Sear Bliss – The Arcane Odyssey
Candlelight Records – CDL331 – September 24, 2007
By Wayward_Son
Sear Bliss is a band always mentioned in more underground magazines or webzines, yet never have these ears taken the time to listen to their interesting mix of Pagan Black Metal with brass instruments. Now with
The Arcane Odyssey, yours truly can finally hear what all of the hubbub is about.
The first thing that popped into this writer’s mind upon hearing the vocalist and the mid-paced songs was
Samael’s
Ceremony of Opposites, though
The Arcane Odyssey does not possess the aura of evil that album so proudly displays, nor are they trying to convey that message. These are hymns of ancient battle fields and Hungarian mythology that succeed in telling those stories through music. The album starts with the excellent
'Blood on the Milky Way'. The break where the trombone is introduced is magnificent. Whether that is due to it being a fairly original idea (for this writer) or because it reminds these ears of the power of
Summoning does not matter in the least. It works and that is that.
A Deathly Illusion follows in fine form and ends up being the best song present on
The Arcane Odyssey.
Unfortunately, the album starts wearing thin towards the middle mark, and by closer
'Path to the Motherland', this writer has lost interest. The songs begin sounding too similar for their own good. While the epic trombone breaks works well, it starts to take on the form of gimmick. While this writer does not suspect
Sear Bliss of blatant attention gathering due to the brass instrument, the band needs to find a way to either use it more often, or somehow work it in with the more extreme elements of the songs.
So the initial experience with
Sear Bliss was not a total success, nor a total failure. The band is unique in some ways and generic in others. If only they can capitalize on their strengths, we will see them rise many ranks among black metal’s elite.
Official Sear Bliss Website
Official Candlelight Records Website
