This is quite an impressive follow-up to last
year’s "The Water Sprite" disc, which itself had much appraisal.
Noekk’s
sophomore offering, "The Grimalkin," is no flop! Instead, it has
begun to weave it's own web in prog. rock / metal. Featured are 3 tracks,
but they are heavily formatted into over 40 minutes total. Not only has
Baldachin & Yugoth (Helm & Schwadorf) created a binding opus of
stellar progressive music, they managed to keep it hard-hitting as well.
Many parts of the disc have the subtlety followed almost directly by the
aggression, so that's what makes it more hard-hitting to me. This album
is much different than the first album, but still showcases a free-flowing
wall of integrity. Everything put into this like the keyboards, the guitars,
vocals, and whatnot, seem to always evolve without really sounding like
there is too much going on. The slower, more acoustic passages are sorta
haunting or mystical but still quite melodic. They actually remind me of
the newer, more acoustic Opeth parts! I'm sure that wasn't the intention,
but nevertheless Noekk have created genuinely! If you have the patience
and the mind for good music, you will likely enjoy this release.....
Rating: 91
Reviewed By: Thomas Mitchell |
