Prominence & Demise

Winds | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 4, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: The End Records
• ASIN: B000U6YKD2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #312,710 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

SEA OF TRANQUILITY

a stunning affair, littered with intricate instrumental passages, majestic, even highly symphonic keyboard flourishes

Product Description

Winds returns! 'Prominence and Demise' is their third album of sublime symphonic metal art. Features veterans of the Norwegian metal elite (Mayhem, Dimmu Borgir, Arcturus, Age Of Silence), plus guest appearances by Dan Swano and members of Madder Mortem and Solefald.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love all of Winds' cd's, but this is their best yet., November 7, 2008

By 

Old School Gamer "What the hell's a gigawatt!?!" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prominence & Demise (Audio CD)

This band consists of members of many highly successful metal acts, perhaps most of all Hellhammer, one of the best known underground drummers of all-time. The band itself is a highly skilled and genuinelly unique combination of classical, progressive, and metal styles. Violin's, Cello's, Piano, Guitar, Drums, and Bass(among others) are all present and recieve equal playtime in something truelly magical in the world of metal.

Their previous albums were much less metal oriented than this album is. There is much more guitar/drum syncopation, guitar solo's, and metal rhythmes, but that is not to say that there is any less string work on the record. This is what bands like Therion have done, but I think this band actually does it better. Winds' approach is very different from someone like Therion though, so I don't want to be misleading. Where Therion relies heavily upon operatic vocals and more classical instruments on their albums than the metal aspects, Winds does the opposite. There are clean vocals, but they are a more freeform and like something you might hear in gothic metal(male sung gothic metal like Moonspell or Sentenced), not power metal. His voice is unique and he does a wonderful job of keeping the band legitimatly singular in their craft. But the music overall is, as I stated a few times already, more metal oriented and almost every song on their records includes simple but amazing guitar riffs/solos and drumbeats. It is worth nothing(again) that the drummer of Winds is none other than Hellhammer, one of the best and under-appreciated drummers in the scene. Whereas he has been known for his speed and insane dexterity/agility previously, he brings to Winds a melodic and creative sensibility that diversifies him from most underground metal drummers. Think Hoglan from Death's "Symbolic". His beats are always varied and he loves to add splashs, fills, and a vast array of double-bass syncopations to match what is going on with the guitarwork. None of his work impresses me as much as his work with Winds, especially on this particular cd.

This cd is for fans of all kinds of melodic metal, classical music, and progressive metal. Fans of any of these genre's will find something to appreciatte herein.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Set the record straight, November 11, 2007

By 

S. E. Miller "millese2" (Minersville, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prominence & Demise (Audio CD)

If you read the other reviews here you may get a distorted view of what this album is about. Lars Eric Si's vocal performance is spot on for this album. His style is definitely not a normal power metal/traditional metal style. It's more of a relaxed, non-forced approach which tends to sound very organic. Carl August Tideman's guitar work is outstanding, but what else should you expect... His two handed style continues to impress, especially when it comes to his solos. The solos are very far removed from that of Opeth, as previously stated, as they tend to be more short lived and fast paced. One thing to note is that there is a lot more palm muting and rhythm played than on the previous albums. Hellhammer once again puts forth an outstanding performance. He shows once again why he is one of metal's most brilliant drummers. And last, but certainly not least, Andy Winter provides an excellent backdrop of keyboards and piano work. This album is not about being over the top with progressiveness, nor is it about flashy showmanship. This album always puts me in mind of metal musicians taking a more laid back approach and making quiet metal. This is definitely recommended to fans of progressive/power metal as well as any fans of the members previous work. This album will definitely stay on my list for some time.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Album of 2007, November 14, 2007

By 

Rhonda Florio - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Prominence & Demise (Audio CD)

This is one awesome album..Thats all I gotta say...If your a fan of Progressive Metal...check it out.