And Thou Shalt Trust... The Seer [IMPORT]

Haggard

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 11, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Edel Germany
• ASIN: B00000B8AA
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #148,132 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Chapter 1: The Day As Heaven Wept

2. Chapter 2a: Origin Of A Crystal Soul

3. Chapter 2b: Requiem In D-Minor

4. Chapter 3a: In A Pale Moon's Shadow

5. Chapter 3b: Cantus Firmus In A-Minor

6. Chapter 4: De La Morte Noire

7. Chapter 5: Lost (Robin's Song)

8. Outro: A Midnight Gathering

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely worth buying, October 14, 2000

By	Süleyman Okan (Istanbul, Turkey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Haggard have been around for many years, but only with this album they could meet fame. Their orchestral sound has gained a touch of metal in The Seer. But in many places the metal sound feels like an instrument to give voice to the anger that is expressed in the album. It is so subtle most of the time that you can expect the same sound from a symphony orchestra. So Haggard has not changed in the essence of their music. Do you want a proof? My mother listens to it.

The album, overall, is one of the best I have listened to in these past two years. Their folk, as well as Baroque, not to mention metal, melodies, touching upon many classical works such as Peter and the Wolf, arranged and collaged in such a beautiful way, enhanced with the use of three languages, create a genre rarely explored before. Even though the repetition of certain beats and tunes create a sense of 'cut and paste' after some time, there is no denying the immense effort that went into this record.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Music Ever, November 7, 2004

By	Mikail Goykhman "Blind Guardian" (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I just got my hands on this album I was expecting something more in the genre of Therion, Nightwish, and perhaps other Symphonic Metal bands. However, this band is completely differnt from the above, not that Therion is bad, they're awesome as well. However, Haggard has much more depth to it. The music never has a simple repeating beat, there are intricate transitions and parts for all of the 16 members of the band. Even the vocals are amazing, which range from operatic female vocals to the black/death grunts of the male vocalist, however the this is no death metal. The male vocals are perfectly in place and as someone added in a previous review, the vocals add to the angry/sad tone of the music in certain places. Seriously though, I am not a fan of death metal and only occasionaly listen to black metal (Check out Tvangeste, awesome band that utilizes a whole orchestra as well, however the vocals are more toward black metal), but this music is awesome. It's more toward the classical genre, however a fan of Symphonic Metal will love this as will anyone who has an appreciation for good music.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique, March 19, 2001

By	DaRkSoL (Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico) - See all my reviews

I finally got my hands on this CD at (of all places) a Theatre of Tragedy gig and was glad to discover that it lives up to all the praise I'd heard about it. Though other bands mix classical elements with heavier music, I think Haggard is in a league all of it's own with this album.

I guess the difference is that Haggard actually uses the 14 piece orchestra as an integral part of their compositions rather than an atmospheric touch, lending the whole concept a more flowing, natural sound. And rather than drawing their influences from more recent classical music, they manage to incorporate lavish baroque sounds and choral work for a very full, rich sound. To top it off, the clean vocals and lyrics are very high quality, making this album cerebral beyond it's dazzling musicianship.

For all these reasons, the album gets a tad complex and is a bit difficult to listen to the first couple of times. After that it just grows on you in a big, big way. Perhaps the only caveat is that there are sometimes a few amateurish time changes, but I guess they can be attributed to inexperience. I expect their new album to be absolutely awesome, if this one is any indication. Another triumph for european metal.