A Sombre Dance Review
Band | |
---|---|
Album | ![]() A Sombre Dance |
Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
Released | July 31, 1999 |
Genres | Doom Metal, Symphonic Metal |
Labels | CCP Records |
Length | 49:33 |
Ranked | #7 for 1999 , #122 all-time |
Album rating : 90.5 / 100
Votes : 85 (9 reviews)
Votes : 85 (9 reviews)
July 26, 2024
Estatic Fear released just two masterpiece albums in their short career, both of them lush with folky acoustic passages, flutes and strings mixed in with crushing Doom/Death Doom. A Sombre Dance features one long suite split up into much shorter tracks (as opposed to the first album, which featured two primary tracks totaling over 50 minutes). The shorter tracks make for a much more digestible album, and the Dark Folk passages are intelligently mixed into the songs rather than being cut into quick interlude tracks.
This album features more clean female vocals, and more Neoclassical Darkwave keywork which gives it a slightly Gothic flavor. The Death Doom is still as strong as ever, driven by liberal double bass drumming and tremolo lead guitars. A great variety in power, heaviness, and speed across even individual tracks makes it an incredible joy to listen to (despite how sombre and melancholic it is). Insecure listeners beware, for what one might call “cheese” permeates every corner, as a fantastical, dramatic showing is the name of the game for this Doom album.
And yet, to me, “cheesy” would be the wrong word. How about “classy”? The strings and melodrama here sound nothing of Power Metal or regular Symphonic Metal taste; rather, it evokes true Classical moods and compositions somewhere between the Medieval era and the Baroque era. Basically, unless you want to call Classical Music cheesy, there’s really nothing cheesy about this! Put on your best palace suit or dress and get ready to attend this funeral in a fairytale garden.
This album features more clean female vocals, and more Neoclassical Darkwave keywork which gives it a slightly Gothic flavor. The Death Doom is still as strong as ever, driven by liberal double bass drumming and tremolo lead guitars. A great variety in power, heaviness, and speed across even individual tracks makes it an incredible joy to listen to (despite how sombre and melancholic it is). Insecure listeners beware, for what one might call “cheese” permeates every corner, as a fantastical, dramatic showing is the name of the game for this Doom album.
And yet, to me, “cheesy” would be the wrong word. How about “classy”? The strings and melodrama here sound nothing of Power Metal or regular Symphonic Metal taste; rather, it evokes true Classical moods and compositions somewhere between the Medieval era and the Baroque era. Basically, unless you want to call Classical Music cheesy, there’s really nothing cheesy about this! Put on your best palace suit or dress and get ready to attend this funeral in a fairytale garden.
![](/img3/like-off.png)
Track listing (Songs)
title | rating | votes | video | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Intro (Unisono Lute Instrumental) | 1:22 | 89.2 | 6 | |
2. | Chapter I | 5:03 | 94.4 | 8 | |
3. | Chapter II | 4:51 | 91.3 | 8 | |
4. | Chapter III | 3:33 | 93.8 | 8 | |
5. | Chapter IV | 10:31 | 97 | 12 | Audio |
6. | Chapter V | 4:51 | 95 | 8 | |
7. | Chapter VI | 4:50 | 90.8 | 6 | |
8. | Chapter VII | 4:52 | 91.3 | 8 | |
9. | Chapter VIII | 3:16 | 93.6 | 7 | |
10. | Chapter IX | 6:22 | 98.8 | 10 | Audio |
Line-up (members)
- Matthias Kogler : Electric Guitars, Classic Guitars, Keyboards and Piano
- Session Musicians :
- Bernhard Vath : Cello
- Claudia Schoftner : Female Vocals
- Franz Hageneder : Flute
- Klaus Kogler : Lute
- Max of spearhead : Drums
- Claus Preffinger : Bass
- Thomson of mortus : Vocals
- Jay of mortus : Vocals
10,216 reviews
cover art | Artist | Album review | Reviewer | Rating | Date | Likes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | 80 | 1 hour ago | 0 | |||
![]() | ![]() | Dog Eat Dog Review (1992) | 85 | 1 hour ago | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Shades of... Review (2000) | 80 | 1 day ago | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Darkness and Hope Review (2001) | 75 | 2 days ago | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | 75 | 2 days ago | 0 | |||
![]() | ![]() | Endorama Review (1999) | 75 | 2 days ago | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Night Spirit Review (2009) | 60 | 3 days ago | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | 85 | 3 days ago | 0 | |||
![]() | ![]() | Theories of Emptiness Review (2024) | 85 | 4 days ago | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | 80 | 4 days ago | 0 | |||
![]() | ![]() | Cult of a Dying Sun Review (2018) | 75 | 4 days ago | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Obsessed by Cruelty Review (1986) | 75 | 5 days ago | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Impact Is Imminent Review (1990) | 85 | 5 days ago | 1 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Christ Illusion Review (2006) | 75 | 5 days ago | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Cast Away Review (2004) | 60 | 5 days ago | 1 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Melodies of Atonement Review (2024) | 80 | 5 days ago | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | Mafia Review (2005) | 80 | 6 days ago | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | The Eye Review (1990) | 90 | 6 days ago | 0 | ||
![]() | ![]() | 85 | 6 days ago | 1 | |||
![]() | ![]() | Firepower Review (2018) | 85 | 7 days ago | 1 |
![level 15](/img2/m2-15.gif)
Jan 20, 2008 Likes : 3
1집의 스펙트럼을 넓혀 보다 다양한 악기를 다채롭게 사용한 소포모어작이자 이들의 마지막 앨범이다. 앨범 전체가 한 곡이며, 각 챕터는 청자가 전체적인 구조 속에서 개별적인 파트를 듣고 쉬어가라는 배려인듯 하다. 많은 리스너들이 알다시피 전작의 타이틀 곡이 미친듯한 러닝타임을... Read More
![level 14](/img2/m2-14.gif)
Jan 1, 2009 Likes : 2
Estatic Fear =
Aesthetic, Ecstatic Fear
미적이고, 황홀한 느낌의 고딕메탈을 하는 Estatic Fear!
이 앨범을 더이상 극찬할 필요도 없을 것 같다.
압축하자면, 들어보면 된다.
옛날에, 이 앨범 과 Cradle of Filth 의 Cruelty and the Beast 앨범을 놓고 뭘살까 고민할때, 나는 그당시 Cradle of Filth 의 앨범을 선택... Read More
![level 15](/img2/m2-15.gif)
Mar 31, 2008 Likes : 2
눈물이 흐르는 석상을 앨범 자켓으로 내세우고 진짜로 피눈물이 나오게 할 정도로 슬픈 멜로디를 들려주는 Estatic Fear의 전설적인 1집이다. 고딕/심포닉/멜로딕 계열에서는 이미 상당한 매니아층을 형성하고 있으며, 타이틀 곡의 32분이라는 러닝타임은 기가막힐 정도이다. 일관된 분위기 속... Read More