Customer Reviews

Lost in Reverie

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

PECCATUM,known for its bizarre experimentation,has made a record that
isn't easy to digest.It will take more than a listen to fully absorb
the uniqueness of the material within.Several styles are incorporated
here,from trip-hop to darkwave and industrial,and at first it might not
sound like the best combination.However,Ihsahn and Ihriel manage to make
it all work,mixing moody harmonies with dark atmospherics and some heavy
moments here and there.Some songs have a strong jazz-feel to them,while
others are too isolated to even be called Metal.Actually,a couple of songs
can be easily recognizable for their EMPEROR-like heaviness,but in the
end it's obvious that this isn't a Metal record.It's a journey into a
land of bombastic sounds,climatic melodies,and weird musical arrangements,
making it a challenging listening experience.PECCATUM have matured as
musicians and individuals,and the talent and sincere desire to create
something original with this work is very plausible and admirable.

Having heard their previous two albums, Strangling from Within and Amor Fati (and owning the latter), I can say that Lost in Reverie is as much an improvement over Amor Fati as that album was over Strangling. The songwriting and production and variety are all vastly better, and I quite like their previous album to begin with (not a huge fan of their first one, but I haven't heard it enough to let it grow on me).

The band covers a nice range of styles on this album. While previous releases were generally avant-garde black metal, the focus here shifts away from metal to styles like ambient, triphop, industrial, and less-classifiable things. Track 2 is the biggest departure, being some kind of jazzy, catchy rock. The songs change styles within themselves, too. Track 3 for instance starts with noisy industrial black metal, but then shifts mostly to ambient, piano-driven music with Ihriel singing over it broken only for a moment by guitars again toward the end. Other songs also have such dynamics, which helps lay them out because there isn't much traditional song structure here.

The vocals are better too. Ihriel actually sings well here. She uses a more natural style which suits the album nicely. Ihsahn has improved some, but he was always ok. And he still uses his black metal voice here and there, for those concerned (it's as good as ever). Lord PZ is gone, so whether you liked him or not, oh well.

So if you're just looking for metal, this might disappoint you. If you've got broader tastes (including metal, cause it's still here), then don't miss this. It's just a very good album and it's a credit to the band that they could make such a cohesivie yet varied work.

This album marks Peccatum's most suberb work to date. I will get to the reasons, but let me start with a fair warning that it may not be everyone's cup of tea. It is a new kind of music as far as "music" goes, and its black metal-influenced passages may take some getting used to for someone who is not a black metal fan.

Now, onto the good sides, and there are a lot. First off, this is NOT your average melancholic/atmospheric/experimental album. The album is an experiment in and of itself. The album's styles include, but are not limited to; ambient/black metal/trip hop/classical/jazz. Overall, what unites these styles are the melancholy that they inevitably carry. The music is done above good, as a new definition of perfection. The mood of the songs tend to swing back and forth, but overall, never letting go of their initial setting.

Lyrically, this album is very hard to understand. It is not your straightforward lyricism, it isn't even your average metaphorical writing. This album is beyond all that, and offers puzzles instead of lyrics or messages.

The vocals of Ihsahn and Ihriel are amazing, be that separate or combined. Ihsahn's brutal vocals are, in accordance with this album's overall work, outside the mainstream grunts and growls, which sometimes (in my opinion) gives him the image of a choking man.

Overall, this is one the few perfect albums I have encountered in my few years; it flows through perfectly, doesn't let up on its style, never disturbs the flow with an out-of-place song (which, unfortunately, is the main problem with a surprising number of albums) and it is art for art's sake. What more can you possibly want?

I haven't listened to Peccatum's older albums yet, but Lost In Reverie is one of THE most original albums I have ever heard. And this comes from a music guru. The album sounds much like a mix between Muse, KMFDM, and Opeth. A fan of any of those bands would more than likely enjoy this album.

Their first song kicks off with very beautiful piano, then shifts into an extreme industrial blowout. The rest of the album has less industrial influence, but holds the same mood throughout; sullen, black, soft, hard.

Each song is epic, so don't be thrown off by the number of songs. Give a listen to the sound samples, and you will surely be impressed by the fragile artistry of Lost in Reverie.

If you have found yourself browsing Peccatum's albums chances are you have heard and are probably a fan of Emperor and/or Ihsahn's solo efforts. One of the many projects/groups that Ihsahn has been involved in is this, Peccatum. This album is the best of Peccatum's efforts. Peccatum combines elements of classical, jazz, industrial/electronica and of course what Ihsahn is best known for - Black Metal. This album/group is closer to Ihsahn solo albums than Emperor's in that it isn't firmly rooted in Black Metal but Black Metal's influence undeniably prevades the whole album...and all of Peccatum's albums for that matter. Listening to this album gives you hints to what musical territory Ihsahn would explore in his solo work. but it's Ihriel's eerily beautiful gothic voice that is the main ingrediant to what sets this group/album apart for Ihsahn's equally stunning solo work. If you are any type of purist this album might not appeal to you...but if you are a listener with adventerous tastes this album is well worth your time and reveals a lot of it's quality upon repeated listens.

Peccatum is a band of two lifes. The Before and After. I found myself to enjoy the before alot, the more I listen to it, but the AFTER is by far in another category. "Lost in a Reverie" is another Ihsahn's masterpiece, along with The Adversary, Anthems, Prometheus, the too short Moribund People and the underrated Somnium (TSS). The man never ceases to impress me. It's like he has music instead of blood in his veins. And what to say about Ihriel, whose voice matured so gladly and whose sorrowful songwriting induce a real feeling of sadness. The way that album intricates so many musical styles is simply amazing. Highly recommended for those who dare to challenge their ears and souls.

Words fail me when I try and think of how to explain how insanely brilliant this cd is. It is the ultimate testament to musical experimentations and breaking boundries, a testament to real music and the creators of it.
They manage to combine 6-7 completely different musical styles in such a natural and flowing form on 1 cd, never feeling wrong or forced, from start to finish this cd just flows and never feels out of place when it switches styles (classical to industrial anyone? Loungemusic and metal?) The entire cd just has a tranquil feeling to it, but with a sorrowful undertone (I know that term is used alot, but the effect is quit subtle actually on this cd and works very well).
The individual composition of the songs isn't that complicated but the natural way they switch musical styles within the songs just keeps your full attention never being boring or drawn out. And looking at the cd as a full (as I think you should, you can not judge this cd without having heard every single song, and I'd recommend in the order of the cd, just flows so well from one to another)it's so masterfully composed and crafted.
As I sayed I can't easily put into words how utterly amazing I think this cd is, it's pure artistic creativity, that's the best way I can discribe it.

And just as warning, do NOT buy this expecting Emperor like music, because you will be hugely disapointed, there is 1 song which is partly black metal on it (Black Star). The cd has influences of clasical, rock, jaz, industrial, lounge music, trip-hop, elektro, metal (different styles)