PRESS REVIEWS
Dark Wave Radio/ Zine - France
Evensong: Mysterium
(Displeased Records, 35'32', 6 tracks, doom-metal, release date:10/08/2001)
I consider Evensong as the best doom-metal band from Hungary, and with Sear Bliss they are more generally the best metal band from this country. Their first Cd released in 1999 was a great success. Unfortunately, I didn't listen their second Cd but I heard it was more atmospheric and more diversified then the previous act. The new and third full-length album is now unleashed and once again, the band proposes an excellent Cd. Always doom music influenced by symphonic parts and classical music, the new material is really more atmospheric, more technical with great guitar riffs and guitar solos but the new compositions are also more mature and we feel all the potential of the band. It is not Theatre of Tragedy or Orphanage even if we can feel some little touches and Evensong has its own step! A GREAT new CD!
(8,5/10)
Ars Metallia - Franciaország
Evensong: Mysterium
Distribution: Displeased 2001
Durée: 35 min, 6 pistes
Chronique :
Evensong, l´un des rares groupes de métal originaire de Hongrie, était un groupe prometteur : ses deux premiers lp, même s´ils ont connu un succès très mitigé, en partie à cause de leur label qui assure une promo inexistante, étaient tout bons, dans un registre gothique à la sauce norvégienne (Tristania, Theatre of Tragedy). Avec leur nouvel opus, ils ont choisi d´évoluer, de créer un style nouveau en mariant leur gothique initial à du prog. Excellente idée me direz-vous ! C´est possible, mais c´est leur seul mérite, car cette alchimie douteuse n´a réussi qu´à créer un navet : la sensibilité du goth est perdue au profit de la technique, et cela donne lieu à des titres sans queue ni tête, avec des lignes vocales féminines particulièrement agaçantes, à vous filer un mal de crâne carabiné ! C´est bien simple, l´album est très court et pourtant il semble long, très long… Pourtant certains passages sont pas mal et les musicos sont doués, mais une pénible impression de confusion se dégage de cette rondelle. Ce n´est pas avec ce genre de produit que le groupe percera ni que la Hongrie métallique s´exportera !
Hellric
Power Hour webzine - Hollandia
Evensong: Mysterium CD
(Displeased 2001) 35.32
Some Western European countries have a huge metal scene (Germany, Holland) and other countries haven't. The same goes for Eastern Europe where countries like the Czech Republic are filled with metal bands and other countries in the same area (like Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria) hardly exist metal-wise. To be honest Evensong is only the second band from Hungary I know (I used to know Pokolgep years ago) and their most recent "Mysterium" album was even the first thing I ever heard from them. "Mysterium" contains 6 rather lengthy songs and these songs also carry a lot of variation. Basically Evensong plays a kind of melodic black/heavy metal with female vocals and male death grunts, lots of keyboards and some gothic influences but also a lot of Rhapsody-like guitar parts. All these elements are mixed together in a very natural way and this leads to a great, but hard to describe metal album. Maybe you better listen for yourself in a record shop to get a good idea of their music --> 8
http://www.rockezine.com - Hollandia
Evensong: Mysterium
6 tracks - 35:31 minutes
Displeased Records
Evensong is a band from Hungary, and they were formed back in 1997 when they taped their first demo "Last Tales". In 1998 Displeased noticed the band and offered them a contract for three releases and in 1999 their debut "Path of the Angels" was officially released. The epic doom metal the band played at that time evolved to a more diverse approach on "Of Man's First Disobedience", their second release. And now in 2001 it is time to welcome their third release called "Mysterium". The production of this release is better then the previous two releases and this makes the little details also hearable. Musically the band doesn't play very different compared with their previous releases. The only difference is that their epic doom metal carries along some more up-tempo phrases and trendy polyrhythmic drumming (Dimmu Borgir) this time. Besides that the band also uses more variation in the guitar parts like inventive riffing and almost virtuous solos. The female vocals make the picture complete although I have to admit they sound very standard, definitely heard them before. The male vocals aren't that well either. He should be grunting more because his clean vocals sound very unnatural and kind of forced. But when you listen to this release a couple of times you come to the conclusion that songs as "The Nameless Eidolon" or "Whispers from the Arcane World" are good songs, but they don not remain in my head. And that's what makes the difference between Premier League and Second Division. Perhaps Evensong should try to make their songs somewhat shorter in the future. It's very hard to keep songs interesting if they are longer than six minutes.
