Customer Reviews

Blessing in Disguise

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I have to confess. I was going into this latest album by Green Carnation with huge expectations. After all, the symphonic melancholic choral masterpiece that was Light of Day, Day of Darkness couldnt be topped. And almost knowing it, the band decided to take a markedly different direction with A Blessing in Disguise. From symphonic melancholic doom with harsh vocal touches in the margins to dark progressive melodic rock in a span of one album  meet Green Carnation in 2003.

What precipitated the changes? The line-up of this Norwegian band remained the same (making a session keyboard musician a full-time band member doesnt count). Could it be the label switch (why, oh why, you left my beloved "The End"??!!)? Could it be the desire to produce something more readily accessible than a 60min long track that made up Light of Day, Day of Darkness? In the end, though, I think it is the same reason that drove Green Carnations another incarnation (no pun intended)  In The Woods  to release no two albums that were alike. True artists, like Tchort, just cant stand still, they need to evolve, transform and revolutionize. Well, the last word may be overkill, but with A Blessing in Disguise Green Carnation put out another extremely solid album.

As I mentioned before, Green Carnation delved into dark progressive melodic rock on this CD. The band site states it, and I couldnt agree more. Maybe a little more commercial than Katatonias Viva Emptiness, A Blessing in Disguise has songs that combine sufficiently heavy guitar chords, quiet melodies, keyboard sprinkles on the perimeter and unbelievably catchy choruses that you will be humming for days (Crushed to Dust, Myron and Cole, As Life Flows By). Some of these songs are so radio friendly (As Life Flows By), it feels like they were made to be played over airwaves and uplift moods despite the not-too-jovial lyrics. There are enough melody variations ranging from mid-Eastern market melodies (Myron and Cole) to moody blues (Into Deep) for this album not to crush into a predictable rut. Besides, Green Carnation drops several dark, but cleansing experiences in between. Lullaby in Winter is a two-part song with the first part having clean guitar and floating tender and serene vocals by Kjetil Nordhus. As the outstanding drumming by Anders Kobro begins to ratchet up the pressure, something that started out as a dark Pink Floyd goes through jazzy Deep Purple into a soft polyphonic with string section clearly heard. Such mood changes are also prevalent on Two Seconds in Life where velvety voice over empty melody can change to a full instrumentation combined with strings in a matter of seconds. Guitar, bass and high-hat intro to Into Deep switches to heavy riffs with audible bass and strings hovering above. While not being overly symphonic A Blessing in Disguise has enough of symphonic elements and string instruments (cello on Two Seconds in Life and harp on Rain) to really make the whole effort multi-dimensional. Throw in the crispiest production, excellent musicianship, and, indeed, you have an excellent album by the mature band.

What will sound as a commercial effort from the beginning, upon repeated listens will become more and more personal and emotional. For the second time in a row, Green Carnation managed to completely capture my imagination. Invest without second thought If you see it somewhere.

Those expecting a sequel to 2001's monumental "Light of Day, Day of Darkness" were surprised to say the least. Tchort and company took their uncanny songwriting abilities in a somewhat different direction, crafting an album with separate songs (a definite change from "LoD,DoD"s 60-minute track) and only incorporating movements or echoes from their previous effort.

Having said that, "A Blessing in Disguise" is equal parts hard-rocking and beautiful. The opening song, "Crushed to Dust" says everything in the title. Both catchy and aggressive, the song starts the album off on a very positive note, giving the listener a hefty taste of guitar-crunch and twangy keyboards. From the very start it is apparent that Tchort has left his northern, forest home and embraced the life of a modern-day headbanger. There is even a part of the song (beginning at 3:07) that sounds shockingly like something you'd find in Metallica's "ReLoad" (but no worries - it lasts for only about 15 seconds).

So, let's breathe for a moment now. "Lullaby in Winter" - again, a song whose title perfectly describes its sound. It begins with clean guitars and a march-like snare drum, leading into Kjetil Nordhus' delicate and vulnerable voice. "Writings on the Wall" showcases Green Carnation's razor-sharp guitar-work, and "Into Deep" closely resembles "LoD,DoD"s epic sound, combining strings with particularly hurtful vocal passages.

The beauty of the album is that no two songs are alike. Unlike "LoD,DoD"s segues that would often get mistaken for repeated riffs, "A Blessing in Disguise" is composed of absolutely unique songs that stand alone perfectly. In fact, if I were to give each song a rating, only two songs would fall short of `excellent', namely the excessively melancholic "Two Seconds in Life", and the somewhat lackluster closing track, "Rain". Besides these less-than-stellar pieces, the album is a true accomplishment for a daring and courageous band. Progression, indeed.

See also: Green Carnation - "The Quiet Offspring", "Light of Day, Day of Darkness", Amorphis - "Tuonela", "Am Universum"

How does one follow up a veritable masterpiece?

