Title: Der Zeit Abhanden
Artist: Adversus
Genre: Darkwave / Medieval / Fantasy
Release Date: 3rd December 2010
Label: Sonorium Records
Album Review
ADVERSUS, established as they have been for these eleven years, have chosen to title their new beautifully packaged cd and book bundle 'Der Zeit abhanden' (Lost in time) and subtitle it 'Elf Märchen für Entflohene' ( Eleven Tales for Escapees) - which could lead you to wonder how they feel about their time in the band, except this is a foray into conceptual art and music that one rarely sees these days being visually dynamic and musically interesting enough to make the most jaded ear sit up and take notice.
There is an impressively restrained orchestral intro, never giving a glimpse of the sheer brute force that will come after as it lulls you into a false sense of security. 'Gespinte' soon wakes you up with a brutal vocal assault and a hell of a driving bass. 'Brüder' begins with frantic piano and flutes, overlayed by operatic soprano work and guttural hissings. It's an interesting voyage into dark territory whilst 'Unter den Hüllen' swoops down upon you and you find youself expecting a band of Valkyrie to appear brandishing synthesizers.
It's fair to say that every song on this album is a surprise but it's not designed to shock just for the sake of it, everything has its merits not least of all the fact that the mix is impeccable. 'Einer Nacht Gewesenes' is a dark wave masterpiece with soaring soprano and dark breathy contrasting vocals whilst 'Entropia' is a real work of art, being totally instrumental and totally mindblowing.'Ein Ding im Spiegel' (check out their myspace for a taster video- creepy and wonderful) and 'Das Mädchen mit den Grablichtern', both pass acquitting themselves well, the latter being one of my favourite tracks on the album with its plaintive medieval melody and beautifully sung vocal.
On this track, the vocal contrasts between the male and female singer really work to their best effect. 'Feuersbrunst im Jammertal' is another that you think will be tragic and eerie but soon you are assaulted by a cacophony of cleverly mixed sound, making it another master class in how to do everything right on a very ambitious album. The further into the album you get, the more and more medieval it begins to sound and 'Dies' minniglich' Lied' allows their top class drummer to stretch his wings a little and ends up sounding like Jethro Tull during their best 'Songs from the Wood' era with a really soulful female vocal overlay.
'Kellerkind' offers us a rare and wonderful taste of clean male vocals, something I did wish there was a little more of and maybe that is why it's ended up being my favourite of the whole album- it's awe inspiring in its strength and simplicity, a really beautiful offering. 'In des Hades Tiefen' metals up the end of the album nicely with double peddling all over the place and screaming guitars over dramatic bass, and is the sort of musical equivalent of an Hieronymous Bosch painting which is a nice prelude to the Epilog (if you can say that), which is another orchestral work of art.
This is more than simply a concept album; this seeks to change the way we look at bought music and offers us so much more than a disc which we can slip into our cd players. It has taken thought, planning and above all a devotion to the idea of the finished whole to bring this album to birth. It's impressive both in its concept and in its execution and they have certainly won me over as a fan.
Tracklist
01. Prolog
02. Gespinste
03. Brüder
04. Unter den Hüllen
05. Einer Nacht Gewesenes
06. Entropia
07. Ein Ding im Spiegel
08. Das Mädchen mit den Grablichtern
09. Feuersbrunst im Jammertal
10. Dies' minniglich' Lied
11. Kellerkind
12. In des Hades Tiefen
13. Epilog
Line-up
Torsten Schneyer ('Rosendorn') - Vocals
Aysel - Vocals
Carsten Hundt ('Bassmeister') - Bass
Sebastian Kuhn - Guitars
Lestaria - Violin
Johanna Dietz - Vocals
Pia ('La Musica') - Keyboards
Thomas Eifert - Drums
Website
http://www.adversus.de/ / http://www.myspace.com/adversusband
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 10
Extras: 10
Total: 9.7 / 10
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