THE PROPHECY - "Into the Light" - REVIEWS

[Emi]

http://fyu.deathmetal.be/index.php?o...1246&Itemid=26

Review: The Prophecy Written by [83/100] MetalMichel Tuesday, 21 April 2009 The Prophecy

Into The Light

When I saw this album’s cover, my enthusiasm dropped a bit. I know that’s a bit stupid of me, but I deeply believe that any album should have a strong, interesting cover. When you think of it, it’s basic marketing. Sliding this disc in my stereo, I became deeply aware of the fact that you should never, ever, judge a book by its cover. For a good fifty minutes, this album hypnotized me. This is pure, breathtaking doom metal. The kind of music that makes black seem like a light color, the kind of music that turns my desk into a shrine, the kind of music that moves me. It’s amazing to hear a doom band this technical! This is a genre that thrives because of the atmosphere it creates, not via sick drumming, tight riffing and intricate solos. But this album has! Amazing musicians, playing almost jazzy while still delivering stone cold doom. Not an easy task to achieve. I was most exited to hear that these Brits have released some other albums as well; I have high expectations for those! A little research told me they used to play a more straightforward death/doom style, but with this album, they established a sound off their own. Can’t wait to hear them live!

83/100
MetalMichel

[Emi]

great video from MOSCOW DOOM FESTIVAL

You Tube

:r ock:

[Emi]

http://www.heavymetal.no/show.articl...=10&artid=9558

The Prophecy
Into the Light http://www.heavymetal.no/show.image.asp?pid=17542 Code666/AURAL (20.02.09)

Into the light!

Jo, tittelen passer godt den...hvis du er en møll i nærheten av en UV-lampe... For dette har ingenting med håp, dur, eller lyset for den slags skyld. Dette er doom med fotnoter. Sistnevnte fordi du får servert mye garnityr til biffen din, selv om den er både blodig og gammel. Avantgarde-liknende temaer med en nydelig (mannlig) cleanvokal utruster bandet til å bli noe mer enn nok et konformt engelsk doom-ensemble.

Bandet har delt scene med My Dying Bride og Mourning Beloveth flere ganger; debuten ble sluppet på Blackdoom Records (Hamish og Andrew relatert label); trommisen John Bennett kjenner mange som skinnpisker på A Line Of Deathless Kings (MDB 2006) etc.etc. Av dette skjønner du litt av hva du har i vente hvis du investerer tid og penger i disse engelskmennene.

Interessant er ordet som treffer meg først, helt til den hinsides vakre Echoes kommer og svir seg veg inn i øregangene mine. Rolig, forsiktig og fylt til randen av grenseløs melankoli: Dette er elementer som trigger de riktige nervene til en kravstor genreelsker. Hadde bandet stått mer på dette bandet fremfor den mer brautende formen for metal de ynder å dyrke over større deler av skiva, hadde dette virkelig vært en skive for årene som kommer. Låta som følger avkrefter genialiteten Echoes ymtet frempå om. Belief Means Nothing og den hissige All is Lost er beklageligvis altfor sprikende og teknisk (ja, teknisk og masete!) til å kunne gi mening for undertegnede som respons på nevnte ekstase.

Det er heldigvis mye annet snadder å glede seg over innimellom all aggresjonen her. Låta Waters Deep tar heldigvis opp tråden mht. tristesse og følsomhet, og tilfører skiva troverdighet (innenfor genren) og klimakset i brua (rundt 6.00 min) med tilhørende vendepunkt nærmer seg perfeksjon! Her måler de tidvis krefter med selveste Anathema om superlativene. Vel blåst!

Hope utgjør sammen med nevnte Echoes og Waters Deep, selve grunnlaget for å forsvare en anbefaling om å kjøpe verket. Disse skal brennes på egen disk og nytes igjen og igjen, for dette var virkelig flott.

Det blir spennende å se hva dette bandet finner på fremover, for det har kimen i seg til virkelig å bli store. Kanskje ved neste korsveg?

[Emi]

The Prophecy to coraz bardziej znany zespół z Wielkiej Brytanii oscylujący wokół szeroko pojętego doom’u z elementami gothic’u i death metalu. Na swoim koncie mają na razie trzy, coraz bardziej z biegiem czasu dojrzałe albumy. Ostatni, jeszcze świeży – „Into The Light” – stawia grupę w wysokiej czołówce metalowej sceny. Pytanie tylko, na jak długo ich marka pozostanie w pamięci w muzycznym świecie.

