Of Breath and Bone - initial thoughts

Concertmusic · June 1st, 2012, 08:50 AM

Since I am WAY too old to be called a fan-boy, I will start this thread with the honest warning that it WILL, in fact, contain fan-boy gushing - so be it.

I have just purchased and downloaded "Of Breath and Bone", and have only made it through the first track "Abeyance" - and already have to take a breather.

This opener sounds EXACTLY like the next track from a band that created "Stone's Reach" - which is EXACTLY what I personally was hoping for. I hear all of the elements that made the previous CD the best progressive melodic death metal CD I have in my possession, and I could not be happier about this.

However......the production quality appears to be even better! George sounds less muddied (not that this was a big negative last time, but it appears to be just different enough to be noticable), and more up front; the guitars lead the way with their usual force and passion, and I can clearly hear the bass and drums as distinct entities.

I am absolutely stoked, and very grateful to the band for spending the time and effort to give this new CD to us.

On the Track 2 - with a big, goofy smile on my face!

Furious George · June 1st, 2012, 09:07 AM

Thanks for the feedback mate! Hopefully the rest of the album also meets your expectations

Concertmusic · June 1st, 2012, 11:45 AM

Gentlemen -

Words fail me, so I will try to explain this as concisely as possible:

Based on your band picture, I have 10 or 15 years on you. I have played (classical trumpet) and heard (mostly classical and metal) quite a lot of music in my time, and continue to expand my horizons at every opportunity.

I have over 50 CDs and LPs of different performances of Beethoven's 3rd Symphony - the entire work, but especially the 2nd movement, if performed slowly and somberly, may be the epitome of music - and life, at least to me.

After one listen so far to "Of Breath and Bone", I 'fear' that it may assume a ranking in my music collection right there with the immortal Ludwig van Beethoven.

There will be many more listens to come over the next days and weeks - but I hope the above can convey in some form how this CD has affected me after one go-around.

Thank you for this opus.

fifthwinter · June 2nd, 2012, 12:43 AM

Wow, thanks! Incredible to think that the album has resonated like that with you.
I hope it continues to do so for a long time.
Cheers for giving us your thoughts and for joining our forum

Uneasy_Conscience · June 3rd, 2012, 11:14 PM

The album is awesome, for sure. The production is perfect and the songs are great. I need to listen more to let it digest....not sure if I can honestly say it's better than Stone's Reach :-) but I'm loving it so far. Especially Remnants....awesome song.

onedback · June 4th, 2012, 03:27 AM

I still havent got my cd unfortunately but ı am sure the rest of the songs are kick ass.I havent heard apart from that 2 songs and dont know ı can maintain my patiance any longer

Concertmusic · June 4th, 2012, 08:37 AM

Over the weekend, I thought about my statement above multiple times. Using Beethoven as a point of comparison should not be done lightly.

Just in case there is any doubt - after several more listens on Sunday (and after not listening at all on Saturday to give it a break), I fully stand by my statement. I am still convinced that this album will stand the test of time, and I will still support this claim in a month, in three, in twelve....

I'll check back in a month on this post and will update - in the meantime, I am still discovering tiny little new features in each song with each listen.

Uneasy_Conscience · June 5th, 2012, 08:02 AM

that's what makes albums special ^. I'm that way with most, if not all, of Devin Townsend's stuff.

rouw316 · June 8th, 2012, 02:19 PM

Agreed regarding Devin Townsend's stuff. Would love to say the same thing about Of Breath and Bone, but I haven't received it yet lol Hopefully next week!!!

poidaobi · June 13th, 2012, 03:31 AM

Dat riff - 2:15 of In Parting...you better play this live.

7:53 of The Dream and the Waking....fuuuuuark

Fraught probably my fav overall.....which means it's probably the worse song since I like Held in Hollows off Stones Reach. lulz.

Blizk · June 15th, 2012, 06:05 PM

Demand exceeded supply for the first pressing of CDs here in Europe, which is quite awesome if you ask me. The Finnish street date got pushed back to Wednesday because of it though

Concertmusic · June 28th, 2012, 07:47 AM

I really enjoyed the recent interview in Lorenzo's Kolony Records forum - in particular, Steven Merry's mention of the structured song-writing process you use.

Over the past several weeks, I have played a shuffled playlist containing all three of your albums on a daily basis, usually during my commute to and from the office, which allows me to concentrate best on what I am listening to. In hearing a random selection across all three CDs, it has become very clear to me how consistent your song-writing has been throughout these works. All of the ideas that you have expanded upon and bettered with every new album were all there in "The Frail Tide", but you have managed to improve and fine-tune many of the aspects. There is a clear progression of ability in all areas, but at the same time, you have consistently stuck with providing melody first, atmosphere, heaviness, and everything else second.

