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Songs for A Widow is the fifth full-length album by Unto Ashes, a difficult to describe band that trips all over World Music, folk, medieval, and Goth-pop among others. The label describes this release as "an intense and magnificent album of apocalyptic folk, medieval doom, forest metal, heavenly voices, experimental gloomscapes, military funeral choirs, and synthetic darkwave." That is certainly a mouthful and while there really isn't any Metal to speak of, save for the guitar crunch and almost Black Metal vocals (called "grim vocals" in the liner notes) on "You Will Never Know," the Mediæval Bæbes, Enya, and Rondellus are repeatedly invoked, which is quite an interesting mix by anyone's standards. Fans of the Bæbes should definitely find a lot to enjoy on this experiment in soundscapes that ventures wildly into the incongruous while making the listener still feel familiar with it. On "Convivio" medieval litrugical vocals are mated with Oriental strings and Indian percussion (and more) to remarkable effect. Also of note is the band's two cover versions of Covenant's "One World One Sky." According to Michael Laird himself, "the first is "One World (Funeral)" which is a really slowed down dirge, recorded only with hurdy-gurdy and military drums; the second version is "One World One Sky" -- a wild dance of the fire-spirits, in which 'We shall celebrate, with such fierce dancing, the DEATH of your institutions!'" From the press release: "the album presents many subtle "echoes" throughout; thus the listener is harkened back to another place which may have occurred only moments -- or ages -- before." I can't say I disagree. Songs for a Widow is an interesting and ultimately rewarding listen.
| Tracklist |
| 1. One World (Funeral) |
| 2. My Lord Is Born |
| 3. Convivio |
| 4. Intacta Sum |
| 5. The Snow Leopard |
| 6. You Will Never Know |
| 7. Dream Of The Rood |
| 8. The Life Of This World |
| 9. Intermezzo |
| 10. Drei Todesarten |
| 11. Song For A Widow |
| 12. Occupying Force |
| 13. I Am Untouched |
| 14. In Memoriam Robert Luscombe |
| 15. One World One Sky [Covenant cover] |
: 43.09
| Buy other Unto Ashes albums |