(Teun Jans)
7.0/10
RockHard Magazine
EVENSONG Mysterium
Vertrieb: Radiation
Label/Vertrieb: Displeased
Review aus Rock Hard Ausgabe 172
Die Ungarn veröffentlichen in schöner Regelmäßigkeit Alben in der Schnittmenge aus harschem Gothic Metal, Doom-Death, klassisch angehauchten Keyboardteppichen, männlich-weiblichem Wechselgesang und einer extragroßen Portion Melancholie. Da bildet auch der nunmehr dritte Longplayer keine Ausnahme, und man muss der Band attestieren, handwerklich mittlerweile auf einem durchaus hohen Niveau zu musizieren. Allerdings lassen zumindest mich die sechs neuen Kompositionen auch nach der x-ten Einfuhr erschreckend kalt. Nichts bleibt wirklich hängen, keine Melodie, keine Gesangslinie berührt das Innerste des Hörers, was gerade in diesem Genre doch so wichtig ist. Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass der Fünfer im Instrumentalbereich versucht, etwas progressiver zu Werke zu gehen. In jedem Fall stellt „Mysterium“ einen deutlichen Rückschritt gegenüber dem durchweg gutklassigen Vorgänger „Of Man´s First Disobedience“ dar.
ANDREAS STAPPERT
Note 6
www.vampire-magazine.com
EVENSONG (HUN)
MYSTERIUM (35:32)
DISPLEASED RECORDS
This is Evensong 3rd album already. I thought I had their debut on tape but I can't seem to find it anymore. Anyway, as most you probably know Evensong play death/doom with some black metal and classical influences. And of course they also have a female singer who sings very softly and sweetly. Personally, I prefer women who sing more powerful but Agnes Toth's vocals are also quite enjoyable. The songs on this album are well-produced in the Harrow studios. Although this band doesn't write the most original or most exciting songs, I find this album very enjoyable. The reason for that is lead guitarist Gabor Olah. I really like his guitar parts and leads. Fortunately, he's playing some cool stuff all over the songs. Just listen to "Mysterium", "Whispers from the arcane world" or "Passing of the elder gods" to understand what I mean. The closing track "Time" differs from the other songs as it's more atmospherical (could one say a ballad?). They've used a poem of P.B. Shelley as the lyric for this song. In short, "Mysterium" isn't one of the genre's classics but for people who really are into this style of death/doom this album will be sure an interesting item to add to their collection. (Ron)
Dark Wave Radio/ Zine - France
Evensong: Mysterium
(Displeased Records, 35'32', 6 tracks, doom-metal, release date:10/08/2001)
I consider Evensong as the best doom-metal band from Hungary, and with Sear Bliss they are more generally the best metal band from this country. Their first Cd released in 1999 was a great success. Unfortunately, I didn't listen their second Cd but I heard it was more atmospheric and more diversified then the previous act. The new and third full-length album is now unleashed and once again, the band proposes an excellent Cd. Always doom music influenced by symphonic parts and classical music, the new material is really more atmospheric, more technical with great guitar riffs and guitar solos but the new compositions are also more mature and we feel all the potential of the band. It is not Theatre of Tragedy or Orphanage even if we can feel some little touches and Evensong has its own step! A GREAT new CD!
(8,5/10)
Ars Metallia - Franciaország
Evensong: Mysterium
Distribution: Displeased 2001
Durée: 35 min, 6 pistes
Chronique :
Evensong, l´un des rares groupes de métal originaire de Hongrie, était un groupe prometteur : ses deux premiers lp, même s´ils ont connu un succès très mitigé, en partie à cause de leur label qui assure une promo inexistante, étaient tout bons, dans un registre gothique à la sauce norvégienne (Tristania, Theatre of Tragedy). Avec leur nouvel opus, ils ont choisi d´évoluer, de créer un style nouveau en mariant leur gothique initial à du prog. Excellente idée me direz-vous ! C´est possible, mais c´est leur seul mérite, car cette alchimie douteuse n´a réussi qu´à créer un navet : la sensibilité du goth est perdue au profit de la technique, et cela donne lieu à des titres sans queue ni tête, avec des lignes vocales féminines particulièrement agaçantes, à vous filer un mal de crâne carabiné ! C´est bien simple, l´album est très court et pourtant il semble long, très long… Pourtant certains passages sont pas mal et les musicos sont doués, mais une pénible impression de confusion se dégage de cette rondelle. Ce n´est pas avec ce genre de produit que le groupe percera ni que la Hongrie métallique s´exportera !