Od samego początku słychać, że zespół dobrze odnajduje się w obranych kierunkach. Pierwszy, zarazem tytułowy kawałek zaczyna się bardzo nisko, wolno i dosadnie. Przesterowane gitary tworzą niecodzienny klimat, wraz z growlującym wokalem. Temat bardzo przypomina dokonania niemieckiego Crematory, a szczególnie ich wczesne nagrania. Pojawiają się delikatnie czyste motywy na gitarze elektrycznej i melodyjny wokal, którego emocjonalny wyraz pobija ostatnią płytę My Dying Bride na głowę. Delikatnie, poprzez smutny riff i stukające partie perkusyjne, wgryza się kolejny numer – „Delusion”. Między spokojnymi miejscami wyrzucona jest w nas porcja szybszych zagrywek okraszonych growlem. Ukazana jest tu wyjątkowa melodyka, przeplatająca się ze smutkiem i wielkim mentalnym dołem. Gitary są niesamowicie proste, nie ma zbędnych ozdobników i śmieci – prawdziwy majstersztyk. „Don’t Forget” gości słuchacza wysmakowanym brzmieniem i idealnym przestrzennym rozmieszczeniem zarejestrowanych ścieżek. Mocne fragmenty dochodzą tutaj do granic wzniosłości doom metalu. Po przesłuchaniu połowy numeru, można odnaleźć wręcz progresywne zagrywki, jak i miejscami Immortal’owe growlujące wypluwacze. Nieco szybsza jazdą dochodzimy do końca i kolejnej pozycji – „Echoes”. Mamy tu nieco taśmowy wydźwięk produkcyjny, przypominający undergroundowe demówki. Spokojny wokal lidera zespołu - Matta Lawsona – dryfuje, przez wyszukaną balladową kompozycję. Mimo, że od początku wiedziałem, że mam doczynienia z zespołem z UK, to praktycznie od samego zapominałem się, podchodząc do materiału, jakby był on rodem z Szwecji, bądź Norwegii. Wymieniony wyżej kawałek, bardzo przypomina Opeth (z poziomu obecnego ale 10 lat młodszy). Ballada trwa przed prawie dziesięć minut, ale mogła by trwać spokojnie, jeszcze z pięć – widać tu naprawdę wielki talent aranżacyjny. „Belfief Means Nothing” dla odmiany przywala kawałkiem solidnego death metalowego zacięcia od pierwszych sekund odtwarzania. Podoba mi się tutaj bardzo akcja perkusji i wszystkich talerzy. Mamy tutaj death/black metalowe riffy (na potrzebę doom’u dość zwolnione w tempie) i kolejne wyciszone zagrywki. W tym numerze już wyraźnie słychać Creamtory, co cieszy na równi z progresywnym podejściem do rozwiązań muzycznych. Naleciałości thrashowe objawiają się w następnym „All Is Lost”. Szybko jednak przeistaczają się w kolejna progresje zmieszaną z nisko strojonymi dźwiękami. Kawałek w późniejszej części rozwija skrzydła w czysto death metalowych pomysłach. W myśl żwawszych kompozycji, „Waters Deep” nie zwalnia z tempa, grając zarazem jaśniej i przejrzyściej. Pojawiają się rwane uderzenia, konsekwentna gotycka (czyli umiarkowanie udziwniona) perkusja i klawisze ukazujące kolejną twarz The Prophecy. Po pierwszych minutach mamy bardzo chill out’owe balladowe akustyki i wokal pełen przejmujących słów (warstwa tekstowa jest naprawdę udana). Wszystko znajduje upust w przesterowanych wybrzmiewających akordach. Mamy również tutaj miejsce na wyjątkową solówkę rodem z lat ’90 i ery niezapomnianych trashowych gigantów. Całość sunie w jednym klimacie, wraz z wieloma ozdobnikami i wymieszanymi partiami instrumentalnymi, wieńcząc dzieło. Ostatni numer na tej niespełna godzinnej płycie to niepowtarzalny „Hope”. Tutaj, zespół pokazał wyjątkową klasę. Nie mogło być większego prezentu dla słuchaczy niż taki smaczek na sam koniec krążka. Jeśli ktoś chce wiedzieć, jak z prostego riffu gitarowego zrobić kawałek, który zostanie zapamiętany na bardzo długi okres czasu to musi tego posłuchać. Jest to bowiem perfekcyjna ballada z niesamowicie skomponowanym refrenem. Dziesięć minut podniosłego grania mogło by się bez problemu starać o miano jednej z najlepszych kompozycji ostatnich lat w kategorii zespołów które również reprezentuje The Prophecy. Na wielkie brawa zasługuje tutaj m.in. niesamowita solówka, podczas której głośniki same kręcą się na całość. „Hope” to zdecydowanie najlepszy numer na płycie, a zarazem jej posumowanie. Podsumowanie płyty na którą wszyscy czekali!

Krótko mówiąc - zespół ten dołączył dzięki tej płycie do czołówki metalowego grania i mam nadzieję, że dzięki temu zostanie przez odbiorców doceniony i z biegiem lat będzie rósł w siłę.

[Emi]

http://www.heavyhardes.de/review-5088.html

The Prophecy? Nie gehört. Gut, ich kenne mehr als einen Song gleichen Namens und die brasilianischen Thrasher Prophecy ohne den anführenden bestimmten Artikel, aber diese englische Band um Sänger Matt Lawson ist für mich eine totale Unbekannte. Gemäß dem ausweisenden Beipackzettel wird mir von Doom Metal berichtet und einer Band, die mit Into The Light bereits ihr drittes Studioalbum nach Ashes (2003) und Revelations (2007) veröffentlicht.
Somit betrete ich mit Into The Light Neuland und lausche den ersten Tönen des Titeltracks und zugleich Openers. Getragener Doom Death Metal in der Tradition von Szenegrößen wie etwa My Dying Bride, Swallow The Sun, Officium Triste oder den irischen Überfliegern Mourning Beloveth, die ich sehr schätze.
Jedoch geben sich die vier lärmenden Engländer hier weitaus vielschichtiger. Der Beginn von "Delusion" zum Beispiel beginnt wie ein progressiver Rocktrack mit Akustikgitarre und verhaltenem Drumming. Matt singt mit sanfter melodischer Stimme, um beim Einsetzen der elektrischen Distortion-Gitarren die tiefen Death-Growls rauszupressen. Dies zieht sich alternierend durch den kompletten Song. Starkes Stück. Progressives Feeling zeigt sich auch in dem mit einer feinen Psychotic Waltz-Melodie ausgestatteten "Don't Forget". Atmosphärisch dunkel und romantisch zugleich erfreut das nachfolgende ohne Growls auskommende "Echoes" die Lauschlappen in knappen zehn Minuten. Getragen durch Cello und wiederum akustischen Sechssaitigen steigt die Komposition in tragisch brachiale Sphären hoch und klingt dennoch zerbrechlich aber nicht pathetisch wehleidig. Hier kommen mir direkt die mächtigen 70er Jahre-Alben der klassischen Prog Rock-Bands in den Sinn. Dass man auch wie Six Feet Under rumpöbeln kann, beweist in Auszügen das wiederum vielschichtige "Belief Means Nothing". Verspielte Drumfills oder die starken Rhythmusgitarren machen aber ferner keine Gefangenen. "Waters Deep" könnte auch von Opeth stammen. Ein episches Füll an Emotionen und Stimmungsschwankungen. Oh Du schöne Traurigkeit.
Eine starke Platte, die umso mehr überrascht, wenn man als Hörender absolut nichts erwartet und dann so geplättet wird. Ein unkonventionelles Stück Musik, das keinem generellen Regelwerk gehorcht. Die Vielfalt der Scheibe erfasst man erst nach zig Umläufen. Ein überaus ambitioniertes Werk der Insulaner, das sich in keiner Weise hinter den Genregrößen zu verstecken braucht. Ein Hammer vor dem Herrn! Wer sowohl auf traditionellen Doom mit progressiver Schlagseite steht, als sich auch mit etwa 30-40 Prozent der Gesangsteile an Death Metal-Grunts ergötzen kann, sollte Into The Light schnellstens auf seinen audiophilen Speiseplan notieren. Mahlzeit!

