Disregarding the music itself, a glance to the cover art suggests it could fit perfectly as the artwork of an English doom metal band, for example. The band´s name and the album title are also very decadent... the music at first sight is somehow opposite to metal, but successive listens will open new dimensions and reveal some links to the strong style we know. Darn, even though those relations to metal music aren´t found, this album may be a nice experience if you want to listen to good gloomy music. “Within the realm of a dying sun” is, in a simplistic incomplete description, ´doom metal without metal´. Quite explanatory, isn´t it? No electric guitars. No electric basses. No rock drums. Just orchestration, synths and unearthly voices wander through the grooves of this album. And you can believe it: this opus is ghastly, haunting, alluring and overwhelming, the same way some milestones of doom metal can be. Brendan Perry´s unique vocal performance leads this symphony of decadence and medieval darkness, a soundtrack of a withered world, the supernatural funeral march for this irrational materialistic theatre in which we dwell every day. To taste his mystical vocal lines in “Xavier” is something absolutely ravishing. Lisa Gerrard crowns the second half of the album with her torn and lithe vocals, giving another focus to the whole message of the music. Her style is unique and chilling, far away from what one can experience in this type of music.

This is an album that every human being into dark ambient music such as Elend, Mortiis, Penitent or the most obscure Prophecy Productions editions could appreciate. “Within the realm of a dying sun” is probably the darkest Dead Can Dance album. They are that kind of band you think something like ´Why have I been unaware of this so far?´ the first time you listen to them. Unfortunately for us, Dead Can Dance split up. Fortunately for us, they´re alive every time their albums are played.

written by Fjordi

Playing time: 38.45