I'll bet you were expecting a higher rating on this album from me weren't you? Tor Mange, bassist for Extol (a band you KNOW I love) metal from Norway...still it gets a 5 from me why? Well because for this one I broke the rating down to two categories. In this one I rated the music and lyrics separately.
For me the music scores a perfect 5 out of 5. This is a CD full of frozen nordic black metal that is like none other. This CD is amazing. Melodic singing pieces intertwined with crazy black metal vocals that are what? Perfect? You name it Lengsel pulled it off on this album. Technical guitar work that sounds so deep it's like you fall into the layers. Layers meticulously built and backed with keyboards that while usually are underlying become as significant to the music as any other part. The CD opens with some scary crap, that reminds me of serious underground industrial/noise and then is obliterated by a double picking frenzy of guitars. As if to solidify this band doesn't mind taking on a touch of scary elements they have incorporated one of the most frightening samples I've ever heard in the song Hours. Mortified screams flow from your speakers and don't seem to end for a quite some time. They build music similar to Immortal Souls, but are more intense, and are not as "power metal" as Extol. I guess what I'm saying is Lengsel have formed their own style that is nothing short of superb.
Lyrically I give them a complete 0 out of 5. With the exception of one reference in the song Revival this CD has a complete lack of God lyrically. I'm sure some of you are already forming your ideas on flame mail to me and that's fine. I've had my copy of this album for nearly 2 weeks now and have had plenty of time to listen to and read the lyrics and formulate this review. I hated to have to present Lengsel like this, I so wanted them to be strong lyrically, as well as intense musically. The english portion of their lyrics are presented to you below.
To really top the lyrics off the album is nothing short of depressing. It's not like say Betrayal's lyrics where Marcus was eluding to having found a solution, this album just bums you out when you get into the lyrics. I've taken the liberty to type in the lyrics, with the exception of the 2 songs that are in Norwegian, to present to you here. I think you will see what I mean, when all is said and done, Lengsel's album offers no solace what-so-ever.
come comfort me...soon now
covering calm distortion
-------------
again I stare without really being able to-illusions
the verity terrifies
the dreams, the lies I deify
in despair I fail to understand whether
the dreams create the scruples
or the other way around
as the eyes being to sting
I am swallowed by an abstract state
the spirit of indifference is here
apathetic searching
the sorrow feels preposterous
within the psychotic chaos
the will smoothers
with the spew from the past
weakened I dry out the faith
and then kiss it's forehead
uncertain
slavering
This inner desperation is sort of religious
(apocalyptic)
no clammy hands can alter me
My God
Alleviate the many distressed
I firmly proclaim,
hand out the water to those who thirst
------------
I know it is dark outside
but I bear not to face it
alone
I compose a picture within a golden frame
-black picturesque
My eyes dance in a glassy stare
to the distant sound of musical
silence.
But somehow they lower in a pool
-all wet and obscure
and I see this face as a vivid picture of my very own self
and the eyes
they are watching me
and so am I
Inside out, whatever
I cannot grasp this
this duplicity
this lack of self-devotion
this classical cliche of a song.
---------------
I will never sleep again
I will go to my world
Where I always can change
everything
How could things end up like this?
All this hatred
I am part of it
All this hatred
I was part of it
until this very night
Never again
If man is sane, I am not
In these hours it is a blessing embracing insanity
-I am not one of them
And I can hear the screaming
They are screaming at me desperately
I did not understand what they were saying
That is why they scream
-No one really listens
I still do not understand
As the weeping continues
this dark feeling of hopelessness grows stronger
I know of their hatred
I will never sleep again
I will crush reality in our world
In my world they will receive
But their sanity is not mine.
----------------
Horrific death, you are closing in on me
circling silently toward the center of the earth
The rails lead the way, night and day
black tracks ahead
I keep my eyes on you
keep you in sight from a distance
and join in the carousel movements
afraid, awed
beholding the ghost-like smoke
I grow tired as the weary wheels go round
feel sick as the smelly smog surrounds me
I droop like snowdrops and wither
wait for your horrid hands to extend
and touch my white-stained arms of love.
------------------
Remove the tears
and the thrill they give
and melancholy (melancholy)
will become a burden
rather than a strength
devastates me
divides me
Among gods
I crawl
in a condition
forced upon me
freedom straining thought
Uncomplete
Fling salt in my eyes
so that the inner well
may drain away
and my visit stand visible
before me
Restless
I realize what I have summoned
hear the death-conscious moan
The world Monotone is now the nervous one
The world Monotone is now the nervous one
-----------------------
Wind be my Lord
You Are
Wind be my Lord
You Are
You take me (tear me) away
From this world's
My emptiness
I can nothing do
I'm moved
Storm
You smallest Breath of Wind
I live
How can I / always ruining my own dreams.
Bringing shame upon my own will
When the life lived scorns
The Greatest Wonder
Hate overflows.
5/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #84Reviewed by Tim McCreadyWhen Solid State signed Extol, I was impressed. I thought they had signed the perfect black metal band. They've definitely outdone themselves this time. I'm not about to try and decide who's better, but Oslo, Norway's Lengsel, through their unbelievable technical ability and originality is definitely giving Extol a run for their money. Not that there's any competition I'm sure. Lengsel's…Art for the Ears 2000Reviewed by Marco PovervestThis Norwegian band makes extreme metal with the emphasis on Extreme. This is not clear when you listen to the title-song which starts off this album with a dark but not heavy ocean-full of noises. But then follows Revival with fast rolling double-bass, roaring guitars and a pounding bass. This must be the soundtrack of someone being in the middle of a thunderstorm, out on the sea. Lengsel is a…The Phantom Tollbooth 2000Reviewed by Josh SpencerIt's strange that Tooth and Nail is signing these Norwegian imports to their Solid State hardcore imprint, first Extol and now, Lengsel (obviously, the fact that the guitarist/ vocalist for Lengsel is also the bassist for Extol had something to do with it). Let's hope T&N head honcho Brandon Ebel continues to be true to his metal roots--he used to work for Frontline, Napalm Death was listed as…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by CrusaderSolace is a cd for which I have mixed feelings. Nothing to do with lyrics though, well not really anyways, cause I don't even usually pay attention to lyrics when listening to music, of course there's always the exceptions but anyhow.. If you've read other reviews of mine, you probably know by now I'm one of those people who can't stand sucky production. That is my only complaint with this cd.…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by SORGI can not quit listening to this disc!!! (at time of printing) I have owned this for 8 days and it has not left my disc changer yet. I listen to this masterpiece at least once through daily. It is that good!!! The music is brilliant and also very hard to describe. The overall sound is black metal but unlike any black band I have ever heard. There are bound to be some comparisons to Extol mostly…Similar sounding releases
1999ClemencySpiritual Domination
1994Living SacrificeInhabit
1996EmperorIn the Nightside Eclipse
1999KekalEmbrace the Dead
1998AntestorThe Return of the Black Death
2003MoriahWhere, Death, Is Your Victory