[Emi]

http://hierophant-nox.com/reviews/th...ightreview.htm
The third full-length album of UK death-doom act The Prophecy is a difficult disc for me to approach; I liked 2003’s "Ashes", but I ADORED 2007’s "Revelations", a sprawling, soaring yet utterly morose release, boasting bucketloads of the sublime. To begin with, "Into the Light" stumped me a little, but after repeated listens I can conclude that while it doesn’t quite choke me up for an hour like its predecessor can, it’s a highly accomplished, focused dosage of carefully-structured misery. Despite its title, "Into the Light" sees The Prophecy take a darker, meaner turn, its pained emotions brooding beneath the surface, for the most part, rather than pouring out in anguish. The opening title track sets the pattern for the whole, with a sparse, murky intro creating expectant wonder, before the solemn onslaught of crushing, very British doom riffs and growled vocals take control. The typical switch up to clean gentleness, when it comes, seems too incongruous, but then the song swells and swallows all of its carefully-laid themes into one slow-burning whole, pitching moments of climax and reflection cleverly against each other to keep the interest levels high.
"Delusion", "Belief Means Nothing" and "All is Lost" make use of similar tactics, but bring with them a variation of guitar approaches, with a harder, chuggier death metal edge making its presence known. The excellent production carries these changes well, maintaining the sad, deep doom sound and making every twist crystal clear. Well-proportioned keyboards, in particular on "All is Lost", support this mixture of depth and soaring melancholy. "Into the Light" is more subtle than The Prophecy’s previous work; although Greg gets to let rip with a couple of breathtaking solos, he seems more constrained and devilish this time around, with less of the explosive virtuosity that characterised the last album. Tonal play and rhythmical trickery demand a closer ear than big emotive blasts, but can be rewarding all the same.
The concluding two tracks seem to see The Prophecy unleashed a little more, with "Waters Deep" witnessing Matt Lawson break out the kind of vocal soars that made tracks such as "Broken" and "Willow’s Hope" so beautiful; a progressive, strong, moving composition. "Hope" finally sees the band pull together their new-found control with a gorgeous structure, the cello accompaniment to which defies the listener to stay emotionally unattached. It seems that on "Into the Light", The Prophecy set out to show a more mature side; their hooks were never ‘easy’, given the sprawling nature of their songs, but their new material makes the listener work harder. Occasionally it sounds like growing pains are being experienced, but the album’s strong conclusion hints that the band are very much in control of their direction.










74/100

Ellen Simpson

[Emi]

http://masterful-magazine.com/recenz...cenzje&id=2446

Pierwsze skojarzenie pobiegło w kierunku naszych niedocenianych rodaków z Cemetery of Scream. Muzyka The Prophecy ma podobnie jesienne wibracje. Jesień w wydaniu Brytyjczyków jest nieco bardziej niewieścia w znaczeniu "zmienna". Momentami obserwuję powrót lata. Muzycy poczynają sobie wówczas zbyt słodko, lekko i niezobowiązująco. Szczęśliwie wakacyjna przygoda z reguły nie trwa długo i nawet jeśli nie zawsze kończy się sercowym dramatem, to na brak oparów mgielnych narzekać nie mogę. Żałuję, że twórcy "Into The Ligot" nie popisują się częściej środkami wyrazu zbliżonymi do tych, jakie zastosowali w siódmym na liście "All Is Lost". Sielanka przerodziła się w zdecydowanie niespodziewany atak zimy. Ta ustąpiła równie szybko jak się pojawiła, ale i tak zdążyła szarpnąć za zwierzęcą nutę. Trzeba przyznać, że The Prophecy w ramach gotycko/rockowej estetyki wypadają przekonywująco. Duża w tym zasługa nieuczesanej nostalgii, jakiej w bród na "Into The Light".

[Emi]

The Prophecy

"Into the Light"


(code 666 -- 2009)

The Prophecy - "Into the Light" Troisième album pour les doomsters anglais de The Prophecy, qui continuent à explorer les charmes du doom-death. Mais ici, ce ciment est décoré de passages atmosphériques, avec voix claires, nettement réussis. Certes, les dérives quasi-pop ne sont alors pas loin, mais le groupe parvient à ne pas trop sombrer dans le mièvre grâce au recours à des plans mélodiques qui rappellent l'Anathema époque "Elegy". Sensible mais pas guimauve. D'autant que le chanteur se sort vraiment très bien, techniquement parlant, de ses parties claires.
Evidemment, le groupe redonne tout de suite après dans le gros riffing doom et la grosse voix. Le problème, car il y en a toujours un, réside dans un certain manque de raffinement lors des passages doom, qui jurent vraiment trop avec les moments calmes. Raffiné, vous me direz qu'un disque de doom n'a pas forcément à l'être. Certes. Mais de là à tomber dans une certaine balourdise, il y a un pas dont le franchissement n'est pas recommandé. Or, ici, c'est bien de la balourdise dont les riffs doom s'approchent dangereusement. On les croirait parfois presque venus d'Allemagne : c'est dire ! Le résultat est que l'on s'ennuie assez fréquemment pour ne pouvoir décerner un satisfecit plein et entier. Et aussi, je ne sais pas ce qu'ont en ce moment les mecs des groupes, mais ici également, les conclusions des titres sont proprement à chier, avec des arrêt brutaux et sans préavis, qui ne renforcent évidemment pas la cohésion de l'ensemble. "Into the light" est à mon sens un album bien moyen, qui ne parvient que trop rarement à vous embarquer dans son monde. The Prophecy a manifestement atteint son plafond de compétence dans sa configuration stylistique actuelle.

