now they'll slow down and get melancholic!' One awesome riff hurries another, and the dissonances in the chorus are like an ironic laughter on my first imagination of song.

Yet each metal album MUST have a song that's more melancholic than others. Darkness Within presents that point of view, changing growls for wonderful clean vocals and pressure hidden in acoustic and almost acoustic riffs. Yes, the sound explodes in chorus and following solos, but the general idea of a song is much calmer – the limited version of album contains acoustic bonus, as well as covers of The Sentinel (Judas Priest) and Witch Hunt (Rush). The strong point of Darkness are beautiful lyrics.
So pray to music build a shrine
Listen in these desperate times
Fill your heart with every note
Cherish it and cast afloat
Because god is in these clef and tone
Salvation is found alone
Haunted by its melody
Music it will set you free
Let it set you free

Pearls Before The Swine – is it a sad reflection after a concert? For sure it's a sad, dark tune with broken rhythms, quiet distortions and loud neckbreakers.

Who We Are? Children singing, adults screaming, raging drums or guitars mixed with cellos? Recently I heard an opinion that metal is much more popular among people from smaller towns and villages, among those who are bored with their everyday's reality and lies of modern world. The part -
We are the other American dream
Whose characters fight for their lives
And they scream
-seem to perfectly summarize the better part of metalheads' world – people who are not afraid to stand up for themselves and their opinions. And there's something about this song that wakes the fire burning deep inside my heart and makes me wanna scream, yes, scream, what I really think.

What do I think now? Be courageous and keep changing the world in the damn 2012, remember:
We are the young
And young at heart
The strong and the brave that are destined to start
We are the change
The world needs to see
Look in our eyes and see our belief !

Fever Ray - Fever Ray [2009]

Women are said to have a lot of dark secrets and live in their irrational, imaginary world. We like to present ourselves as reasonable, powerful and optimistic creatures though;) Yet when Karin Dreijer Andersson from The Knife began writing her solo album, she managed to mix both these natures and create the most female album since ages.


If I Had a Heart is indeed a dark, mysterious duo with a trembling bass and almost flat melody that completes the hypnotising atmosphere of the song. Do women have hearts? And if they don’t, is it because they are naturally black-natured or were their hearts stabbed to death?

What’s the favourite saying of every little girl? When I Grow Up, I want to be...!  our singer mentions a number of careers and seems a busy, dedicated person, yet she explains that part of her is still waiting for something/someone special to love her back. I’m addicted to the way this music fills me with energy, its electronic, dynamic melody immediately reminds me of how good it was to be a kid, trusting in a wonderful, dreamed future...

Dry and Dusty on the opposite seems a bit fearful, it’s a tune drowning in melancholy and slight jealousy of every good moment. The only burst of emotion:

Work as I’ve been told
In return I get money
Small feet in the hall
And I long for every moment 

is definitely enough though.

Seven is a much happier memoir, a picture of real female friendship (that indeed exists, I tell you!) and inspiration. It also has calm, but electrifying music with the loops that seem to sparkle like J.M. Jarre’s songs. One of my favorites.

I have to admit that even though I love Fever’s lyrics, for a long time Triangle Walks meant to me just one of the best rhythms in the world. Fantastic use of oriental drums and loops + croaking vocals = purr, purr, purr as Sheldon Cooper would say... And there really is something about this song that makes me think of legendary Pass This On by The Knife and song’s episode in Les Amours Imaginaires. Perfect for the end of a party.

Concrete Walls and its heavy, swinging loop would be better for a hangover though. It’s the most instrument-based song on the album and has entrancing, dark atmosphere.

Now’s The Only Time I Know is a heart-breaking Carpe Diem. For the first time in this album, Fever loses her Swedish harshness in her voice and becomes really delicate and romantic, you’d wish to say – like 19th centuries ladies. Subtle music gives a modern breath though, so we don’t drown in victorian sadness entirely.

La Donna Mobile as Italians say, and women don’t like to show their weaknesses anymore as I say. After a little breakdown, we must show our determination. And just as complex, dynamic music in I’m Not Done motivates to fight...

So, I lost my head a while ago
But you seem to have done no better

We set fire in the snow
It ain’t over I’m not done

Some do magic
some do harm
I’m holding on holding on
I’m holding on to a straw

But there comes a time for the best song of the album. As we once agreed with a fellow night traveler – Keep The Streets Empty For Me – is perfect for lonely trips in the dark city, no matter what you did before. The simple music eases the pain in legs and heart and slowly softening voice of Fever begs for company in singing, murmuring or both. It is also a thrilling story of desire, anger, regret, hope and all that storm that goes on in our female minds so often.

Coconut is more of an afterword, an entrancing tune, full of musical cookies, with much smaller emotional impact than its predecessor though.

To me, the phenomenon is that even though pop and electronic music usually bores me really soon, I've been loving Fever Ray for more than a year now... The catchy, but not boring sound and amazing lyrics speaking of both – most usual and most extraordinary things – made a real masterpiece!

Insomnium - One For Sorrow [2011]

Do you still remember April’s pretty days and that amazing single of Insomnium? We used to excite about little bit as it set the level so high, that One For Sorrow grew to be one of the most awaited albums. But so did a couple of others, that disappointed horribly – shall I even mention Hericrap? My nerves were in pieces as October came and it wasn’t at all due to studies’ begin. Did they manage the pressure???? Well, I’ll figure out for you.


