Like most Metalheads,
I tend to be wary of Metal bands that have a keyboard
player. Keyboards can work in Metal, but most of the time they do not.
Fortunately,
Mistweaver is one of those bands that make it work and it really adds
to Mistweaver’s sound. Mistweaver
are
still a melodic Death Metal band though
which means that you are in for a rough, but tasty treat. Brutal passages,
where
the drummer seems to be hell bent on smashing his drumkit,
and melodic passages
are interwoven in such a way that the listener is thrown around from one musical
extreme to the other, and sometimes he is exposed to them at the same time. But
this is exactly what gives melodic Death Metal its atmospheric touch that is so
important
to
this genre.
Mistweaver follows this principle right from the beginning. The first song, for
instance, is an atmospheric intro where the cries of a newborn infant are framed
by an acoustics guitar and a drum sequence that adds a dark touch due to its
surprisingly slow speed. Right after
the intro is over,
the second song kicks in
without even the slightest hint of a break. You are immediately greeted by a
fast paced drum sequence and the typical Death Metal growling. Also, the
keyboard is used with great skill here and is allowed to add a melodic touch to
the song that makes its rough parts shine even more. Death Metal is all about
extremes after all.
The third song “Pandemonium” goes even further. Death Metal growling, a female
background singer, keyboard sequences and several guitar solos from which also
more regular Metal bands would benefit a lot.
Another noteworthy song is “End of Times,” where the female background singer
gets a much more dominant role. Her clear vocals simply add something
melancholic to the song, something that allows the listener to take a breath
while still keeping up the mood.
All in all,
Mistweaver’s “Nocturnal Bloodshed” is simply a great listening
experience that even fans who do not consider themselves full blown Death Metal
fans are likely to enjoy!
