Customer Reviews

Empty Into White

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It isn't often that I find an album that is worth mentioning in its entirety; that being said, Unto Ashes' Empty into White is certainly deserving of a least a cursory glance from all lovers of bloodlit music.

Unto Ashes excels at styles of music rarely cultivated by American bands. It is rarer still to find an American band that is proficient at crafting the kind of apocalyptic folk, neo-classical, ethno-medieval-goth that would fit in well with World Serpent's roster of bands.

Unto Ashes's previous albums have all been excellent forays into the skaldic ballads of a time-that-never-was, and Empty Into White is no different. If anything, the sound of the new album evokes an even more ancient and esoteric atmosphere than found on the previous Moon Oppose Moon and Saturn Return releases. The instrumentation is lush, varied, and expertly played, but it carries a distinctly cold tone that is utterly devoid of hope or joy. The lyrics are poetic and suitably grim; not one word seems out of place on this brooding opus. This is truly music for the moonlight of Walpurgisnacht.

Also worth mentioning is the incredible vocal talent featured on this album. I don't know how much preparation went into the recording of Empty Into White, but the vocal skills of the various singers involved are all in top form. Practice makes perfect, as they say, and listening to Empty Into White is as close as we may get to hearing a band on the verge of perfecting their craft.

I was shocked by how magnificently crafted this CD is - it's one of the most remarkable things I've ever heard - but it's really hard to define: it's like they created some new form of beauty out of ancient and modern civilizations and made it simply timeless. It's one of those albums that you could listen to over and over again for years to come. When I first heard it I was completely overwhelmed - captivated - and transported to somewhere else... I've only had my copy for a week and I've listened to it SO many times already. When I'm not listening to it, I'm THINKING about it. I continue to hear new things on the CD, new harmonies, new sounds; it's easily one of the most interesting and unusual albums in my collection. And did I mention that it's also really beautiful?!? Apparently it took almost 2 years to make, but the way everything flows together it seems like it was effortless. And all the songs sound different too. I agree with the previous reviewer that this is the best Unto Ashes album to date - but this is also one of the best albums I've ever heard - it is AMAZING - simply unbelievable!

By far, Empty Into White is their best CD to date! I was completely blown away and taken away on my own journey through their music. Their rendition of Doreen Valiente's, "Witches Rune" is beautiful... I am sure that the Goddess is pleased with their version! "Allu Mari" brought me to tears! I could go on about each song on the CD, but I think its something you have to experience yourself! Any fan of Unto Ashes should already have this CD in their collection, and folks that are interested should pick it up! They are an amazing band live, and I think its great that their version of Don't Fear (the Reaper) is on here!!!

Empty Into White is in a class of its own. Combining medieval orchestrations, baritone masculine voices, and heavenly female voices. I fell in love with this instantly.

This is my favorite Unto Ashes album (Grave Blessings, comes in a close second). Some song highlights include "I Cover You In Blood" which sets the mood for the album. With beautiful lyrics and Laird's sullen voice made this song a favorite. "Witches Rune" which I first heard on Projekt's compilation "A New Face of Goth" is dark, haunting, and the female vocals enchants the song.It is a favorite of mine. I think one of the biggest surprises is the beautiful acoustic rendition of "Don't Fear The Reaper" by The Blue Oyster Cult.

Overall, the music composition is excellent as a musician I would hope one day to achieve that quality. A spectacular add to any music collection.

With each song, Unto Ashes reveals the incredible breadth and depth of their considerable talent. If you enjoy truly alternative music (as to what is normally promoted as "alternative") and/or extremely talented musicians at their peak, then this is as close to heaven as you are going to get without departing this earthly realm. Their other albums rate 5 stars, too. Kudos to Projekt for snagging this great band.

Working on this album, the band was worried that it might be "too happy". Not to fear, happiness knows that it is not welcome on this album. Unto Ashes crafts an album of exquisite torture, iciness, empty spaces...

If you have listened to either of their earlier albums, you know what to expect on Empty into White. Beautiful, ancient lyrics and instrumentation, fraught with emotion - or sometimes delivered with perfect coldness. The processionals on this album are just as captivating as the songs with vocals, which is not necessarily true of Saturn Return or Moon Oppose Moon.

The best report I can give of this album is that, months after buying it, I was listening to it in a darkened room and got such chills that I almost had to turn it off. I can give no higher praise.

Exquisite, sometimes even pretty. Amidst delicate sounds, the lyrics reveal dark painful states and depths of turmoil- achieving a combination of beauty and pain that is surreal. Whatever you want to take from this album, it wont let you down. It sparks an amazing variety of emotions.
Each band member's unique talent is unquestionable. Laird's voice while hypnotic at times is coarse and pained when appropriate, displaying the sheer breath of his vocal abilities. Ericah, in lead female vocals never fails to astonish with her enchanting, powerful voice. Together the whole band, in synergy, creates a beauty unsurpassable captivating all drawn to truly unique and poignant dark wave music- especially with a touch of medieval, ethnic and gothic undertones.

This band never lets me down. Every one of their cds are amazing. Dark lyrics, with enchanting singing. Beautiful and emotional. A must have for anyone who enjoys darkwave/midieval music!!

Let's suppose you like quite much celtic/neoclassical/obscure/goth music.
Let's suppose you'd like to buy this album cause everyone here gives it 5 stars.
Well, this album is quite bad, as all of the records by Unto Ashes are. It doesn't manage to be neoclassical nor obscure, it's just a very boring and monotonous formula (used by the way in all their records, so, no...they haven't evolved their sound either) which consists of reading over plucked strings and some drums, every musician with a little imagination can create this bunch of crap (and who told the male singer he had a good voice?), It's indeed a very apathic record, and while there are many instruments involved (some of them are no longer used in modern music) you can't tell the difference cause they used them in the same way entonating similar melodies. Do not buy this album, instead download some songs by unto ashes, really, if you have heard one or two songs from the cd you have heard all Unto Ashes has to offer.
I give it two stars for the lyrics, which by the way are the real highlight on their records and can be read at their homesite.