Oracle Moon

Garden of Shadows | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 19, 2000)
• Original Release Date: September 19, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wicked World
• ASIN: B00004L8BJ
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #358,360 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Oracle Moon

2. Citadel of Dreams

3. Dissolution of the Forms

4. Continuum

5. Desert Shadows

6. Twilight Odyssey

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spacey, absorbing and emotive...., April 28, 2002

By 

C. A. Spellman - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Oracle Moon (Audio CD)

Earache's sub label Wicked World must have been ecstatic over the signing of this American likeness to such Euro greats as OPETH. Yes I said OPETH. However, just don't take that and run with it just yet. That comparative comment is not meant to be read into too deeply. GARDEN OF SHADOWS do share some characteristics with OPETH but they also share others with early AMORPHIS. With that introduction, let me better describe what Oracle Moon is all about.
I found this release one of the more interesting ones of 2000. I was somewhat blindsided by this release and quite impressed just the same. Hailing from Maryland, GARDEN OF SHADOWS are a unique product that fall into the melodic Death Metal category but harbor some eclectic quality of atmospheric richness that gives them their own sound. While I could probably dig through my collection and find other bands to compare them too, GARDEN OF SHADOWS have so much of their own personality that they deserve to be reviewed on their own terms.

Oracle Moon is a goldmine of busied strings and dense atmospheres that drift as a perpetual river of melodies. Perhaps its in the quality of the production but there is some ingredient in this release that really gives it a listening edge. This is not just another Death Metal band incorporating over-zealous melodies into their concoctions. GARDEN OF SHADOWS write long passages of fluid guitar harmonies, generally mid to slow paced, and add an attractive veil of synthesization to it all, creating a most enjoyable listen. The vocals range far into the subhuman; deep and guttural. While they don't initially seem to pair well with the music, a few listens and the two elements soon seem inseparable. It would be interesting to see the band try some other vocal approach in the future however. What truly stands out on Oracle Moon is the professionalism in overall construct of the band's songwriting and the noteworthy musicianship. Now consider that this is simply one of the most addictive recordings of 2000 (in other words its catchy as hell!) and you have a release that must find its way into your grasp if you really care much at all about atmospheric and melodic Death Metal.

Its plainly evident that this is a group of musicians that take their music seriously and take time to write intelligent and articulate songs. For that alone you need to own this but more so because Oracle Moon is just a [great]album.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brutal and Beautiful Atmospheric Death Metal, November 7, 2000

By 

"chimerabeast" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oracle Moon (Audio CD)

It has been a long time since I heard a death metal CD that has as much passion and emotion as Oracle Moon. Each song sucks you into another dimension and doesn't let go. Tons of time changes and variations in song structure keep you enraptured from beginning to end. To miss this would be a huge mistake! AMAZING!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EPIC AND FURIOUS ASTRAL DEATH METAL, October 8, 2000

By 

GOLUM (Lying in wait for mine next victim) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oracle Moon (Audio CD)

Oracle Moon is my favorite metal release of this year along with The Chasm's Procession to the Infraworld. Garden of Shadows is among the best of a unique breed of Brutal yet melodic Death metal that blows away the milder Gothenburg DM scene. This very technical quintet is from the DC area which is home to a more obscure DM band that also blasts called Forty Days Longing. Finally I must say to Mary the bassist, you are a Death Metal GODDESS!!!