Seeking Infinity
Pantheist
•
August 27, 2018
It's been seven years since "PANTHEIST" released Eponymous album on Grau Records. I was really happy to have that album to review. I am a funeral Doom listener so it piqued my curiosity. Consisting of members or past members of SHAPE OF DESPAIR, CLOUDS and CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX, it sounded very promising. Now let's have a listen! "Eye of the universe" is an instrumental using a narrative , talking about the sense of the I, or eye? "Control & Fire" is a wonderful song expressing a multitude of emotions with overwhelming textures throughout this piece of art song.Even post-rock structure is used , making an original blend of musical approaches which transcends the listener and shows a great sense of beauty in chaos. Like an old painting holding secrets. "500 B.C. to 30 A.D. - The Enlightened Ones" debuts with piano and a menacing voice. Synths are used also used then with picking guitar on the background, and then all is becoming bleak. This is beauty in chaos and dusk.Majestic and solemn epicness. More than 10 minutes of quality funeral doom.Very good song. Vocals are low but sometimes more in the mid-high register.The song is like in two halves. First eight minutes and then we have a interlude with some narration and light music to reach again more aggressive paths at minute nine or so. For the last two minutes the drum is played more insanely with blast beats to let us see the end of this superb twelve minutes song that offer multiple variations.
"1453: An Empire Crumbles" we have enveloping synth ambiance with some neofolk and neoclassical acoustic guitar playing. Vocals are like monk chanting or liturgic. I love it. Percussions are tribal or ritual like. We have throat singing too. Being a fan of slavic, mongol or scandanavian folk music, this song captivates me and gets my attention. I'm quite surprised to find it here. If you like it, Try to listen to some HEILUNG or WARDRUNA, or DANNHEIM. "Emergence" is crafted the doom way.Piano layers makes this one very interesting.Kind of an structured maelstrom of pure genius to set place to conquering vocals that inspires to present one's sword to the setting sun in a quest for future accomplishment. Clean vocals are so welcomed and puts the song in a superb perspective.The synths add beauty to the monster. A Masterpiece of pure artistic funeral doom metal. Powerful,transcending,innovative in its own way,a pure delight this side of the world.The structure of the song is interesting in its complexity and exploration.WOW.
"Seeking Infinity, Reaching Eternity" this one reminds me of PALLBEARER musically, which is a good thing.But only the few first minutes.After that we got organ, pounding drums , vocals are more stuttering than before.The guitar uses some light breakdowns.Once again the force is within the atmosphere and interludes of pure beauty and emotion,impressive moments.Reminds me of "Tiamat's Wildhoney" mixed up with some old PARADISE LOST but the funeral doom way. PANTHEIST are showing amazing artistic skills and songwriting here.This is pretty easy to put out an album in that genre that gets boring after few songs.Here we got inspired talented music.This is like a painting but with musical instruments.This album is nearly a masterpiece for me. I must buy it, one of maybe the best doom metal album of 2018 for me, and guys I listen to a shitload of them. You love doom? Go get it!! Now! THANK YOU GUYS! LONG LIVE PANTHEIST!
10 / 10
Masterpiece
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Seeking Infinity" Track-listing:
1. Eye of the Universe
2. Control & Fire
3. 500 B.C. to 30 A.D. - The Enlightened Ones
4. 1453: An Empire Crumbles
5. Emergence
6. Seeking Infinity, Reaching Eternity
Pantheist Lineup:
Aleksej - Bass
Dan - Drums, Backing Vocals
Frank - Guitars
Kostas - Vocals, Keyboards
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