I have heard each of your songs about 15 times in the past month, and I am still discovering new facets every time I hear a track again. That is the measure of longevity - and I have no plans to change my listening habits anytime soon.

I continue to stand in awe.

Huckleberry · August 2nd, 2012, 04:55 PM

I just recently got into Be'lakor coming from bands like Insomnium and Dark Tranquillity. I must say these guys are phenomenal. I'm liking everything they do. It has a dark and brutal vibe, but with an underlying sense of intelligence and hope. Awesome stuff.

By the way, is it pronounced "bay la core," "bee la core," or "bell a core?" Haha, trying to pronounce this is like a tick on my ass.

Blizk · August 4th, 2012, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Huckleberry

By the way, is it pronounced "bay la core," "bee la core," or "bell a core?"

I think the last mentioned is close to correction

Thimon · August 4th, 2012, 09:13 AM

Hey guys, finally some words from me too

Your new album is really phenomenal! Takes a while to get all the details and layers in the songs but is SOOOO worth the time invested. Listened to the album mostly while driving to and from work and all I can say is WOW. You outdid yourselves once again. No weak points on that album in my opinion, every song has a little bit of it's own vibe but they're all 150% Be'lakor.

Simply stunning

Huckleberry · August 4th, 2012, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blizk

I think the last mentioned is close to correction

"bell a core" it is. Thanks, brotha'.

fifthwinter · August 5th, 2012, 02:08 AM

That is the correct pronunciation Huckleberry (and welcome to the forum).
Thimon, it's great to hear your thoughts on the album - very pleased that it hasn't been a let down for you!

Huckleberry · August 5th, 2012, 01:12 PM

Thanks. You guys are excellent. Keep up the killer tunes.

Juho M · August 15th, 2012, 04:04 AM

Impressive work again, gents. Hope you had a good run in the old continent.

Kenneth R. · September 14th, 2012, 06:05 PM

Somebody recommended I check out your new disc.

So I did.

It's amazing. It's hard to find fresh sounds and cohesive arrangement in this era of sound-alikes.

June 1st, 2012, 08:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
Concertmusic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 153	Of Breath and Bone - initial thoughts Since I am WAY too old to be called a fan-boy, I will start this thread with the honest warning that it WILL, in fact, contain fan-boy gushing - so be it. I have just purchased and downloaded "Of Breath and Bone", and have only made it through the first track "Abeyance" - and already have to take a breather. This opener sounds EXACTLY like the next track from a band that created "Stone's Reach" - which is EXACTLY what I personally was hoping for. I hear all of the elements that made the previous CD the best progressive melodic death metal CD I have in my possession, and I could not be happier about this. However......the production quality appears to be even better! George sounds less muddied (not that this was a big negative last time, but it appears to be just different enough to be noticable), and more up front; the guitars lead the way with their usual force and passion, and I can clearly hear the bass and drums as distinct entities. I am absolutely stoked, and very grateful to the band for spending the time and effort to give this new CD to us. On the Track 2 - with a big, goofy smile on my face!

June 1st, 2012, 09:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
Furious George Jeremy's Iron Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 973	Thanks for the feedback mate! Hopefully the rest of the album also meets your expectations __________________ Be'lakor - Australian Melodic Death Metal

August 2nd, 2012, 04:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
Huckleberry Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 17	I just recently got into Be'lakor coming from bands like Insomnium and Dark Tranquillity. I must say these guys are phenomenal. I'm liking everything they do. It has a dark and brutal vibe, but with an underlying sense of intelligence and hope. Awesome stuff. By the way, is it pronounced "bay la core," "bee la core," or "bell a core?" Haha, trying to pronounce this is like a tick on my ass. Last edited by Huckleberry : August 2nd, 2012 at 07:03 PM.

September 14th, 2012, 06:05 PM	#20 (permalink)
Kenneth R. Cináed Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hallways of Always Posts: 17,521	Somebody recommended I check out your new disc. So I did. It's amazing. It's hard to find fresh sounds and cohesive arrangement in this era of sound-alikes. __________________ The greatest story leaves you before a door to the dark. felix, qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.

June 1st, 2012, 11:45 AM	#3 (permalink)
Concertmusic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 153	Gentlemen - Words fail me, so I will try to explain this as concisely as possible: Based on your band picture, I have 10 or 15 years on you. I have played (classical trumpet) and heard (mostly classical and metal) quite a lot of music in my time, and continue to expand my horizons at every opportunity. I have over 50 CDs and LPs of different performances of Beethoven's 3rd Symphony - the entire work, but especially the 2nd movement, if performed slowly and somberly, may be the epitome of music - and life, at least to me. After one listen so far to "Of Breath and Bone", I 'fear' that it may assume a ranking in my music collection right there with the immortal Ludwig van Beethoven. There will be many more listens to come over the next days and weeks - but I hope the above can convey in some form how this CD has affected me after one go-around. Thank you for this opus.

