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Centered around the two founding members Sigurd Dybing and
Kristian Stoeland, the Norwegian band Grand Alchemist have now added two new
members named Terje Stangeland and Roland Johnsen and signed a deal with the
Portuguese label Sound Riot Records to release their debut album. Once in a
while you come across a band who have found a sound of their own and whose
music is almost impossible to categorize or put a label on and that is more or
less the case with this band. I think it's safe to say that their music is
securely rooted in the native black metal scene but there are plenty of
progressive elements as well and a wide use of symphonic keyboard
arrangements, sometimes bordering on excessive. Sometimes the keyboards sound
a little White Zombie like but that is the only resemblance between the two
bands. Instead Grand Alchemist sound like a mix between Borknagar, Old Man's
Child in their Revelation period, Skyfire and In Flames but they still don't
sound like any of them. I must say something about the vocalist as well
because he has a very strong black metal voice and he uses it seemingly with
ease. Especially fans of Skyfire who don't mind a more complex and blacker
version would probably enjoy this album. Personally I think that the keyboards
sound a little cheap at times but that is usually my objection when it comes
to keyboard oriented music. You need money if you want to make that sound
really good and Grand Alchemist have still not reached the heights where they
can afford that kind of investment. A more than decent first effort from an
interesting band.
| Tracklist |
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1. Faced (Intro) 2. A Nailed Visual Effect 3. Down Again |
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4. Incurable Longing 5. Approach (Open The Shell) 6. |
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Intervening Coma Celebration 7. Sensemachine 8. Psyche And A |
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Flower To The New Lifetime 9. Minds Delusion Sleeps For Creation |
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10. Solemn And Sophisticated 11. Under My Shallow Skin 12. |
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Snap Up The Raw Of Existence |
: 47.15
| Buy other Grand Alchemist albums |
