Just before this very interesting musical year is over, Nox Arcana and Qntal offer us many reasons to remember 2014 !
Nox Arcana, is a band which is inspired by fantasy worlds, Gothic literature and aesthetics as the sleeves and the subjects of the stories in their albums reveal. Edgar Allan Poe, H.P. Lovecraft along with the music tradition of the Middle East are just a few of the sources of inspiration for this band. Choral vocals that make reference at the early Gregorian choirs are transformed into melodical labyritnhs guided by the band’s imagination. Using bells, unusual percussion, synth and the fascination for composing music that trigger our imagination as well, Nox Arcana never disappoint their audience since the release of their first album in 2003. If you like ethereal and neoclassical bands such as Ataraxia and Collection d’Arnell Andrea, then Nox Arcana should be in your list of favourite bands. For me this band’s music had a similar effect with opening a music box, only more complex and darker than usual. Following last year’s festive season release called ‘Ebonshire Vol.1’, Nox Arcana released this year ‘Ebonshire Vol.2‘ which contains three new songs for us to enjoy. Since one year has passed since the release of their latest album called ‘Legion of Shadows’ this release increases our impatience for the band’s next album.
Below is the official press release from the band’s website:
”New music for the holiday season.
Nox Arcana invites you to return to the forest of Ebonshire to explore an enchanted realm of magic and wonder. Continuing Nox Arcana’s holiday tradition, Ebonshire – Volume 2 offers four new songs for the winter season. Available for download…”
Qntal is a band that is very close to my heart since their beginning in 1992. Having as their focal point the extraordinary female vocals of Sigrid ‘Syrah’ Hausen and using imaginative electro rhythms, the band weaves those vocals creating a haunting web. Ernst Horn is the musician that links Deine Lakaien, Qntal and Helium Vola together as he is the founding member of all those bands even though in 2001 he left from Qntal. In November 2014 Qntal released their seventh album called ‘VII’. The listening of this album has left me dumbfounded with amazement. This album, ‘VII’ seems to take up where the first album ‘Qntal’ left, so the band composes songs equivalent to and better than ‘Ad Mortem Festinamus‘ and ‘Palestinalied‘ after 23 years! A full review will follow soon but please keep in mind that 5 years since the release of their previous album, was more than worth the wait. Qntal prove that they haven’t said their last word yet! Qntal will start a tour in Germany in February which includes one date in Amstelveen so far. We can only hope for more dates to be added in Europe and the UK in particular.
Blaue Rosen 