Lucifaere In the Shadow of Angels Play: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi   Download: Lo-Fi   Mid-Fi   Hi-Fi (Excerpt from track 'Owlflight')

Atmospheric sounds conjure up images of a strange mystical place. Two sequences thunder forth combining perfectly with wooshes of sound which add to the excitement as we motor along with 'Owlflight'. Other sequences come and go weaving in and out of each other, one nestling deep into the mix as others rise to the surface in an extremely exciting pulsating maelstrom. Melodies do come and go but this track is mainly about energy.

At roughly the half way mark a new barrage of strange rhythms can be heard- sounding rather mechanical and contrasting with a lovely flutey synth lead. Abruptly the machines finish and the sequences return this time though with melodic leads playing over the top, awesome stabs of metallic sound adding to the excitement still further. This is one of Jim's most thunderous starts to an album. Initially we float along in very relaxed fashion but at three plus minutes 'Trial by Storm' starts to get moving on the back of a fast but gentle sequence. Things then start to hot up. Dark stabs of energy like the bells from the gates of Hell break the tranquillity and machine gun rhythms give the track even more umph. A typical Kirkwood high register repeated melodic motif provides a focus round which lead lines weave. At eight minutes things strip down to just basic rhythm and sequence out of which emerges an almost nursery rhyme type melody. The sequences and rhythms return accompanied by another superb lead line before we come to a floating finish. 'Riding the Flood' begins its epic twenty minute plus journey with a slow plodding drum over all manner of weird effects. A melody emerges as if making some sort of challenge, it is repeated from time to time and is answered by a rapid sequence, as if an army is spewing over the top of nearby hills. Jim's sequences often conjure up that sort of image in my mind and this one is particularly vivid. The battle rages this way and that as the sequences twist one way and then another. At seven minutes the challenging melody is re-vitalised riding on the back of another rhythm. Peace then descends as we hear birdsong and the sound of running water. Suitably refreshed familiar melodies and sequences return but this time the power seems somewhat more restrained and under control.