Customer Reviews

Reflections of the I

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i hope the review Sergio Morales didnt turn off a person from buying this marvelous record.its so funny really,,when he says that this album has flat guitar work,please..and then he goes by the really laughable comment of"they dont even play the symphonic instruments! how do they tour??",,im asuming he thinks every band must tour and or hasnt heard of synths,,,and the fact that one can arrange music for instruments you dont play doesnt pass through this ignorants mind

Well first off I will start off by saying that I have owned this CD for many, many months now and I have to say, that I can still listen to it over and over again without getting tired of it. The orchestra and the guitars combined with one of the most soothing voices in metal (besides Opeth) has got to be the greatest combination EVER! I've read a lot about how some people think that they have too many guitar solos...and I have to say..."quit being so jealous, put on the headphones and enjoy the greatest guitars on this earth!" THEY NEVER PLAY THEIR GUITAR TOO MUCH, EVER. It is all perfectly harmonized to create the soothing sounds of the orchestra and the insane guitar, and still not over do it. These guys are pure talent...no questions asked...no ifs, ands, or buts about it. They are not trying to create a "im alone and no one is out there," thing, they are just merely attempting something that hasn't been done before. AND THEY WERE SUCCESFULL!!

The vocalist...he has the best voice I have ever heard. He can sing, and I will say it one more time for emphasis...HE CAN SING. Contrary to what "Sergio Morales" thinks this is the FARTHEST thing away from an emo-hardcore voice. Becuase, first of all, I ABSOLUTLEY DESPISE EMO WITH A PASSION, and second, hardcore/metalcore just happens to be my favorite type of metal. So I belive I would know what that sounds like. If you are a fan of Opeth then you will LOVE the way he sings and you will ultimatly fall in love with every waking moment on the CD. My advice is not to listen to "Sergio Morales," and discover what true talent Winds posseses.

Winds is an orchestral maneuver in darkness. Only ocassionally does the band allow for light to pierce through and claim some semblance of joy in what is a reflection of sorrows and darkness in the mind of the i. First track "Clarity" sets the stage with listful violins and cellos which kick in dramatically with rat-a-tat drums from Mayhem and Kovenant drummer Hellhammer aka Jan Axel Von Blomberg and a vocalist who's style is one part Peter Steele of Type O Negative and equal parts Dishwalla, Opeth, and Marcy Playground. This creates a vocal melody that's fresh and constant of change. This is grand scale with minimalism in effect. Track two "Realization" continues the dark journey as it presents the listener with the key to the abyss which can be reflected in i.

The guitars are embellishments. They are the window dressing. Never do they take center stage but never are they lost and speak only when appropriate throughout the musical presentation. Think Yngwie Malmsteen with less ego.

Realization gets heavier towards the end with Hellhammer dishing up a plate of unrelenting double bass drums. Track #5 "Passions Quest" is a power metal epic which is one of the few times when light and brightness is allowed to shine through. No doubt this is the hope in the impending doom. It's soars and aurally it catches the right mood at the right time. Then as soon as you feel it's alright to smile then we're dragged back into the abyss with stalking vocals and calculated vocal motives.

The next few songs appear to be a melding of Ynwie Malmsteen and Opeth like compositions that never quite reach power metal but still retain an epic power metal feel.

Track #9 "Existence" offers the first real noticeable change in tempo and character since Track 3 "Of Divine Nature" in that this is once again soaring power metal with grandiose guitars and drumming with deep/clean vocal exchanges. This will satisfy those fans of Kamelot, Blind Guardian, or Helloween.

Tracks 10 and 11 set the stage for the brooding menace that follows. Slowed tempos and Opethian vocal harmonies hook handedly drag the listener into the darkest reaches of the subconscious. This is the point in the movement that we hear the Type O Negative influences manifesting themselves on Winds.

Track #12 is one of the darkest and in my humble opinion the best song. This is when our deepest desires to skulk and taste of the southern lips of creation, invited or uninvited. We sway in sexual disabandon.

By track #14 "Bloodstained And Sworn" we are in the throes of blood, sweat, and sex. We are not innocent. we are the secret desires of the blackened i.

Track 16 leaves us an "Eternity of Dreams" that begin to lift us back from that drenched bath in reflective darkness with a cold hand and a legitimate apology for taking us where we may not wish to enter or be reminded of...but it is with that realization in mind that WINDS takes us on this jounrey of mind and soul...an aural road winding and only slightly lit...as we are given a relection of the i and made to remember what made us yesterday and what will recreate us tomorrow.

