Secrets of the Sky
To Sail Black Waters
Kolony Records
2013
Secrets of the Sky is a newcomer from Oakland, California. They started out in 2010 and they had been working on their debut album the past couple of years which is finally out by a European label. It’s hard to put a music tag on this as their music is somewhat “weird”. With various influences by bands like: Neurosis, The Ocean, Opeth (first era), Isis, Agalloch and so on, I could say that their music is an amalgam of atmospheric, extreme, dark, post-metal, doom, progressive, sludge, cinematic & metal. They also have a modern, full and heavy sound. The album was recorded by engineer/producer Juan Urteaga (Testament, Machine Head, Sadus, Heathen, Vile, etc.) at Trident Studios, California.
“To Sail Black Waters” contains only 4 tracks and lasts around 40 minutes. As you can see the tracks are all long, complex, heavy and extreme but they do have a melodic and atmospheric side as well. This ain’t an easy album to follow and concentration is needed when listening to it. All the different elements have been blended very carefully in order to create a rather “strange yet listenable” outcome. Possibly, if the growls were less and the clean vocals prevailed, then the album could have been to some degree easier on the ear for the average listener. It’s true that with repeated listens you will get to hear/perceive several new things.
Releases like “To Sail Black Waters” can easily create obsessive, compulsive pathologies and paranoia of any kind… so better be certain about yourself before you proceed. Undoubtedly, there’s talent over and above mania here, which can lead to even more eccentric & distinctive results in the future to come. From the time you’ll choose “To Sail Black Waters” you will need time and attention to go all the way… if you can handle it at length…
“To Sail Black Waters” contains only 4 tracks and lasts around 40 minutes. As you can see the tracks are all long, complex, heavy and extreme but they do have a melodic and atmospheric side as well. This ain’t an easy album to follow and concentration is needed when listening to it. All the different elements have been blended very carefully in order to create a rather “strange yet listenable” outcome. Possibly, if the growls were less and the clean vocals prevailed, then the album could have been to some degree easier on the ear for the average listener. It’s true that with repeated listens you will get to hear/perceive several new things.
Releases like “To Sail Black Waters” can easily create obsessive, compulsive pathologies and paranoia of any kind… so better be certain about yourself before you proceed. Undoubtedly, there’s talent over and above mania here, which can lead to even more eccentric & distinctive results in the future to come. From the time you’ll choose “To Sail Black Waters” you will need time and attention to go all the way… if you can handle it at length…