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 Данный альбом является дебютным диском шведских христиан, «выражающих себя через музыку, которая называется black metal», как говорит официальный сайт группы. Сто пудов, вы уже мысленно набросились на меня со всякими спорами на предмет несовместимости блэка и христианской веры. Оставим эти споры, в силу того, что они ни к чему все равно не приведут и каждый останется при своем мнении. Позволю себе лишь сделать поправку на то, что за последние годы на музыкальной арене появляется все больше и больше музыкантов, исполняющих подобную музыку (Slechtvalk, Frost Like Ahes, Sanctifica и другие), а это свидетельствует о том, что блэк уже вполне оформился не только как идеологическое направление, а как именно музыкальное со своими канонами и характерными особенностями. Не буду их сейчас перечислять – послушайте Dimmu Borgir или любую блековую группу и вы поймете, о чем я.
Теперь, так как это все же музыкальная рецензия, давайте о музыке. Диск появился у меня давненько – почти год уже прошел, но только сейчас я созрел на рецензирование. Первая композиция (сразу навеваются аналогии с альбомом Dimmu Borgir – Spiritual Black Dimensions) – просто ураган. Супер! Все как надо – агрессия (злобы, конечно, поменьше, чем у мирских представителей стиля), гитарная грязь, скрим, местами атмосферные симфонические вставки…кстати, клавишных на альбоме нету за исключением последней, несколько эмбиэнтной, вещи. Тексты очень неплохи – радует то, что они на самом деле продуманы и повествуют о серьезных темах.
Две следующие вещи – The Pilgrimage и Path Of Pain текстуально являются одной композицией, да и музыкально, в общих чертах схожи. Пожалуй, в плане текстов, самой банальной является песня Eternal Emperor, ранее выпускавшаяся на одноименном сингле. Особенно хочу отметить текст песни Eyes Of Beauty, он мне напомнил сюжет «Преступления и наказания».
Ладно, хватит про тексты. Пара слов о технике игры, только пара – высший класс. Барабанщик творит чудеса. Гитаристы жужжат, иногда даже выдавая подобие мелодий :-), басиста, как и водится, не слышно ушами, только нутром чувствуешь мощь монолитной стены звука.
Более удачные композиции, как по мне, расположены во второй половине диска – A Painting In Dark, Eyes Of Beauty достаточно отличаются (при внимательном прослушивании) от вещей с первой части более глубокой атмосферой и меньшим количеством долбежки. Завершает альбом композиция The Covenant, составляющей которой являются струнные инструменты. Мне эта вещь напомнила творчество Elend. |
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Saying: "I don't care for others, I am God myself"
Millions in suffering, billions of tears
This world is secured for how many years?
Mist of the Spiritual Dimension
Satan has cursed thy mind
Awake, abandon mortal sin
Truth thou shall find
Dwell in the light of the Saviour
Bathe in the Blood of the Lamb
Sword of Thy mouth shall beat the evil flesh
Evil destroyed by Thy return in brightness
Total annihilation, damnation fell to dust
War of Armageddon, obliteration is a must
King of kings, the earth tremble for Thy might
Thy coming seen by every eye our most awaited sight
No one shall stand at that day, we will be on our knees
Eternal kingdom comes without hatred or decease
The dawning of forever, darkness is no more
By the holy blood of Jesus, we won the final war!
2. The Pilgrimage
As dawn melted my heart
I opened up my eyes
Red roses from above
Were planted inside of me
And when the never fading love
Was established in my heart
My traveling days began
I walked beside the constantly flowing
Spring of clear water
Always ready to slaked my thirst
And give me peace and strength
I ran towards the fields
Inviting me to let my tiered soul rest
How sweet they were
Those pastures of green
A smell of life filled the air
And the sun gave constant energy
To my once dead spirit
The magnificence of this paradise
Told a wonderful tale about a creation
Taking place since times immemorial
I could hear the tranquil whisper:
"Come closer to me, beloved one"
The Spirit's voiced touched
My ears with love and care
I continued the path
And stepped inside the forest
Still hearing the whisper:
"Come closer to me..."
