Date: 2019
Total Time: 50:44
Label: Nothern Silence Productions

Second attempt for the Swiss man Malo Civelli and CAN BARDD, who is essentially a one-man band, with the addition of Dylan Watson in the drums. We can hear atmospheric/epic Black Metal, as in the first album, “Nature Stays Silent”. The difference is that this time, the mixing didn’t take place in Malo’s house, therefore we do not find this moundness in the sound.

   “The Last Rain”, faithful to the paths of SAOR (the long, epic riffing reminds them a lot), ELDAMAR, ELVERWIND,  is grafted with incredibly epic elements, which are almost creepy. Malo sings about nature, mountains, forests and the stars. Introducing flutes, violins, he is not afraid to create melodies and emotions that will bring spring into the soul of the listener. Did you think that was all? Of course not. The alternation in the darkest paths of his mind comes completely naturally, as for example in “Clouds & Feuds”, where he is experimenting with grief on the edge of depression, leaving his most aggressive and angry side to make the contrast even more intense.

   In these five tracks, with an average duration of 10 (!!) minutes, with the only exception of the five-minute acoustic “Fog Of War”, with the participation of a piano during it, it manages to create a mini concept. For example, in “Between Hope And Reality”, he likens autumn to hope and winter to harsh reality, thus capturing the exact feeling of a never achieved hope and going from the acoustic parts with clear vocals into an aggressive Black Metal side with even more aggressive screams. All of those under an atmospheric prism, as always.

   Melodies that haunt the mind, are engraved in the memory of the listener, emotions of all kinds of shades, melodic but also more classic aggressive Black Metal parts are united with characteristic ease in this record. If you want quality, epic/atmospheric Black Metal grafted with emotion, and you have not listened into this release yet, don’t keep avoiding it !!!

Rating: 7/10
Editor: George Kourou
Related Link: CAN BARDD – Official Page