Alexis Kieffer Decibels Storm - avril 2009

[Emi]

Qu'y a-t-il de plus beau, de plus pur, de plus émotionnel que le doom ? Où quand la douleur devient un art. Qu'y a-t-il de plus beau, de plus pur, de plus émotionnel que Into The Light, troisième pierre que The Prophecy sculpte d'un édifice déjà remarquable. S'il ne reste plus grand chose de la sainte trilogie du UK doom des années 90, entre un My Dying Bride désormais en pilotage automatique, un Anathema qui a honte de son passé et un Paradise Lost qui a déserté la cause, avec réussite néanmoins, le genre a pourtant essaimé des rejetons. The Prophecy est l'un d'eux. Les connexions avec le groupe de Aaron Stainthorpe existent d'ailleurs. Tous les deux viennent d'Halifax, le batteur John Bennet a dépanné l'ancêtre entre 2006 et 2007 et le dauphin a fait appel autrefois au violon et aux claviers.
Toutefois, débutant donc dans une veine très doom death avec Ashes en 2003, The Prophecy a peu à peu trouvé son identité, son style, en accostant des rivages plus mélodiques. Cette troisième offrande peut être considérée comme l'aboutissement de cette évolution. De fait, ils ont trouvé l'équilibre parfait entre noirceur rageuse et tristesse absolue. Le chant, tour à tour caverneux ou carrément plus émotionnel, est la clé de voûte de cette cathédrale que rongent ces deux sentiments. Ce nombre d'or a aussi été atteint en terme d'écriture, les titres, bien que toujours d'une longueur conséquentes, bénéficiant d'une architecture plus solide, plus fluide, aidé en cela par la production de Greg Chandler (Esoteric).
Into The Light agglomère huit odes douloureuses, désespérées et lumineuses à la fois. Le chemin de croix est entamé avec le charbonneux morceau éponyme, sans doute le plus death de tous, avec ses ruptures rythmiques où le temps semble s'arrêter, agonisant. Mais, toujours, il y a la voix claire de Matt Lawson (exceptionnel tout du long) à faire couler des larmes chez le plus endurci d'entre vous, qui vient contrebalancer cette négativité minérale.
"Delusion" et "Don't Forget" illustrent parfaitement la musique forgée par le groupe qui sait éviter de par trop s'abîmer dans une lenteur monolithique. Leur art ne se veut peut-être pas le plus dépressif mais il compense par une beauté poignante que ces complaintes irradient avec justesse, à l'image de cette ballade doom qu'est le magnifique "Echoes", respiration mélancolique et manière de pause avant la descente à la mine constituée de "Belief Means Nothing" et du terrible "All Is Lost", sur lequel plane l'ombre du grand Opeth. Ce sont des torrents vertigineux emportés par des guitares qui viennent toujours souligner le désespoir des lignes vocales.
Puis survient "Waters Deep", le sommet de l'album, longue échappée tragique éclairée par moment par le fantôme du Anathema de jadis et durant laquelle Lawson pleure l'inexorabilité de la vie. Comment ne pas être touché, ému lorsqu'il chante "I feel there's no time for us, I feel there's no place for us".
Enfin, Into The Light meurt sur le déchirant "Hope" que tissent des riffs qui portent toute la douleur du monde. Pour l'instant, tout simplement le meilleur album dans le genre, avec le Death Magic Doom de Candlemass, de l'année 2009 ! Un chef-d'oeuvre.

9/10

[Emi]

http://www.metallibrary.ru/articles/reviews/6637.html

"По мнению "Вед", есть два пути ухода из этого мира: один при свете, а другой во тьме. Если человек уходит при свете, он больше не возвращается, но если он уходит во тьме, то он вернётся снова". ("Бхагавад-Гита")
Не знаю, кому как, мне в этот мир загреметь в очередной раз не хотелось бы. Так что наш выбор ухода – при свете или, вернее, в свете – "Into The Light" то бишь. Такое случается редко, но когда получаешь диск непосредственно из рук музыканта, порой приходиться поднапрячься: а что делать, если на этот раз группа облажалась, чего писать-то в таком случае?! В этот раз тревог-сомнений не было: диск был получен на MoscowDoomFest'е, и на тот момент уже около месяца одними из самых популярных треков в моём виртуальном плэй-листе были "Waters Deep" и "Belief Means Nothing", прослушать которые я не упускал случая, всякий раз, когда заходил на MySpace страницу The Prophecy. Первая из этих композиций – десятиминутный эпический трек с мощным хэви-вступлением и преобладающим чистым вокалом, полным тяжёлой меланхолии и разочарования, радовала разнообразием музыкальных ходов и мелодий. Глубокие акустические пассажи плавно переходили в потрясающие соло, чистый голос сменялся уверенным громогласным рыком, нарушая пространность ведущей темы, и трек разрывало death-doom неистовство, незаметно подводившее к закономерному финалу – обречённое сознание уносилось в глубину вод, которым было бесполезно сопротивляться. А дорожка с хрестоматийным названием "Belief Means Nothing", начинавшаяся безхитростным классическим английским death-doom'ом, наводила меня на мысль о том, что приставка "progressive" в отношении определения стилистики группы применяется неслучайно. Действительно, если у дэтстеров есть Opeth, то теперь у думстеров есть The Prophecy. Кардинальная смена темпа за одну композицию, да так, чтобы она слушалась интересно и целостно, стала обычным делом; вариации с классическими риффами и фирменным (хочу заметить кристально чистым) звучанием оставляют место прогрессивным соло, набирающим скорость и внезапно сбрасывающим её, не давая опомниться; чувство беспомощного отчаяния и разбитости рассеивается проблеском далёкой надежды, глубокое разочарование приводит к новому взгляду на уродливую действительность, меланхолия разражается безудержной яростью, которая успокаивается подобно шторму, исчерпавшему всю свою силу и обернувшегося штилем. "Into The Light" не успевает надоесть, и при своём разнообразии не вызывает сумбурных впечатлений, так как укладываясь в рамки приличия, мужчины играют далеко нетривиальную, ограниченную жёсткими рамками стиля музыку. Мэт Лоусон, вокалист The Prophecy, при своём козырном гроуле очевидно стал отдавать предпочтение пению чистым голосом, что часто требует соответствующего музыкального обрамления, так что я не удивлюсь, если однажды под маркой группы будет издан полностью акустический альбом. Однако при всех кажущихся склонностях к лиричности, дядьки ловко зашибают такие бронебойный треки как "Belief Means Nothing" и "All Is Lost" (даже названия выбраны однозначные и прямолинейные), демонстрируя слушателю всю мощь группы – прям как танки на параде... Тут же словно в противовес упражнениям в скорости мы находим превосходную душевную композицию "Echoes", раскрывающую "человечную" сторону группы, а чего поделаешь – все мы... люди. Подобные элегии аккуратно затрагивают что-то в глубине души, что-то, в чём теперь не принято признаваться, что-то, что есть у каждого, что должно держать при себе. И эта тема "человечности" последовательно проходит через весь альбом, окончательно раскрываясь на финальном треке "Hope". На самом деле, очень редко попадаются такие содержательные релизы, рад, что послушал "Into The Light", рад, что видел The Prophecy на сцене. Рекомендовано к приобретению. Только ничего не перепутайте, ведь в мире существует как минимум двадцать одна группа с таким названием, но, как сказал, гитарист The Prophecy Грег О'Шеа: "Двадцать одна? Пускай, но мы – лучшие, всем остальным "однофамильцам" нас не переиграть". Грег прав.

