No matter on which the earlier publications we speak - Empyrium have so often proved what they can summon the magical moments with their music. This band has to prove anything to anyone anymore! And yet it does. She proves with "The Turn of the Tides" that it can reinvent itself even after many years of abstinence. This requires two things: courage and inventiveness. Both have Schwadorf and Helm apparently en masse, because is different a masterpiece like "The Turn of the Tides" can not be explained. This album is definitely the perfect link between the style of the earlier works and new ideas, which now wanted to bring the two musicians, to provide fresh air. During the last regular studio album contained many folksy sounds before the long break and enchant with German lyrics knew the new studio album can again with English lyrics and above all with a much more modern sound Attending. "The Turn of the Tides" - so sound Empyrium in 2014!
As opener acts very varied piece "Saviour". It starts with quiet piano music, and then move in spherical, orchestral sounding keyboard pads. Shortly thereafter, Thomas Helms is as always elegiac, melancholic vocals a, enchants the listener from the first second. In keeping with the lyrical theme that Empyrium include in this song, the vocals come from very wistful, which naturally ensures that the fans so familiar Empyrium atmosphere. An intensity that is unparalleled! Ultimately, the piece ends in a bombastic finale, which gives each fragile peace of the previous minutes. How (can be found in the booklet) Empyrium in the comments on the song already announce, is the climax of the song is a mantra which repeats the basic message of the song countless times. "There is no thing without beauty at all ..." chant Empyrium, and have thus, as so often right. It is this stylistic element makes its repetitive phrase of a trance-like evocative, ravenous mood - goosebumps! And so is "Saviour" the perfect introduction to the new album by Empyrium. It combines the trademarks of earlier songs with the modern sound, to which one wants to try now, and also on vocal / textual level enters the band with the majestic mantra territory. Nevertheless, even this challenge masters this exceptional formation with apparent ease that leaves the listener gets the heart pumping! The song first appears sad On textual level anyway, but evolves into a quite hopeful message. Even in the darkest hours of life is always a meaning to be found ...
With "Dead Winter Ways" followed by a song that is the fans known already from the first concerts of the band and from the homonymous EP, it's sort of a harbinger of the album - and what kind of! "Dead Winter Ways" is probably the most melancholy song of "The Turn of the Tides", while also one of my favorites. This piece begins with a calm verse, how it's also used by Empyrium. But this verse is waiting for with melodies, as they can only come from this band! No wonder that the listener a shiver runs down your spine immediately - just as well as the text is marked by an icy beauty. After a short, but all the träumerischeren Instrumental phase "Dead Winter Ways" also slides in a furious finale. This is an electric guitar with the harsh vocals of Schwadorf, which as so often completes the song with his uncompromising growls, and the soft vocals of Helm, whose voice is like a carpet of gently falling snowflakes on the delicate sounds of the instruments Twins sets. "Dead Winter Ways" has on a lyrical level as the title suggests, a very wintery theme - and in spite of the frosty atmosphere here too is the view of the spring. Let thaw the ice ...
"In the Gutter of this Spring", the third album, is my favorite song on "The Turn of the Tides" and already a real highlight of the entire Empyrium discography. Immediately at the beginning beguiled helmet once more with his elegiac, voluptuous song and invites thus to dream - Empyrium do it here as well, to put the listener into other worlds. In worlds where the penchant for nature and mental balance, unlike the daily lives of many people still has a meaning. The verses of "In the Gutter dieser Spring" are repeatedly interrupted by instrumental passages - and in this clearly dominates the acoustic guitar that has probably never played someone so gentle. These moments of instrumental songs unfold in this song several times, and in an unprecedented manner. They fit but always perfect in the rest of the garment of the song. And so introduces instrumental Part Again inevitably to a beguiling end portion which is apparently a cherished stylistic device of Empyrium. And this final has it all: with its melodic, distinctive black metal riff it increases immeasurably. Madness!
Many years ago, appeared the following song "The Days Before The Fall" on the Prophecy compilation "Whom the Moon a Night Song Sings". Ever since the former publication is the song one of my all-time favorites from the house Empyrium, and also on the live concerts of the band, the crowd the song enthusiastically. In the verses of this piece also convinced Schwadorf times with his deep dark clean vocals, before later superadded the fragile, magical voice of Helm. Again, one has to say: tunes like out of this world! Before the last, simply breathtaking verse it comes back to the use of the electric guitar, which led the song perfectly in the final stanza. "The Days Before The Fall" is about the bitter-sweet memories of the last days of summer with all its magic and the wonders of nature in summer. Here the song linked elements of "Weiland" with new ideas and influences - a masterpiece!
