The roots thicken within the forest floor. A slight laughter is heard throughout the branches. The sun has not crossed the horizon, but light reflects off the green leaves. THY DESPAIR, a symphonic metal band which formed in 2006, creates a unique atmosphere of melodic instrumentation combined with a harsh folk-ish melody. "The Song Of Desolation," the project's newest release is a tale of greatness formulated through wisdom and time. The album is energetic, perhaps chaotic at times. But the pieces are crafted in such a way that there are many ideas in one track rather than just a few. This makes for a quite interesting album that is grounded in a fantastical realm of being.

"The Free One" is almost reminiscent of finish melodic death metal. There is a woman's voice, solemn yet majestic, that guides the listener out of the storm and back through the clouds. This is combined with a growling thunder. The track talks like a story that has an exquisite melody. The forest echoes with its laughter. There is a small figure sitting on the branches watching below with his gaping eyes. Synths fill the gaps in the piece as the frequencies change. The baselines get louder - a piano sounds in the distance. "Sabbath" completes the darkened feeling, and switches rhythms. Synths hide underneath. A violin sounding instrumentation moves swiftly through the trees, watching the dark figure up above.

The music becomes complex, as it adds layers and harmonious sounds. The sounds become theatre-like as an implementation of darker synth-like notes shine through. As the sun rises, the colors of the figure emerge in bright hues. He feels as if he is being watched. "Fear And Despair" speak in hymns. It is unsettling at first, but feels more comforting as the song presses on. The track focuses on the woman's voice. It is high pitched and unpredictable. A fairy-like piano whispers. A grey-blue appears from within the dark greens of the trees. His feathers fluff on his spotted white chest and he sees the eyes of the creatures down below. His forehead scruffs and his bill clicks. "Burned By Love" opens with drums. It returns to a melodic death metal sounding piece, as the track embarks on a folk-ier pattern. The eeriness of the woman resounds through the forest walls. There is a breakdown of melancholy. High voices and tremolo picking flow overtop like water rushing down the falls. The Merlin stretches his wings, and his rectrices move away from the branch. He flies to another part of the forest where he will hide. "Last Breath" features a piano, with harmonious guitars overlying it. The voice is like a chorus, and there are no distinguishing melodies.

The track almost resembles doom metal. A break in the rhythm changes the sound and slows the tempo. There is a conversation at the end. The Merlin glances around him. His breast feathers are moved by the wind. The forest is empty today, and he becomes disappointed. The Merlin laughs once again. "War" continues with layers of highs and lows. Rhythms climb and fall like the sun across the sky. The chaos fits together with the serenity. "Army Of Dead" is a bit intangible. But there is a somber melody is the air. The woman repeats herself. A synth and a violin begin jumping all around, and it becomes quite the dignified piece. The guitar seems to move on its own, and the sounds are high. A thump of drums scares The Merlin from his tree, moving himself to a remote part of the forest where he gets lost in a thicket. "Falling Star" mimic familiar sounds.

A piano and synth create a darkened feel. Tones are abstract and men sing cleanly. It is beatific in nature, and the album has almost reached its capacity. The softness aids a break in the design, but welcomes forth the tale told in a different set of rules. "Ghost Rider" is a bit off tune, but intentionally so. Pleasant sounding creations are mixed with a heat of warmness and spices. There is no solidity, rather, it gathers the materials it needs to subside in the space. The Merlin laughs once again. The air becomes colder, and the sun slips from the sky. "Falcon" exhibits more synths, and an echoed guitar. The cordial nature is made complete with the severity of the energy. Someone talks and listens. Time slowly dissipates in the ounce of the note. It is a wonderous ending to the creation. The Merlin preens himself. He, then, as many times before, watches the forest floor with keen eyes.

THY DESPAIR's "The Song Of Desolation" is a creation that makes for an atmospheric chorus made deep within the darkness of an abstract realm. It combines a multitude of sounds and devices to make an album that is complex and unpredictable. Although transitions were a bit abrupt at times, the piece often makes the listener forget, and dissolves them into the moment.