WINDS is labeled as a neo-classical/progressive metal band.I really like all of their albums.The vocalist has an excellent voice and the guitarist is said to be better then malmsteen.This is a very soothing album that you can listen to over and over again and it never gets old.If you like melodic music I recommend this to you or anyone that is a fan of talented musicians.

Indeed, the greatest cd you've never heard. If you enjoy metal, than this is a cd you must buy NOW.

If you're looking for something different in the metal world, than this cd is for you. The vocals (CLEAN vocals, mind you) are excellent, the guitarwork superb, and the drumming unbelievable. Outstanding this are Andy Winter's keyboards, which add great depth and form the core of the music.

This CD is a definite must-buy for all metal fans. It is a perfect meld of classical and modern. I would classify it as 'neoclassical prog metal.' The violins and cellos are a key part of the sound and add immeasurably to the music.

I have only two minor complaints; the guitar solos are a little too Malmsteen-ish. Though some Jason Becker shines through, I would have preferred a more original approach to the solos. Also, Lars Eric Si's voice, while great for this cd, takes getting used to and is a little dull and, as another reviewer expressed, is "unemotive." he's a long way from being Bruce Dickenson or Matt Barlow, but I definitely prefer him to James LaBrie.

My recommendation to you is to buy this album immediately. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised and you'll have something that even non-metal fans can enjoy.

By and large this is a great record. It is certainly better than 99% of the stuff being written today, and should be picked up by any fan of hard rock, prog metal, or atmospheric/mood music (though the band is really none of these things).
The one caveat is the guy's voice. Depsite what has been said here and elsewhere, Lars Eric Si is not the next Dickinson or Tate. He is capable, but he does not emote as well or have the same range. His vocals have a timbre which takes a little getting used to, and his inability to emote consistently keeps this from being a 5 star record.
That being said, the musicianship here is beyond impressive. The guitars are beautiful and technical, while mostly managing to avoid the technique-for-technique's-sake exercises that plague some bands of this caliber. The strings from the Oslo Philharmonic also add immeasurably to the mood and tone, though in truth some of their use is a bit simplistic. What shines most brightly, however, are the keyboard talents of Andy Winter, who really makes this band's sound what it is.
Recommended, but be sure to give it more than one spin before passing judgment.

I often surf Amazon for recommendations on good music, and I often take the advice from other members posting their recommendations. I have had great success utilizing other viewers opinions in finding great music. 10 plus positive and overly excited reviewers of a great metal album prompted me to purchase this otherwise unheard of metal 4some. I was looking forward to this cd, needless to say. As an avid guitarist, percussionist and lifelong "metalhead" with a diverse background and metal music collection, I have to say the "MUSIC" herein is.......good. The songs are very complex throughout and the MUSICIANS are very talented. The guitar work sounds like a mix of Malmsteen and Satriani while the percussions are very impressive as well. The music itself is also very interesting. Why 3 stars???? Well, an easy answer is....this frontman is awful.
This cd, and band, could have been SO much better. Really, this singer gives me the idea that he is sitting, erect in a chair, and reading from a script.....NO range, NO energy and absolutely NO drive. For me, this is a waste of music if the frontman cant carry, or keep up with, the musicians. It is actually painful for me to listen to him try to keep up with the rather complex guitar riffs throughout. One reviewer compared this guy to Bruce Dickenson????????????????? Don't even tempt yourself on this nonsense. I wish i could delete the vocals and appreciate the music, but since i cant do this, this cd will most likely get another listen next year.

Agreeable enough smooth-death incorporates melodic arrangements and shows instrumental know-how but only pulls off a moderately impressive feat.

If you make it to this, please continue to read!

Neo-Classical Progressive Metal. Not Gothic (Sergio). This album is actually two albums in one! "Of Entity And Mind" and "Reflections Of The I". "Reflections Of The I" Being thier 2nd release.

These two pieces are subtle compared to the future pieces already made but, still amazing. Eikind, Won a vocal award for his contribution to this album. I love all the Winds releases. I reccomend for the die hard explorers of all types of metal!

I was surprised and very impressed with this album. The Oslo Symphony Orchestra really adds another dimension to this album, giving it a REAL classical feel, unlike the highly enjoyable but somewhat cheesy approach of most neoclassical metal. My only complaint is that sometimes the guitars are too loud and drown out the symphony, but it's a minor complaint. Anyone who likes dark progressive metal should snatch this one up in a heartbeat.