[Emi]

THE PROPHECY NEWSLETTER:


Fresh back from the Moscow Doom Festival, THE PROPHECY, are pleased to announce that they will be re-entering the studio to record a new track for a forthcoming CODE666 compilation CD celebrating ten years of the label.

Vocalist Matt Lawson had this to say:
"Moscow was fantastic, such a great crowd and a really well organised show. I think we took everyone by surprise a little bit with our performance as we can be a bit lively on stage for a Doom band but we soon had heads banging, hands clapping and shouts for more! They certainly made us feel welcome"

Video available here : http://www.youtube.com/v/uTdrMYLrar8&hl=en&fs=1
Festival report and Photos available here: http://www.darkside.ru/report/3722/

The band are currently also preparing for an Irish tour at the end of May with Belfast Underground Metal Heros, Honey For Christ, with the following dates confirmed so far

28 May 2009 : Auntie Annies NI
30 May 2009 : TBC

30 May 2009 : The Lower Deck IRE


The bands latest album, "INTO THE LIGHT" is out now on code666 records.


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www.THE-PROPHECY.net
www.myspace.com/theprophecyeng
The New studio album from THE PROPHECY - INTO THE LIGHT - Released by Code666/SPV and available now from all good music stores

Scream Magazine Norway 5/5
Lords of Metal 95/100
Obliveon Magazine 9/10

[Emi]

NORWAYROCK magazine (printed - norway nr.2 - 2009)

rate: 3/5

[Emi]

http://www.metallibrary.ru/articles/gigs/413.html

[Emi]

http://www.shapelesszine.com/recealb...tothelight.htm

THE PROPHECY
Into The Light
Etichetta: Code666
Anno: 2009
Durata: 58 min
Genere: gothic doom


Con molto piacere torno a parlare degli inglesi The Prophecy, di cui avevo recensito un paio di anni fa l'ottimo "Revelations". In quell'occasione avevo potuto constatare come la formazione albionica, pur peccando un po' in personalità, a causa del fortissimo ascendente che avevano su di loro band come My Dying Bride e vecchi Anathema, era comunque riuscita a dare vita ad un lavoro ben superiore alla media, soprattutto grazie a composizioni estremamente efficaci sia per scrittura che per atmosfera.
Il punto di partenza per il nuovo lavoro, però, doveva essere necessariamente un'evoluzione verso una personalità più distinta, in modo da poter arrivare con il terzo fatidico album a quella maturità che avrebbe permesso ai The Prophecy di staccarsi dal ruolo di discepoli della tradizione doom/death e di raggiungere un proprio status ben definito. Bene, devo dire con molto piacere che questo obiettivo è stato portato a termine con successo nel nuovo "Into The Light", affrancando la band dalla facile etichetta di fratelli minori dei My Dying Bride (che, ricordiamo, provengono anche dalla stessa regione dell'Inghilterra).
Con questo nuovo album i The Prophecy hanno ampliato ulteriormente lo spettro delle loro influenze, aggiungendo ai già citati My Dying Bride ed Anathema anche il terzo polo della triade, ovvero i Paradise Lost, ma anche gli Opeth, soprattutto nei momenti più acustici alla "Damnation", fino anche a classici come Black Sabbath o Pink Floyd.
Il risultato non sarà certamente originale, anche perché in questo genere sarebbe difficile, ma indubbiamente il quadro d'insieme diventa più evanescente, più difficile da accostare ad un singolo nome e, di conseguenza, più personale.
A livello compositivo il gruppo porta avanti un discorso parallelo che vede due tipologie di scrittura, che nella maggior parte dei casi si fondono in un percorso comune. Abbiamo, quindi, composizioni tipicamente doom/death, come l'iniziale "Into The Light", funerea e lenta nel riffing, con il suo incedere inesorabile e maligno ben supportato dal growling cavernoso di Matt Lawson, che però lasciano ampio spazio a momenti di grande delicatezza, con gli strumenti che smettono di ruggire per accarezzare invece l'ascoltatore con passaggi raffinati in acustico. In questi momenti la voce torna a farsi pulita e sebbene Matt non abbia ancora raggiunto quella maturità vocale che era uno dei difetti maggiori del precedente album, bisogna dire che in questo nuovo album sembra migliorato, pur essendo ancora lontano dalla bravura di molti colleghi (Mikael Åkerfeldt o Aaron Stainthorpe, tanto per citare i primi che mi vengono in mente).
Se questa struttura si ripete in molti brani, come "Don't Forget", "Delusion" o "Belief Means Nothing", ci sono alcuni brani dove la componente malinconica prende il sopravvento: abbiamo così l'eleganza di "Echoes", "Waters Deep" e "Hope" (quest'ultima impreziosita da un bellissimo finale di violoncello) che, pur non rinunciando alla componente elettrica, prediligono una scrittura più fluida, triste e raffinata, ancora una volta guidata dalla voce pulita di Matt.
Niente da dire, quindi: "Into The Light" è un album maturo sotto ogni aspetto, che va premiato sia per l'ottima qualità delle composizioni e sia per il pregevole percorso che questi ragazzi stanno portando avanti, evolvendo la loro proposta album dopo album.
(Danny Boodman - Aprile 2009)