As much shorter distance in words and music to "We are alone" proves. In the tradition of "On Wolkenstieg" and "The blue-kristallne closet" the song is supported only by a deliberate, but still incredibly catchy piano melody and Helms heartrending vocals. "We are alone," acts as the optimal missing link between the first and second half of the album - a better reconciliation would you truly can not find. From textual point of view it is - as the title suggests - to the pure essence of loneliness and the resulting profit or feeling of emptiness. One of the most emotional moments on the plate, definitely.
Then we arrive at "With the current into Grey". This song is introduced by delicate guitar sounds and soundscapes of the keyboard, only to later become the most energetic song of the entire album well. Even in the verses proves the drums a greater presence than before, the chorus, however, is very anthemic and an absolute ear candy. Helms voice in combination with the electric guitar and the lyrics presented here develops an incredible effect, which is an immediately go into the joints and marrow. In the middle section, however, we find in front of a prolonged period of instrumental music before the chorus auftrumpft again. Overall, "With the current into Grey" certainly representative of the new style, the Empyrium have devised for this album. Progressive go here to work, more modern than ever before in any case. And also the virtuoso of the electric guitar fills me with pure joy!
"The Turn of the Tides" - the title track - is the last piece and the perfect ending to a perfect album. Basically, it is a very spherical, expansive and epic song that is still orchestrated very simple and is very determined by progressive guitar playing. The first part of the text is presented by Helm, and his singing adapts this text that talks about the transience and the cycles of nature / life, excellent at. Ultimately, this may sound a long "Outro" with Schwadorfs spoken words of which are accompanied by Helms backing vocals. In the closing seconds only is still the gentle sound of the ocean heard, accompanied by the fragments of an equally delicate guitar melody ...
Despite all of the highlights in the musical field, I would like at this point also the artwork of "Limited Edition" worthy. First of all, of course delighted the large-format book, in which "The Turn of the Tides" comes along. This makes the album purely visually already appear opulent and high quality and also the material used outside seem to be of the highest quality. On the cover the image of the standard CD, but in the form of a noble gloss embossing emblazoned beyond. A feast for the eyes! Here the attention to detail is absolutely noticeable. If the album is already purely external so beautiful, then it must indeed may inspire from within - that the reader will now certainly think. And it does well! Due to the large format images of nature and the two musicians even more than it already act already. The foreword, the statements on the individual texts and the texts themselves can also be found in the booklet, which the excellent overall impression for artwork only improved beyond. Overall, one must therefore hold that the look - especially at this price - is a huge success!
What could we say about "The Turn of the Tides"? For an album that has made one after the first pass, speechless? It is a perfect comeback after twelve years! No less than that. A part of the album raises echoes of earlier works as the folk influences are quite superficially here. Good examples of songs that I can quite compare with the previous albums, are about "The Days Before The Fall", "In the Gutter dieser Spring" and "Dead Winter Ways". Another part of the album proves, however, that Empyrium have reinvented and even after many years of abstinence are an inexhaustible source of creativity. By this I mean for example, the song "With the current into Grey" and "The Turn of the Tides", which also decide the album indeed. But "Saviour" is true at the beginning a of what Empyrium anno 2014 accounts.
Basically put Empyrium on their current work much emphasis on a much fresher, more modern and contemporary sound, which admirably conveys the ideals and ideas of earlier works in the musical present. "The Turn of the Tides" is definitely a reference work in the field of dark varieties of folk music and the nature-mystical, but also for listeners more progressive sounds well worth a look. Even metal elements come on "TOTT" not too short, even when we get it rare to do with them.
In short: "The Turn of the Tides" is one of the best albums ever released! Although this was to be expected since Empyrium are absolute exception rounder anyway, this must be mentioned in conclusion. For the band, the album provides a perfect introduction to a very safe and glorious bright future is! Anyway, I'm impressed and deeply moved.
PS: This review should be seen as emotional, euphoric report a diehard Empyrium fans. Although I keep me as such a critical look at albums of all kinds - but with this album there's no reason to lose any negative words.