But suddenly the beautiful trees
And days light turned
Into a landscape of thorn and fog
Soon I was lost in an unknown wilderness
And there was no end to my fright
Tears ran down my mourned face
And the pain showed no mercy
There I was, a helpless and frightened child
At last I fell down on my knees in prayer
While feeling the despair
Coming closer and closer
"Father, help me out of here", I screamed
But no answer was heard
"See my pain..." no one there
I became a lonely prisoner
Bound by chains of doubt
Nowhere could I find the meaning
Of things happening to me
At day I stood screaming, crying and praying
And at night I lay shaking in terrible helplessness
Finally, all my power was gone
And I nearly gave up it all
With my last strength I lifted
My face towards heaven and cried it out:
"Father, Thy will be done, and not mine"
Then I felt in a total less of power
Awaiting the arrival of another frozen night
3. Path Of Pain
But suddenly I felt
His arms around me
At last He had come
The Son of Man spoke to me:
"You..." the voice came, "beloved one"
He raised me up
And walked before me
And I followed his footsteps
With a sound of deliverance
A small and hidden gate
Was opened for me
"Follow me", he said
And invited me
Into the landscape
From where I first came
We sat down by a fire
And while his eyes penetrated me
He started to show me
The purpose of all my pain
"You see", He declared
"I myself once did this for you"
"For me", I replied. "Why?"
He continued:
"I once walked this path of pain
But I went much deeper
Than you ever may do
My love for you knew no end
And therefore I did
I had to sacrifice my life that time
And I did it
Because of the never fading love I have for you
But, though your pain was terrible
And I saw no end to your sufferings
I have walked the whole path with you
You have not taken one single step
Without me seeing it
And I have heard every one of your words
I heard when you cried for help
When you asked the Father to see your pain
Behold the path now lying behind you"
I turned and watch
The steps on the road
Each one of them was covered with blood
As steps before also were
His smile told of his great love to me
And as I started to cry tears of relief
He made a statement
Beloved one, I may not tell you why
I let you face situations like these
But I give you a promise...
I will never do these things
To hurt you in any way
But to strengthen you for future walk
And remember
Beloved one you will never be able to walk
Deeper into the unknown parts of the forest
Than I have done
I have walked the whole way
And therefore I know how to give you guidance
When you feel trapped on unknown ways...
He suddenly stood up and pointed
In another direction, and said:
Now walk this way and you will soon be
Out on the main path again
He disappeared from my sight
But my spirit could feel his presence of His
I trusted His words, and soon I walked
Beside the clear spring again
My whole being was strengthened
And I was armoured with the trust in Him
I needed for future tests to come
And I continued to walk the path ahead
4. Thy Wilderness
As I wonder through the frozen
Landscape of Scandinavia
I am surrounded by
The magnificent creation
Thy nature truly a testimony
Of Thy eternal might
Like a wall, ancient mountains
Rise beyond the endless forests
As a mirror, the cold lakes
Reflect their shadows
Star of the Nordic skies glimpse
In harmony with the heavenly
Symphony of colours
The majestic northern lights
I praise Thee, o Master
For the gift of nature
I praise Thee
For the landscape of Scandinavia
Thou spread snow like wool
And scatter frost like ashes
Thou hurls down Thy hail like morsels
Who can withstand Thy icy blast?
Thou send Thy word and melt them
Thou stir the breeze
And let the water flow
Ancient beasts of the north
Made by Thy hands
In the depths of the Swedish
Wastelands they live
Elks and bears
Kings of the wood
Who would not fear their creator?
Thou have shown me
The beauty of lynx and fox
Their cunning conceived
By Thy wisdom in days of old
I have heard the wolves
Lift their howls of praise heavenwards
While ravens and eagles sour
In the midst of the sky
Proclaiming that the hour has come
For the day of the Lord is near
Soon it is upon us
Verily, I have seen Thy sign
The crimson moonlight
5. Eternal Emperor (Revised Version)
6. A Painting In Dark
He weeps, but no one hear
Is this the final point of his life?