Voto: 8.5

[Emi]

http://evilinquisition.forumotion.ne...ssue-9-t66.htm

THE PROPHECY - 'Into The Light'
[Code 666]


I have been holding off reviewing this album simply because I want to savour the experience. Usually when writing a review it is a learning experience, finding out about a new band and reporting to the unsuspecting masses on whether they are any good. Not so in the case of 'The Prophecy' and their brand spanking new full length 'Into The Light' which is an apt title, or maybe it's ironic for a band so deeply shrouded in the dark side of the psyche! Having said that this album has so many lighter interludes to entice you with softer vocals that this mix bag approach to death doom is somewhat refreshing! 'The Prophecy' though represent something far more important than fantastically made metal. They hail from the UK and this alone would be enough but no, they hail from my part of the world, the mighty 'Yorkshire'. now we have down the years produced some of the greats including 'Paradise Lost' & 'My Dying Bride' and now we have the new breed of metal coming direct to you from the greatest place in the world. 'The Prophecy' combine dominating metal fury with a soft side so delicate it could have been taken straight from a male sensitivity training manual! Words like genius spring to mind as the bands gripping melodies flow endlessly into one long metal heaven and so there is only one way I can think of to end this review and that is with a good old fashioned neanderthal like football chant. YORKSHIRE, YORKSHIRE, YORKSHIRE!! [9.5]
http://www.myspace.com/theprophecyeng

[Emi]

http://www.metalcentre.com/webzine.p...=3454&lang=eng

THE PROPHECY - "Into The Light"
Code666 2009
Music: Doom Metal
Website: www.the-prophecy.net
Duration: 57:38 minutes (8 tracks)
Country: United Kingdom

I waited for the album of THE PROPHECY very long time. I was impatient because I knew, that the team plays Doom Metal. My impatience strengthened by the fact, that THE PROPHECY come from United Kingdom - the cradle of Doom Metal. Moreover there is the next significant thing, the drummer of THE PROPHECY - John Bennett was session musician of MY DYING BRIDE... These all factors caused, that THE PROPHECY moves magnificently in doom metal climates.

"Into The Light" is the third album of the band. And of course from the beginning I had associating with MY DYING BRIDE or with ANATHEMA (older albums). The music of the band is the powerful, monumental and crushing force. This music has two faces. The first face of "Into The Light" has the very heavy and dynamic guitar riffs, the deep and monstrous growling as well as the crushing percussive hits. The second face of the composition has the gentle melodies, the clean guitar passages and the very nostalgic singing. These faces are changing adroitly in time of the music and create simultaneously the heavy and dark climate full of aggression as well as the melancholic of exultations.

During the listening of the album you can experience a something in kind of ambivalence - the simultaneous feeling of opposite feelings - in case of THE PROPHECY - they are an aggression, an anger and an alleviation or a sadness. This is the proof, that THE PROPHECY is able to manipulation of the listener's emotions and lets the listener feel a madness (mainly in the time of the death metal's breaths) as well as a deep despair.

The album "Into The Light" is closed by the beautiful and nostalgic phrase played on the cello... Now I know I will listen THE PROPHECY many times...

Rate: 10/10

[Emi]

http://hidefaudio.wordpress.com/2009...he-light-2009/

THE PROPHECY – Into The Light (2009)

http://hidefaudio.files.wordpress.co...pg?w=200&h=200 When you’re dealing with a sub-genre that’s as labyrinthine as doom metal is, the first question one needs to ask i where, exactly, do The Prophecy fit into the doom spectrum? Do they deal in world funeral dirges like Skepticism, or do they fashion homicidal, resin-caked nightmares like Acid Bath? Do they invoke the apocalypse and all its glory, like Esoteric? Rattle the soul like Sunn O))? Worship a boundless stream of terminal gloom like My Dying Bride? Or do they do none of these things? If you answered “yes” to that last question, congratulations! Your ability to spot a band that mixes Morgion’s lacerating weight with the stripped-down sorrow of Anathema’s Judgement is extraordinarily commendable. Give yourself a pat on the back.
No, that’s not a typo. The Prophecy’s sound is really like that. It doesn’t sound as though it would work all that well on paper, but the band manage push their seemingly conflicting duality to near Opethian levels of greatness. The one thing holding the band back from such a revered metal plateau is that their lyrics are sometimes often too insipid be wrought through such wonderful compositions. Still, the music itself more than makes up for the lack of poetics; it’d be wrong to deny the beauty of songs like Echoes or Hope just because they contain prose that’s a bit pedestrian. I was a huge fan of Cloud Cult’s Feel Good Ghosts from last year, another album that possessed sub-par lyrics, but when you’re listening to music that’s capable of holding your interest in spite of its flaws, that’s when you know that you’re dealing with something special.
I previous cited the new My Dying Bride album earlier in this review, and I must say, I prefer Into The Light over it. Doom fans should definitely check this out. It’s the first unique approach to doom that I’ve heard in a good long while.

[Emi]

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...endId=40762623

THE PROPHECY/Into The Light (Aural Music) This was just bone crushing doom metal played with tons of feeling and emotion. The songs just sucked me in and gladly went along for this ride. The band also inject some melody with their tunes and this is just an incredible release. The riffs are as heavy a ton of lead and the vocals are sung with such feeling and passion you can't help but be sucked in. Each tune just has so much power and emotion that is impossible to describe. Oh by the way the vocals are sung by a male and a female and unlike many other combo female/male vocals this works on this big time. This will easily be one of my top releases of 2009

[Emi]