I was dubious whether Tchort and Green Carnation would ever be able to even match, let alone top Light of Day, Day of Darkness, the most universally acknowleged epic dark symphonic progressive album of the year, maybe the decade.

Is it possible to improve on near perfection? Is it feasible to even match what had to be one of the most brilliant compositions and arrangements since the classical masters of the 1900s? Could Green Carnation replicate, or even come close to the energy and raw emotion of this truly unique creation?

We may never know the answer to those questions, for Thcort and his band of merry men didn't even try. They recognized the impossibly, daunting task before them and opted to go in a different direction. Smart move and I applaud them for it. A blessing in Disguise is pretty much straight Melodic, Progressive Metal/rock and, if you don't let your high expectations get in the way, it really is quite good. There is just a hint of L.O.D.,D.O.D. in the new album but gone are the choirs and the symphonic elements and A Blessing in Disguise regresses back to the normal routine, with nine separate tracks.

"The music on "A Blessing in Disguise" includes new musical elements for the band, and can best be described as heavy, progressive and strong melodic rock. This year should hold the most productive and creative chapter in the band legacy."

Line Up :
Tchort - guitar, lyrics and composer
Stein Roger Sordal - bass, guitars, harp
Bjørn Harstad - lead guitar, effects
Kjetil Nordhus - vocals
Anders Kobro - drums
Bernt A Moen - keyboards, piano
Add.:
Christiansand Chamber Ensemble
Intro on `The boy in the attic' : X Botteri (hail to him)

The Music

Light of Day was completely written by Tchort, however, this time there were 3 different composers involved, providing some variation. Tchort wrote 6 songs, Stein Rodger Sodal, 2 and Kjetil Nordhus, 1. The music can be described as melancholic rock with heavy elements and prog influences.

"Crushed To Dust" is a surprise for Green Carnation with a fairly fast tempo and a dominant crunchy guitar sound remeniscent of Megadeth.

"Lullaby In Winter" Starts as a melancholy ballad - "When tomorrow comes / All your worries fly / Hear the lullaby / All will be soft and warm / You will be safe and strong / Hear the lullaby" - but it digs a lot deeper because, after a few minutes, it's showing the typical Green Carnation sounds, which feature conjuring guitar riffs and a humming warm Hammond organ. The second half of this song is the closest I felt to Light of Day.

"Writing on the Wall" The fatalistic nature continues here - "Kill me, Down by the shore / I can feel it, She's not here anymore / Hear my call, It's borne by the breeze / Tell me, to where do I go.

"Into Deep" progressively moves up along a perfected bass line and transforms into some excellent guitar work.

"The Boy In The Attic", The piano lets us hear a sweet sadness containing just the aspect of despair for which music can be so healing. Vague elements of the powerful epic Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness can be found in this piece.

"Two Seconds In Life" gives us a fragile, dark voice which like a searching tendril of a vine, searching for light, the proverbial fight of an individual between good and evil, the need to evolve in darkness into the light. Written by singer Kjetil.

"Myron & Cole" similar in tempo and sound to the first track, through which at times of the unfolding of the grunge becomes noticeable again.

"As Life Flows By" has a rocking take off and a very catchy melody in a medium paced rocking love song.

"Rain". A string band opens a rich scale of sadness with whiney roots, ala Alice in Chains it's pure beauty with lots of skill translated in words and music. Halfway through, some elements of the previous CD come floating to the surface, which gives an exciting turn to the song.

"Lullaby in Winter" cont.
"I know you're sad because it's winter
But I can promise you a spring
I know you're cold, I see you shiver
But I can promise you a spring"

"Tomorrow's new
Tomorrow's warm
Remember, when you're all alone"

"I know you're hurt, I feel it in my heart
But I can promise you a spring
I see you're down, I see it in your eyes
But I can promise you a spring"

The band managed to pen ever more classic lines, continuing to solidify their place among the great lyricists in the todays metal scene. I say the band because, as I mentioned, unlike their previous album, which was written entirely by Tchort, both Kjetil Nordus(vocals) and Stein Roger Sordal(bass) contributed to this album as well.

Wow.
After Light of Day, Day of Darkness, Green Carnation ups the ante, making a CD where one can access all that made LODDOD fantastic. Crushed to Dust harkens back to the heavy riffs of the past CD, but at the same type creating a different sound. Lullaby is a ballad, but I cannot find another ballad that even comes close to the structure of this fantastic highlight. The next two songs are classic Green Carnation, one with a crazy opening riff, while the other with a more subtle, more brood beginning. The Boy in the Attic has some amazing vocal melodies and layering, showing off the various different parts of the band. Great variation. Two Seconds in the Life has a memorable slow start that builds to an emotional guitar solo, much like the second half of LODDOD. Myron and Cole is a unique rocker with a different Mid-Eastern vibe. Multiple memorable melodies. As Life Flows By has the best lyrics on the album, avoiding much of the early more somber tone, and the intro is a hook laden guitar opening with some nice keyboardwork. Its still a sad song, yet easier to relate to, as the emotion feels more genuine here. Overall one of my favorites. Rain is different compared to almost every metal song I have ever heard. Haven't closely listened to the song yet, but it definitely takes the cake as their most progressive short song.