Hellric
Power Hour webzine - Hollandia
Evensong: Mysterium CD
(Displeased 2001) 35.32
Some Western European countries have a huge metal scene (Germany, Holland) and other countries haven't. The same goes for Eastern Europe where countries like the Czech Republic are filled with metal bands and other countries in the same area (like Hungary, Rumania and Bulgaria) hardly exist metal-wise. To be honest Evensong is only the second band from Hungary I know (I used to know Pokolgep years ago) and their most recent "Mysterium" album was even the first thing I ever heard from them. "Mysterium" contains 6 rather lengthy songs and these songs also carry a lot of variation. Basically Evensong plays a kind of melodic black/heavy metal with female vocals and male death grunts, lots of keyboards and some gothic influences but also a lot of Rhapsody-like guitar parts. All these elements are mixed together in a very natural way and this leads to a great, but hard to describe metal album. Maybe you better listen for yourself in a record shop to get a good idea of their music --> 8
http://www.rockezine.com - Hollandia
Evensong: Mysterium
6 tracks - 35:31 minutes
Displeased Records
Evensong is a band from Hungary, and they were formed back in 1997 when they taped their first demo "Last Tales". In 1998 Displeased noticed the band and offered them a contract for three releases and in 1999 their debut "Path of the Angels" was officially released. The epic doom metal the band played at that time evolved to a more diverse approach on "Of Man's First Disobedience", their second release. And now in 2001 it is time to welcome their third release called "Mysterium". The production of this release is better then the previous two releases and this makes the little details also hearable. Musically the band doesn't play very different compared with their previous releases. The only difference is that their epic doom metal carries along some more up-tempo phrases and trendy polyrhythmic drumming (Dimmu Borgir) this time. Besides that the band also uses more variation in the guitar parts like inventive riffing and almost virtuous solos. The female vocals make the picture complete although I have to admit they sound very standard, definitely heard them before. The male vocals aren't that well either. He should be grunting more because his clean vocals sound very unnatural and kind of forced. But when you listen to this release a couple of times you come to the conclusion that songs as "The Nameless Eidolon" or "Whispers from the Arcane World" are good songs, but they don not remain in my head. And that's what makes the difference between Premier League and Second Division. Perhaps Evensong should try to make their songs somewhat shorter in the future. It's very hard to keep songs interesting if they are longer than six minutes.
(Teun Jans)
7.0/10
RockHard Magazine
EVENSONG Mysterium
Vertrieb: Radiation
Label/Vertrieb: Displeased
Review aus Rock Hard Ausgabe 172
Die Ungarn veröffentlichen in schöner Regelmäßigkeit Alben in der Schnittmenge aus harschem Gothic Metal, Doom-Death, klassisch angehauchten Keyboardteppichen, männlich-weiblichem Wechselgesang und einer extragroßen Portion Melancholie. Da bildet auch der nunmehr dritte Longplayer keine Ausnahme, und man muss der Band attestieren, handwerklich mittlerweile auf einem durchaus hohen Niveau zu musizieren. Allerdings lassen zumindest mich die sechs neuen Kompositionen auch nach der x-ten Einfuhr erschreckend kalt. Nichts bleibt wirklich hängen, keine Melodie, keine Gesangslinie berührt das Innerste des Hörers, was gerade in diesem Genre doch so wichtig ist. Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass der Fünfer im Instrumentalbereich versucht, etwas progressiver zu Werke zu gehen. In jedem Fall stellt „Mysterium“ einen deutlichen Rückschritt gegenüber dem durchweg gutklassigen Vorgänger „Of Man´s First Disobedience“ dar.
ANDREAS STAPPERT
Note 6
www.vampire-magazine.com
EVENSONG (HUN)
MYSTERIUM (35:32)
DISPLEASED RECORDS
This is Evensong 3rd album already. I thought I had their debut on tape but I can't seem to find it anymore. Anyway, as most you probably know Evensong play death/doom with some black metal and classical influences. And of course they also have a female singer who sings very softly and sweetly. Personally, I prefer women who sing more powerful but Agnes Toth's vocals are also quite enjoyable. The songs on this album are well-produced in the Harrow studios. Although this band doesn't write the most original or most exciting songs, I find this album very enjoyable. The reason for that is lead guitarist Gabor Olah. I really like his guitar parts and leads. Fortunately, he's playing some cool stuff all over the songs. Just listen to "Mysterium", "Whispers from the arcane world" or "Passing of the elder gods" to understand what I mean. The closing track "Time" differs from the other songs as it's more atmospherical (could one say a ballad?). They've used a poem of P.B. Shelley as the lyric for this song. In short, "Mysterium" isn't one of the genre's classics but for people who really are into this style of death/doom this album will be sure an interesting item to add to their collection. (Ron)