Originally Posted by Emi

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...endId=40762623

THE PROPHECY/Into The Light (Aural Music) This was just bone crushing doom metal played with tons of feeling and emotion. The songs just sucked me in and gladly went along for this ride. The band also inject some melody with their tunes and this is just an incredible release. The riffs are as heavy a ton of lead and the vocals are sung with such feeling and passion you can't help but be sucked in. Each tune just has so much power and emotion that is impossible to describe. Oh by the way the vocals are sung by a male and a female and unlike many other combo female/male vocals this works on this big time. This will easily be one of my top releases of 2009

useless to add there's not female vocals in the album...hehehehe

[Emi]

atmospheric magazine

5/6

THE PROPHECY ,,Into The Light"
digiCD `09 (Code666 / Aural Music)
Ocena: 5

Brytyjski zespół THE PROPHECY obraca się w stylistyce lirycznego, niekonwencjonalnego, progresywnego metalu. Trzecia w jego dorobku płyta ,,Into The Light" opiera się na fundamencie klasycznego doom/death metalu, jednak w połowie można ją też nazwać po prostu prog/dark metalem (przywodzącym na myśl eteryczne oblicze PORCUPINE TREE, czy też MARILLION z Hogarthem). Ton całej twórczości tej grupy nadaje wokalista Matt Lawson, który ma dwa gardła:-). Albo growluje rasowo, acz melodyjnie, albo śpiewa naturalną barwą, dźwięcznie i jeszcze bardziej melodyjnie. Odpowiednio do tych dwóch, dialogujących ze sobą interpretacji dopasowana jest muzyka. Cięższa lub bardziej lekka. Wolna lub szybka. Brutalna lub łagodna. Kapela umiejętnie rozpisuje aranżacje między ciężkie, pulsacyjne, doomowe riffy a czysto, niemal rockowo brzmiące gitary i akustyki oraz klawisze, które po prostu bogacą tło, bez żadnych motywów prowadzących. Świetnie wypadają również wzmocnienia między fragmentami wyciszonymi, balladowymi, a tymi brzmiącymi w pełni, oddychającymi pełną piersią, w których napastliwy growl atakuje. Na zasadzie kontrastów są skonstruowane prawie wszystkie utwory z ,,Into The Light", aczkolwiek chyba najlepszym przykładem jest ,,Echoes" - jedna z najbardziej zapadających w pamięci kompozycji. Bez względu jednak na brzmienie, formę i środki wyrazu cała muzyka THE PROPHECY nacechowana jest emocjami tworzącymi atmosferę. Ból, nostalgia, poryw nadziei... Przemożny klimat kreowany przez zespół (bez względu na to, czy jest on eteryczny, senny, namaszczony ożywiony, czy totalnie dołujący) samoistnie udziela się słuchaczowi, przez co chce się powracać do tego albumu jeszcze i jeszcze... [Kasia]

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

www.atmospheric.pl
www.myspace.com/atmosphericmagazine

[Emi]

http://www.metalperspective.com/reviews/theprophecy.php

"Into the Light" is the third full length album from British doom metalers The Prophecy. The artwork is deceptive, as these bleak skies and the troubled waters are suggesting another post metal/rock release. No, this album contains nothing else than inspired doom/death metal in the vein of influences that are more or less known to all of us. The album is in the wavelength of early Paradise Lost, early Anathema, early My Dying Bride, Esoteric (a bit) and The Blood Divine. The fact is that these influences should be used as reference of the unaware, as the five musicians - slowly - integrate these elements into their own personal music shell. I am not claiming that it is innovative; not at all. But definitely the music of "Into the Light" is consisted of well played and performed doom/death metal tracks that respect the expressional forms of the genre. Take of instance songs like "Belief Means Nothing", "Waters Deep" and "Hope", which highlight the steady development of the band’s sound from the previous, a bit more unelaborated, releases. "Into the Light" was recorded at Priory Studios with Greg Chandler from Esoteric at the steering wheel of production. The result is very good in this aspect, as well as in the case of artwork and packaging. As far as the overall outcome, it is an album that the fans of doom/death metal will enjoy and certainly strengthen the new breed of British doom metal scene.

[Emi]

http://www.imhotep.no/?did=9090194

code666 (2009)

Around the block a time or two now and the time is upon us for another blast of neo Doom\Death from the UK’s latest hope as exponents of the style that has been my preferred choice from the big island. It is easy to write the band off as younger siblings of My Dying Bride. And why shouldn’t folk think that way? Once signed by Andy and Hamish from that very band to their Blackdoom Records label and with a sound that has borrowed heavily from MDB in the past, it has perhaps been an albatross around the band’s neck. However. Bands describing themselves is often an exercise in self flattery. Often it is nothing short of ridiculous (remember Atheist labelling themselves as ‘Brain Metal’? Please). One word that The Prophecy use is key in showing how they have begun to set themselves apart. “Progressive” being that very work. “Into The Light” sees the band mark territory that is very much them growing out of short pants. It has to be said that there is some fantastic songwriting herein, I have to take a breath to admit that this bunch have surprised me greatly.
Beginning with the title track and into “Delusion” there are moments where the MDB may be too close as a reference point. Truly. Drummer John Bennett adds to this being that he completed a stint with Bride around the time of “A Line Of Deathless Kings” If we take a moment to look beyond the obvious on these opening songs in particular... …hard as it seems at point… ...we may just come to see the almost subtle touches applied by the band that will mark the band as one that has actually made steps to forge an identity of their own.
Where the band truly to shine on this album is in the passages that employ clean guitars or more subdued sections. Here, they do truly shine. With an obvious ear for no bullshit, almost easy listening, simplistic song writing it is on “Echoes” (song number 4) where it all falls into place. Growling set aside and vocalist Matt Lawson stands out with his effortless clean vocals. Credit where it is due, the boy takes what could have been ham fisted lighter lifting uneasiness to somewhere credible.
And so it continues as the album approaches climax. Getting better along the way. This album is a five outta six rather than a four on the strength of that alone. To be blunt and to make things a little simple. The album almost progresses into territory that would sit alongside latter day Anathema. No bad thing. Album closer “Hope” (Anathema reference unintentional) is a fantastic way to end things. I strongly recommend this bad boy be checked.
www.the-prophecy.net
www.myspace.com/theprophecyeng
www.code666.net
Composed by Paul Kearns

[Emi]

.hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 10pt; font-family:Verdana } http://metal-rules.com/review/viewreview.php?month=June&year=2009&pos=52

June 2009
Released: 2009, Code666
Rating: 4.5/5
Reviewer: Waspman

Bradford England’s The Prophecy have been kicking around since 2001. With album titles like ASHES, and REVELATIONS, and tours with the likes of My Dying Bride under their belt, there is no doubt as to what type of metal they play: doom! Sadly I have not heard the aforementioned previous albums, but from reading reviews and fan comments it is clear that they are highly regarded in doom circles. With this in mind, let’s see what INTO THE LIGHT has to offer.