My only minor complaints are the drastic change in cover design, and some of the more depressed lyrics in the thrird and fourth track, which are hard for me to relate to. The inside of the booklet still has the amazing landscapes though, so it maintains a tradition set by the band.

Clean Vocals by the way, fantastic performance, for all who like edgy, somber metal.

GREEN CARNATION - A Blessing in Disguise

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The general consensus with Green Carnation is that every album is different from its predecessor yet still as appealing as the last. Tchort had come off his masterpiece `Light of Day, Day of Darkness' a 60:00 minute, one track album and then released this amazing Prog Rock album with 9 well crafted tracks many of which have generous helpings of Metal. (Songs like, Crushed to Dust have such a nice heavy edged guitar and pounding rhythms.)

Being relatively new to Green Carnation I would best describe them as being similar to Amorphis, for they also started as a Metal band and changed direction to a more commercial progressive rock sound. Like Amorphis though this was the farthest thing from selling out, it was just simply a change of direction if anything the music only improved over the years... Personally I'd much rather see a band go prog then pull a `metallica'.

The musicianship is outstanding Vocals, Bass, Guitars and Drumming are all done very well... I especially enjoy much of the guitar work and harmonizing between Tchort and Harstad. It sounds great when 2 guitarist utilize different parts but play them in complete cohesion. Also I should point out Kjetil Nordus vocal work is also extra impressive... Truthfully, based on his vocals alone, I'm surprised these guys haven't been more exploited by the mainstream.

As far as the music / song writing goes it really does vary song to song... All the tracks have a great drive and there is not a bad song on the album.

Favorite Songs: As Life Flows By, Lullaby in the Winter, and Two Seconds to Life,

-4.5 Stars

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You can't really expect Green Carnation to come out trying to top "Light of Day, Day of Darkness", because, quite frankly, there isn't a chance in hell they--I should say he: Tchort--can do it, which is why I was thrilled that they/he didn't try to. This album is great in and of itself. It's melancholic; it's uplifting; it's soft; it's hard; it's a great mixture of sounds. This isn't an album for everyone, but it would be enjoyed by many, many people out there.

Don't let the cover fool you.

This is actually a well crafted dark rock album whichg keeps Metal in mind.

The vocalist's voice takes a listen or two to get used to but it will definitely grow on you.

You will soon find yourself jamming to this one after a couple of well mixed drinks.

Definitely for fans of In The Woods, Katatonia, Tiamat(GAIA), & Agalloch.

Blessing in Disguise is a great progressive metal work and is as good or better than other albums by Green Carnation. This album has lighter (not too light but not as heavy as the others) tracks like Lullaby in Winter and heavy, guitar-driven tracks like the very catchy Crushed to Dust. The vocals and music on the album are perfect and I recommend the album to everyone looking for great metal.

I have to admit I began listening to Green Carnation because I was in great need of hearing more IN THE WOODS..
I hoped GC fill the big hole left when ITW broke up. The first album was interesting..but not something I listen to much. I didn't want to give up on them ..cause ITW's one of my all time fav bands. So I waited for Light of day, day of darkness. It wasn't ITW..but it sure was a great album and they proved they had something good going here.
It even had a guest appearance of the two vocalists in ITW that should me mentioned...cause they are two fantastic singers that I can only hope GC use more...even though it's not very likely.
I bought a Blessing in disguise very late for some reason. It's pretty different from what I expected, but not bad in any way. There are some really great songs here and good diversity too. The songs that really stand out are LULLABY IN WINTER, WRITINGS ON THE WALL and AS LIFE FLOWS BY. The second half of LULLABY IN WINTER is as some here say truly one of the most beautiful parts of music I've heard in quite a while. Often find myself singing that part out loud. The only song I can't seem to fully grasp is RAIN. It has a lot of good parts, but it somehow falls through..I think it might have something to do with trying to be more dramatic than it really is. (whatever that means..?)
Maybe it just has to grow on me.
Still...this album is really something I'll listen to for years to come. This is a band that will only get bigger and bigger! Because it's really already huge..it's just that you have to see it ;)

Well, I don't know what some of these reveiwer's problems are. This cd is excellent and i'm starting to like it more and more than Light of Day, Day of Darkness. They did lighten up a lot and are embracing their progressive roots. But there is still plenty of rocking out that is done here. And the thought provoking lyrics will make all teenyboppers heads explode. This is excellent super talented stuff. Do yourself a favour and pick this treasure up! But don't bury it!