The direction of his soul
A painting in dark
Where is he to go
In this maze of confusion
Will someone give him the strength
To chance and forsake this path
Is there somewhere a heart
Full of freedom who can call his name?
He strives towards
Meaningless, endless horizons
Traveling and searching
For true life-giving peace
He wipes his tears with golden cloth
Lost in the lie: "This is all you need"
He asks: Is there any true peace at all?
These cries for help echoes louder
Through the dark night of his soul
But while praying in despair
He discerns the shape of Love incarnated
There he is, the One
Wearing the bloodied crown of thorns
His heart is beating with mercy
And his peace caused the escape of fear
But a silent mist arise
Covering the vision of loving truth
With a scornful smile
The evil one pull down the veil
Over the human face
While telling the constant lie
This mercy is not for you
Twisting God's true words
In the presence of honest seeking of truth
That lies is spoken by the lips
Painted with immutable cruelty
The own flesh is to weak to resist it
But God has seen the will of his heart
And listen: the scarlet story is told.
He can hear the sound of dripping blood
Deliverance is made
The punishment for his transgressions
Are obliterated at the cross
The final cry from God's
Faultless wounded Son brought freedom
The sins are crucified, restoration is given
And the veil is lifted off
He turn his eyes to the hill
Beholding the destiny of his mistakes
There hangs the one who paid his price
The one who conquered death itself
He looks towards the new horizons
Where the sun never sets
And starts to walk in its direction
On the path of the eternal life
7. Eyes Of Beauty
Long time ago, but still in this age
There was a man, seeking the answers
For the questions of life
An angel, so beautiful arrived
By his side and let his voice be heard:
"I'll give you what you seek for
But you will have to give your soul."
Remember you have nothing to lose
Look forward to what you will be given
The angel seemed so good and honest
The man decided to pay the price
As his soul lay in the angel's hand
The angel gave him the keys
To the treasure halls and said:
"Always remember,
The truth is everywhere in these halls.
Enter without fear..."
The man opened the first gate
And it was closed behind him
Everywhere were things, that were
Showing him the answers
Just like he been told
Spiritual jewels were
Laying on the ground
Waiting to be taken by his hands
This search went on for many years
Until he was satisfied
With the answers he had been given
Suddenly he noticed something so strange
He had been walking inside
These halls for many years
But not found a way out
Finally he met the angel
Walking in one of the halls
The man ran and asked him for help
But the angel showed him the soul
And told the man:
"Remember what you gave me?
I have given you what you asked for
But there are no way out
From these treasure halls
You will end your days here
In my kingdom"
Things were no longer crystal clear
And suddenly the eyes of beauty turned evil
The betrayer had seemed so white and clean
But the black soul he wore within
Had hidden been until now...
The man was betrayed
Now nothing but pain remained
He could feel his body and spirit break down
The angel enjoyed what was seen before his eyes
Because the promise he once gave
Was nothing but lies
Playing with fire had its price to pay
The man had payed with his soul
To this ancient lair
What good had he been given instead?
If he now died he would never
Be able to see daylight again
The picture of life in divine magnificence
Would forever be gone
The man fell down
On his knees and cried
The angel showed no mercy
And told him there was nothing to do
His life could now never be changed
He had received the lie as a truth
And that trust could never be recalled
Suddenly he felt a voice internally saying:
"This is not the end, follow me, I show the way."
A dove came flying inside the treasure halls
Followed by a lamb that once been slaughtered
The angel's face turned pale as he saw them
He left the halls at once, frightened to death
The lamb took the blackened soul
Washed it white and gave it back to the man
8. A Thorn In My Heart
Fear not the shadow yonder
It is where I bid you to go
Can you hear their silent cries
They need you there you know
Listen to me my child
I want you to make a difference
Serve your fellow humans
And thus show me your reverence
In their souls they wail
A thorn in my heart
But stubbornly they refuse my help
Therefore I send you
Look towards the shadow yonder
It is where I bid you to go.
There is danger there
But you need not fear
My hand will guide you
My love always be there
Behold, I send you out
As sheep amongst the wolves
Farewell utopia, acknowledge their need
Go now. Away, see to your brethren
I am with you
9. The Covenant