Insomnium got us used to little introductions that help to focus all attention on them (doing 10things at a time may bring you to leaving unprofessional traces in professional works (silly comments in codes for example:P:P) or forgetting that your tomorrow’s dinner is yet on cooker... sec!) Well, Inertia is a really nice intro with a motive that will appear  in latter parts of album. To be honest, after hearing the album a couple of times I get excited about this part immediately (mhm, reminds of favourite song!).

Through the Shadows is a classic Insomnium medley original mainly because of extra vocals – sounding like metal version of gospel rock support. It’s a frapping song, as it’s really catchy, but making me question their seriousness on HOW catchy they want to sound. The song seems to lack balance a bit, yet it’s a piece of good fun.

Song of the Blackest Bird is however a declaration – it’s still us kids! – low-voiced whispers, melancholic bridges and this overwhelming power they are so unique to provide! Nothing new, but that’s what we love in them.

Ha, but don’t you think they don’t change! Only One Who Waits begins almost trashy and keeps high pace with minor exceptions – that synth use really made me think of Amorphis – yet it’s drums that are biggest hero in here.  If their concerts rock this much, shame on them for avoiding me!

A promo single – Unsung – is a furious song of frustrated, to-be-forgotten artist. A usual, epic composition with especially beautiful bridge
Only the frail words
Written in the stone
Retell my name anymore
How do we love this voice!
After madly growled Every Hour Wounds comes a calm, acoustic Decoherence – a cold stream between cracking rocks xd


It seems to me, that despite their energy, Insomnium must be very lazy guys, since they always make great songs with word ‘lay’ in titles. I loved Lay Of The Autumn, and I love Lay The Ghost To Rest – its melody, growls, drums and lyrics. For a moment I associate ‘lay’ with other words than ‘I’d love to lay down and sleep, just for a while’. Poor us, tired students.

But they make me Regain The Fire and my spirit screams with them
Destined to find my own way
To create the path to follow
And the scars of tomorrow
Will make you bleed only today

And the rain keeps falling
Pouring down from the sky
Washing footmarks from the mire
Leaving no trace behind
Oh, and that beautiful guitar combo in the end<3 Wake up, the best part of the album has began!

One For Sorrow is the highlight of the album. It’s growled, but  quite calm. The lyric is heartbreaking, two lines of vocals in verses blend into perfect harmony, subtly strengthened by deep, low  drums, even the simplicity of guitars seems a huge advantage. In one word – a masterpiece. Song I can listen to hundred times with getting bored. Thank you, Insomnium!

A bit unfortunately, the album doesn’t hang on this last, highly emotional notes, but remind of April’s single – Weather the Storm. My opinion hasn’t changed and you can find it in earlier post. I could only say I wish they put it somewhere before title song;)

How should I value this album then? They don’t bring revolution, yet I really like it. It’s hard to compare it with their earlier, pretty mature works (it's not as flawless as Across the Dark and has hardly as good songs as Last Statement) but none should feel ashamed, Insomnium is one of the few bands that may use mostly old tricks and a couple of new melodies and make a really solid thing that will make all of us headbang.. I’m in for it, rock on!

Kwoon - The Guillotine Show [2011]

There won’t be much blabling today as the modest author is surrounded with lots of issues, not even closely connected to music. But a tiny, stubborn albumito forces its way through science books and demands attention. Well, how could one resist this temptation? Especially for you – The Guillotine Show of Kwoon – or the main suspect in the case ‘how come J. got an F from physics?


The execution is opened with church bells – did you pray well, my dear reader? be sorry for your sins and ask God for mercy as you walk your last steps. When we think of death it’s always a bit surrealistic and therefore the scary-cabaret-light flow of our song perfectly catches the atmosphere. A show after all, isn’t it? Are you scared..? I’m terrified, but with the spicy noise and sweet vocals and the way they combine.

Wark could be a first encounter in the afterworld. Ethereal, peaceful melody and beautiful lyrics
Hello, my friend, let’s go and forget
but also a bit of an emotional, post-rockish instrumental clash. If you ever get a chance – and I bet you shall, they do lots of tours now – you should hear that break live. Quite a hypnotising experience, guess myself kept staggering for a good week willing to forget everything but that tune...

Like an answer to shaky walk comes The Last Trip Of A Drunken Man – a cute, cute song I’m gonna sing to my kids someday:)) Kwoon has a luck to have 2-3 really good guitarist that make little wonders and a charming Mr Drummer (greetings from my bf!) who plays lovely effects on this one.

Emily Was a Queen so she got an enthusiastic support from the band. Though to me it’s a bit weird to sing ‘I feel down, so down’ while making such a merry noise, oh I love how Sandy’s leading his voice and Yoann has a really nice bassline pulsating with drums so nicely, that my heart will never slow too much down.

But getting to the guillotine isn’t a nice experience. Even if you accept your fate and step onto landing yourself, there stays some sadness. But be a Bird, my love, find a tree, heal your wounds and sing all your hope, despair and regret aloud. This song is a tear jerker, but it’s so mindblowingly beautiful! No other words from me!

The EP contains also acoustic version of I Lived On The Moon – the best hit of band so far (if you haven’t heard it yet, google video, NOW!) – it’s not better than original and I dare to say I like Wark equally and Bird incomparably more, still, nice accent, guys! See you again next year, as you promised! With a full album this time;)