Kicking in immediately with powerful riffs and growled vocals, the title track wastes no time making an impression. The expected melancholic feeling of doom metal is instantly noticeable, as the band weaves a roiling tapestry of sound from crushing guitar, achingly slow, pounding rhythms, and the howling vocals. After slowing down to near silent introspection, the tempo builds, vocalist Matt Lawson adds in clean vocals (the growls and clean singing are split about 40/60 throughout the album), and the song crests like one of the waves on the album cover.

The rest of the album follows this template and the band is relentless with their style of crushing doom. The only points of light are the occasional guitar melodies and Lawson’s oddly endearing clean vocals, which admittedly are not that strong and thus, an acquired taste. Opeth fans take note: his growls are a dead-ringer for Mikael Akerfeldt.

As you’d expect with doom metal, the songs are lengthy for the most part. While some bands struggle to make their long songs consistently engaging, The Prophecy have no such problems. In fact, their two longest songs, “Echoes” and “Waters Deep” are probably the two best on the album. Both are near-perfect examples of the emotional power present in the best mournful doom metal songs.

As I mentioned above, The Prophecy are well-liked amongst doom fans, and after hearing this album it is obvious they deserve it. I strongly encourage doom fans to check out INTO THE LIGHT – this will be one of the best doom albums you’ll hear in 2009.

[Emi]

THE PROPHECY - «INTO THE LIGHT»

Os doomsters britânicos The Prophecy estão de regresso com o terceiro álbum que, por sinal, se afigura como o mais intenso e pesado trabalho da sua carreira. «Into the Light» mostra uns The Prophecy com vontade de alargar território sonoro, incluindo tanto passagens dignas de álbuns de Katatonia e Opeth. No entanto, a grande influência continua a ser My Dying Bride, nome indissociável do conjunto inglês, não só pela nacionalidade como pelo apadrinhamento de membros e ex-membros dos MDB. À parte desta conotação, que diga-se acaba por ser injusta, os The Prophecy demonstram atributos suficientes para desenvolverem um culto à sua volta, seja na dinâmica voz de Matt Lawson ou nas guitarras de Greg O'Shea, qualidades que podem, por exemplo, ser escutadas em «Belief Means Nothing». Um álbum que dá continuidade ao trabalho desenvolvido em «Ashes» e «Revelations» e que projecta os The Prophecy para a segunda linha do doom/death mundial. 7,3/10

[Emi]

http://www.metalexpressradio.com/men...eviews&id=2981

THE PROPHECY - Into The Light
Code666 Records
Metal Express Rating: 9.0/10
Release Date: 2009-02-20
by: LIOR “STEINMETAL” STEIN
Email: lior@metalexpressradio.com


If you have spare time to listen to some good music, and you don’t want to go and mosh yourself up , sit back and take a listen to the great music by the English band , The Prophecy.

Since 1999, this foursome has being playing Traditional Doom infused with various influences of early Death Metal. Into The Light is the band’s fourth release and their first attempt under Code666 Records. Bands that can give you a slight idea of what to expect are the early stages of My Dying Bride , but less harsh , and the early era of Paradise Lost (From Lost Paradise to Icon). Of course lets not forget that above these two bands , standing in the shadows , is the mother of all Doom and that is Black Sabbath. Yet, The Prophecy, unlike the other two bands mentioned, shows a variety of sophisticated compositions that harbors amazing elements such as Cello and a full load of melodic, acoustic guitar verses.


What is so special about Into The Light is that ,after hearing some samples of their early releases, it seems that The Prophecy were searching for something else when they wrote down the tunes. The album is a lot less violent and charging than the previous ones before it. The listener can still say that this band plays Doom / Death Metal but with some unique alterations, that seperate them from other bands in their sub-genre meld. The most recognizable change is the music itself; the use of the Cello and the constant acoustic tunes makes this album a remarkable experience for all who loves atmospheric music, without even using a keyboard setup.

Another amazing factor is the singing. Mr. Lawson is an amazing growler, his ability to maintain a low and depthy growl while providing a sense of cleanliness, which will give you a chance to experience the lyrics in such a way that you will be able to understand what the tracks are all about. Alongside his growls comes a clean, cold and saddened voice that mainly expresses depression, loss and sorrow. Moreover, the growl vocals sound grey as well as the clean ones.

With the full spread of enchanting acoustics, ride along the heavy electric riffs. For Traditional Doomsters, the riffs will be a sure treat with a bonus that comes in the shape of well-crafted solos that elaborate the feelings of pain and sorrow and for solo guitar lovers it is a sure trance state. While the Doomsters party , Death Metal fans will enjoy the several speed sections with morbid riffs, while Lawson is growling his way through the songs, yet don’t expect to find too much tech in the riffs because it's more of a Traditional Doom album than a Death Metal one. The bottom line is , if you are a true Metalhead , whether Death or Doom is your cup of tea, you can share the experience of this album and enjoy it.


The whole album is more than a worthy listener, but here are some songs that'll capture your ears: “Into The Light” in many ways , in its beginning, sounds like the same formula as the song “Black Sabbath” yet after 3 mintues everything changes and a soft , melodic rhythm passes you by – a wonderful track.

“Delusion” starts slowly and silently before it bursts into a heavy and darkened rhythm. The chorus in this one is catchy for this sort of meld. “Don’t Forget” resembles the previous track , yet It engulfs a lot more heavy riffs and Death like melodic riffs , from their early era.

“Echoes” is one of the best around , a long song ,a factor that is usual in Doom Metal , yet it has great solos section, amazing acoustic tunes with small acoustic solos under a slow tempo while the soft vocals completes them all. “All Is Lost” is what Doom Metal is all about – sorrow and loss, both walk hand in hand in this rough tune of Death Metal killing with tunes from Leprosy. “Hope” , the closing song has the best solo in the album, so emotional and strong. This one is all clean vocals , a well done Sabbath like closer with a Cello reprise.


As mentioned, if you are a true Metalhead character , Into The Light will show you light , darkness and grey. The Prophecy has released a well-done effort to make a classical release.