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...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI...
..::OPIS::..
Wszystko jest tak dobrze wyważone i pięknie zaprezentowane, że ostatecznie tworzy oszałamiająco zaczarowany album!
Nie jest to łatwa w odbiorze płyta... muzyka trochę nie z tego świata.
Dla mnie to bezdyskusyjne miejsce na samym szczycie listy albumów roku - i nie sądzę, żeby to się zmieniło!
„This is it! Your ticket to the most space-rocking, guitar-bending and adventure-ridden album of the year. […] A true gem in nowadays rock music.“
- Adam Henderson, The New York Tines
„One of those rare albums that come without warning and blow everything to splinters […] Like a blend of Rush, Tolkien and Heavy Metal.“
- Nala Esmaeili, The Guaridian
2026 is shaping up to be the year for surprise comebacks and Lunar Shadow is but another case, returning from dormancy for their first full-length since 2021’s Wish To Leave. Granted this album has an interesting catch as bandleader Max Birbaum has opted for the Jeff Waters approach, assuming the lead vocals as well as the lion’s share of instrumentation while session players fill in the drums and keyboards. It’s a bold strategy, especially with it being such a curveball, but it’s also the sort of step forward that could ironically double as a back to basics of sorts.
But for how much has changed for the band, it’s also interesting to see how much their core traits end up getting highlighted in the process. Their relationship to genre is as nebulous as ever, the faintest traces of their heavy metal roots mostly relegated to some of the crunchier gallops with a lighter sound overall fleshed out with prog, folk, and goth influences among others. The guitars also continue to be the flashiest focal point with extensive harmonies and acrobatic solos though the rhythms pack some good punches and the synths provide their atmospheric touches.
While vocals have arguably never been a top priority in the Lunar Shadow method, it’s still neat to consider how it sounds when Birbaum taking matters into his own hands. Their previous vocalists tended to have unorthodox approaches and the same proves to be true here from a certain angle, opting for a somewhat shrill tenor voice with an almost glam veneer. Their range is rather one-note but fits the style they’re going for, especially when the instrumental showcases have always drawn more attention.
Speaking of which, the songwriting is also as dense as one would expect with an onslaught of intricate arrangements set to lengthy structures. The bulk of it actually ends up being pretty upbeat with “The Cormorant” establishing a bouncy pace that sees a cheerful intermingling of guitars, organs, and koto alongside bashing drums and a peppy chorus. It can be easy for subsequent songs to run together but the vibes are consistently pleasant, reaching an early peak with the folky goth jaunt on “The Ventures Of Bombadil” while “The Long Sleep” and “The Reveries of God” being more comparably straightforward. The eleven-minute closer “The Sun Crusher” also comes out pretty great, offering the darkest glimpses while putting in enough ambient flair to keep it substantial.
The surprise factor behind The Pall Of A Past World may draw one’s attention but what makes the album interesting is how it still encapsulates Lunar Shadow’s core traits despite the changes. Their strengths are well-preserved with gorgeous musicianship that serves a majestic atmosphere. Even when it offers some of the band’s longer running quirks and shortcomings, the results end up intriguing for the interpretations they offer and it’s no doubt as much of a grower as their previous efforts. Lunar Shadow has always been unique and it’s pretty nice to see them back at it.
Twisted Psychology
..::TRACK-LIST::..
1. The Cormorant 07:54
2. The Ventures Of Bombadil 08:42
3. The Long Sleep 05:39
4. The Reveries Of God 05:09
5. The Red Lion 08:16
6. The Sun Crusher 11:39
..::OBSADA::..
Max Birbaum - Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Koto
Jonas Zeidler - Drums
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWvvN9g04xU
SEED 15:00-22:00.
POLECAM!!!
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