Title: Chronicles of a Dying Era
Artist: Epochate
Genre: Classical Electronic
Release Date: 20th February 2009
Label: Subsound Records
Album Review
EPOCHATE was formed in 2008 by Victor Love most notable for his other band DOPE STARS INC. and Noras Blake (SPINEFISH / EDENYZED) and in studio sessions which frequently lasted day and night they created the monumental debut ‘Chronicles of a dying Era’.
I just had a musical encounter with MISSINCAT, purely acoustic and pretty calm but EPOCHATE is the exact opposite of that. The terms epic and cinematic are often used in electronic music as a means to adequately picture the sound or mood of a track but let me tell you these terms never have been more adequate than with EPOCHATE. As lots of other artists too, EPOCHATE take off with the album’s title track as opener. Low strings emerge from the background gradually getting louder and outstretch through the entire audible spectrum. Soon they’re getting perfect musical company with powerful down-tempo drum beats. The orchestral strings reach dramatic heights as if being the overture for Judgement Day itself. ‘Substantia’ starting with a multitude of epic strings develops in its further course to a neat club track with a thumping beat.
Not that fast in pace but hence with other qualities comes ‘Burning’. The strings this time have to share some more space with a couple of hand-made hard riffs and at many points these riffs are just pushing the strings to the back seat which is a quite a unique thing on this record. With ‘Introspection’ arises an in its essence very driving track that doesn’t rely on a fully club compatible rhythm but a fidgety drum section that’s also raising the adrenaline level and with the orchestra now back at the front in full-size it’s one hell of a ride through apocalyptic landscapes. The honour of becoming the monumental closing act of this gloomy symphony belongs to ‘Of Shade and Light’, a piece that has to get along without the forcing and sometimes raw vocals of Victor Love. And that proves to be no problem because the exuberant orchestral arrangements mingled with two-component drum section of organic and electronic parts makes every vocal use dispensable.
The question you have to ask after listening to this debut is: In which direction will they go when it’s time for the next album? At this point a progression of the sound established on ‘Chronicles of a Dying Era’ seems absolutely impossible to me except for some technical tuning or a few more natural instruments. We’ll see what the future brings but as both Noras Blake and Victor Love are seasoned musicians they might have a few aces up their sleeves. But for now we stick to the debut which will make fans of orchestral bombast and rock fall in love with its sound.
Tracklist
1. Chronicles of a dying Era – 6:00
2. 1600 A.D – 5:07
3. Substantia – 4:14
4. The Flood – 4:55
5. Creators – 4:59
6. Needle Hive – 3:42
7. Burning – 4:18
8. Introspection – 4:19
9. Of Shade and Light – 5:37
Line-up
Victor Love – Vocals, Guitars, Synths, Orchestral Programming
Noras Blake – Back. Vocals, Synths, Orchestral Programming, Samples, FX
Website
http://www.myspace.com/epochate
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 9
Extras: -
Total: 8 / 10
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