Customer Reviews

Last Bewitchment

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

 

 

Yep - another doom metal band. The thing is, Penumbra's great! I won't say that I love this album, but it is very, very enjoyable. One of the biggest things is how different each song is. I'm not sure if they are violins, but there are many non-typical instruments (probably synthesized) to add a lot of emotion to the songs. The opener will draw your attention, and then the 2nd song will make you realize that you are in for a treat. There is a 2 minute outro, making the album only about 46 minutes. That's a bit disappointing for doom metal - normally these kinds of albums are long (World of Glass, Lake of Sorrow, Tears of Mortal Solitude, Elegant and Dying). On the other hand, the best part of the album is how there is something in it for everybody. I wish I could get the chance to play the ballad, "Testament" (longest song on the album clocking at 7:05), for one of my classes and tell me what they think of it. It seems like a rock ballad at first, but just after the 4 minute mark, the song does something I've never heard before. Operatic choirs join the sound after this point. This song is just beautiful. Its my favorite on the album, if I didn't already say.

Vocals? The female vocals aren't as operatic as Tristania's or Nightwish's. She's more like a Floor Jansen style voice (After Forever's vocalist).

A lot of people compare this band to Tristania, which means you also have to compare it to Sirenia. Recall that Sirenia is heavier than Tristania. Penumbra doesn't fit into that equation, but of all the bands I've heard, this is the closest I've ever heard a band come to their sounds. The songs aren't that slow (Tristania is pretty slow) and are a bit more happy-sounding. (I can't read my notes.) Either track 4 or 9 sounds classical to me. Keyboards are very apparent and add atmosphere that will please Nightwish fans, like me.

Again, this album has something for everyone. I recommend it highly. If you like this, purchase some albums by the bands listed above, or the albums listed above. At least listen to some samples.

When you get the time, please go read some of my other reviews and say if they were helpful to you or not. Thanks.

I can see why some people would not like this album, especially if you go into it expecting something similar to Tristania or metal-era Theatre of Tragedy, but my personal verdict is that it was a great purchase.

The songs are much more mellow and symphonic than what you'd hear from, say, Tristania's Beyond The Veil. You can't really compare the two, but for argument's sake, I still listen to Tristania more than Penumbra. Anyway, the female singer (why the hell did she call herself 'Medusa'? She's about as ugly as a Rolls-Royce is cheap) is excellent, and the extreme vocals are almost flawlessly executed. The guitar use is not constant or consistent, but it is worthy of mention, and the bass actually stands out quite nicely in some cases. "Testament" is the standout track for me. The band employs great keyboard and synthesizer arrangements, and enhances their sound with the use of a four-member orchestra (2 violins, a viola, and a cello) and an eight-piece choir. All placed together, the resultant sound is passably unique and very enjoyable. As far as lyrics, the story line is pretty creative, and (*gasp*) it's not a load of blasphemy!

On a side note, I'm really getting tired of reviewers whining and complaining about the use of death/black vocals in this type of metal. People, it's metal, it's not supposed to be all pretty and sensual. I play in a local band, and I use extreme vocals in addition to clean singing, and I tell people that, if they don't like it, then don't listen to it. But it's no reason to degrade a whole band just because you don't like their choice of vocal arrangements. They are still talented and passionate musicians; honestly, if you had any idea how much throat control it takes to produce that kind of vocal, I think you'd respect the musicians a lot more. For those who can accept a band for not selling themselves out to become 'the biggest thing in Europe,' and making music the way they feel it should be made, then I think you'll like this album. Heck, you'll probably love it; God knows I do!

Penumbra is by far one of the best gothic metal bands out there. This band's sound is very dark and tragic, I think it is also the most unique sound in Metal that's currently out. This band has: a death singer, a harsh death singer, a clean male singer, a female singer, a choir, and the lead death singer also plays the Oboe (an oboe is sort of like the clarinet). The guitars are great, but what really stands out is the keyboardist, choir, and the drummer. This is a great buy and highly recommended to anyone who is a fan of Epica, Sirenia, Tristania, Ashes You Leave, etc...

Penumbra's -9 track- CD, 'The Last Bewitchment' is a captivating, innovative piece of musicanship. It has so many things going on other than just goth/metal. Some tracks sound like they belong in a gladiator film soundtrack, some on the opera stage, others in a church service.

And no wonder, in addition to the usual guitars and drums Punumbra added an orchestra along with an eight person choir. This CD is a wonderfully coherent, thematic work of art. It definitely has alot to offer the listener. Being that I'm particularily fond of female vocals, my two favortie tracks are; 6- 'Testament' and 9- 'Pie Jesu.'

This CD is now OOP, get it while you can.

How to describe such a beautiful music? Well, if you like Therion, you probably own this record :) If you don't have this CD, here are some reasons to do so:
* great heavy-metal in its best;
* beautiful choirs;
* superb atmosphere.
Nothing else, nothing more.
It's simply one of the greatest heavy-metal albums.

The Last Bewitchment has many elements to commend itself, in theory, but sadly remains lacking in the area of memorable melodies that make you remember individual songs. The choirs and orchestral instruments are impressive but need more focused songs in which to be featured. Plus the black metal rasping shrieker really gets to be annoying.

Three things would improve this album: 1) More memorable tunes; 2) More use of the female vocalist; 3) Get rid of the raspy shrieky screaming vocals.

What is excellent about this album is the powerful combination of extremely heavy metal guitar, orchestra (especially the nice use of the oboe), and choir.

My recommendation is to obtain the major releases of Therion and Tristania before purchasing this CD.

I decided to put on my headphones and listen to this cd while writing this review and I'm glad I did. I had forgot what an amazing piece of work this is.

The Last Bewitchment is really a very good,imaginative recording similar to Tristania, old Theatre of Tragedy, TSOTB etc. but with a faster overall tempo. This is a high quality album with great operatic type female vocals, lush symphonic metal orchestration (ala Therion) and unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your viewpoint), the Male growling vox, which is associated with the aforementioned groups. This is the reason I was going to give it 4 stars, instead of the 5 stars I wound up giving. As I stated in my review of Lake of Sorrow by TSOTB I'm rating this album on the quality of it's contents not on what I would like to hear. Of course, I would like to see them dump the growling, maybe they will in the future, like Within Temptation did and they're the biggest thing in goth-metal in Europe now. (Lacuna Coil notwithstanding)

This is Penumbra's sophomore effort and for the second album, they not only engaged a classical string-orchestra but also an eight-piece choir. The result is well worth listening, an opulent mixture of Synths, classical and Metal, aided by two female singers and one male singer and oboe-player. Penumbra is now a twelve piece band/orchestra, hence the big, big sound and the ability vary their music style.

For those of you who are interested, The Last Bewitchment is a concept album. Maybe thats why it almost seems like an opera. Anyway, the story is about a tragic love between an male angel and a human woman. Penumbra's web site has this to say about the story line: "The main theme of this masterpiece is the incapacity of two persons to concretise (their word) feelings they have for each other. A mystical story who leads the protagonists to different states mind: resentment, solitude, despair, violence, depression...to the fatal issue: death."