June 2nd, 2012, 12:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
fifthwinter ... Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 466	Wow, thanks! Incredible to think that the album has resonated like that with you. I hope it continues to do so for a long time. Cheers for giving us your thoughts and for joining our forum

June 3rd, 2012, 11:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Uneasy_Conscience Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Nanjing Posts: 5,782	The album is awesome, for sure. The production is perfect and the songs are great. I need to listen more to let it digest....not sure if I can honestly say it's better than Stone's Reach :-) but I'm loving it so far. Especially Remnants....awesome song.

June 4th, 2012, 03:27 AM	#6 (permalink)
onedback am ı me now ı see who u s Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 6	I still havent got my cd unfortunately but ı am sure the rest of the songs are kick ass.I havent heard apart from that 2 songs and dont know ı can maintain my patiance any longer

June 4th, 2012, 08:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
Concertmusic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 153	Over the weekend, I thought about my statement above multiple times. Using Beethoven as a point of comparison should not be done lightly. Just in case there is any doubt - after several more listens on Sunday (and after not listening at all on Saturday to give it a break), I fully stand by my statement. I am still convinced that this album will stand the test of time, and I will still support this claim in a month, in three, in twelve.... I'll check back in a month on this post and will update - in the meantime, I am still discovering tiny little new features in each song with each listen.

June 5th, 2012, 08:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
Uneasy_Conscience Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Nanjing Posts: 5,782	that's what makes albums special ^. I'm that way with most, if not all, of Devin Townsend's stuff.

June 8th, 2012, 02:19 PM	#9 (permalink)
rouw316 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 271	Agreed regarding Devin Townsend's stuff. Would love to say the same thing about Of Breath and Bone, but I haven't received it yet lol Hopefully next week!!!

June 13th, 2012, 03:31 AM	#10 (permalink)
poidaobi Held in Hollows Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 1,316	Dat riff - 2:15 of In Parting...you better play this live. 7:53 of The Dream and the Waking....fuuuuuark Fraught probably my fav overall.....which means it's probably the worse song since I like Held in Hollows off Stones Reach. lulz.

June 15th, 2012, 06:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
Blizk Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oulu, Finland Posts: 309	Demand exceeded supply for the first pressing of CDs here in Europe, which is quite awesome if you ask me. The Finnish street date got pushed back to Wednesday because of it though

June 28th, 2012, 07:47 AM	#12 (permalink)
Concertmusic Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 153	I really enjoyed the recent interview in Lorenzo's Kolony Records forum - in particular, Steven Merry's mention of the structured song-writing process you use. Over the past several weeks, I have played a shuffled playlist containing all three of your albums on a daily basis, usually during my commute to and from the office, which allows me to concentrate best on what I am listening to. In hearing a random selection across all three CDs, it has become very clear to me how consistent your song-writing has been throughout these works. All of the ideas that you have expanded upon and bettered with every new album were all there in "The Frail Tide", but you have managed to improve and fine-tune many of the aspects. There is a clear progression of ability in all areas, but at the same time, you have consistently stuck with providing melody first, atmosphere, heaviness, and everything else second. I have heard each of your songs about 15 times in the past month, and I am still discovering new facets every time I hear a track again. That is the measure of longevity - and I have no plans to change my listening habits anytime soon. I continue to stand in awe.

August 4th, 2012, 09:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
Thimon Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bavaria, Germany Posts: 832	Hey guys, finally some words from me too Your new album is really phenomenal! Takes a while to get all the details and layers in the songs but is SOOOO worth the time invested. Listened to the album mostly while driving to and from work and all I can say is WOW. You outdid yourselves once again. No weak points on that album in my opinion, every song has a little bit of it's own vibe but they're all 150% Be'lakor. Simply stunning

August 5th, 2012, 02:08 AM	#17 (permalink)
fifthwinter ... Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 466	That is the correct pronunciation Huckleberry (and welcome to the forum). Thimon, it's great to hear your thoughts on the album - very pleased that it hasn't been a let down for you!

August 5th, 2012, 01:12 PM	#18 (permalink)
Huckleberry Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 17	Thanks. You guys are excellent. Keep up the killer tunes.

August 15th, 2012, 04:04 AM	#19 (permalink)
Juho M Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Uleåborgsland Posts: 261	Impressive work again, gents. Hope you had a good run in the old continent.