immensity-theisolationsplendour-reviews

Review from Concrete Web

Thu, 22 Dec 2016 20:51:05 +0100

From: Concrete Web

Published: December 21, 2016

On March 21st 2016, a partnership of Hypnotic Dirge Records and BadMoodMan Music (a side-label of Solitude Productions) resulted in the release of two albums: Cold Redrafted by Negative Voice (the review was published on July 4th 2016 – for the review, just enter the band’s name in the ‘search’-tab) and Immensity’s debut The Isolation Splendour. Both releases are somewhat comparable in approach, so pay attention!

Immensity were formed in 2009 in the city of Athens by Andreas Kelekis, and in mean time he got joined by former and current (permanent and session) members of e.g. Daylight Misery, While Heaven Wept and Fortress Under Siege, amongst others. There was a demo recording in Spring 2012, lovely called The Lonely Aquarelle (both tracks have been remastered for this album specifically), and now, as mentioned before, the band did record their first studio full length album, called The Isolation Splendour, which has a total running time of about sixty-seven minutes.

The lengthy tracks stand for quite traditional Doom-Death, including about all elements that characterise the international scene. The base of the songs is built around highly melodious guitar parts, including the typifying twin melodies, and a very heavy, prominently present rhythm section, with pounding bass lines and crafted drum-work. This totally lacks of any form of reinvention, but I’d rather label it as some tribute to the timelessness of this specific scene. Also the atmospheric keyboards, especially on the background yet of non-underestimate importance, and the acoustic and semi-acoustic passages strengthen the pay-honour-to-the-scene attitude. On top of it, the grunts are like they use to be: very deep and growling. Here too these grunts interfere with clean vocals and some spoken words. The universal timelessness, by the way, gets defined as well by the fine equilibrium in between old styled basic structures (cf. the melodies and rhythms) and a progressive twist that inject this material more than once. With progression I am not, I repeat: not, talking about some Prog-Metal approach, but rather the modernistic elements that sort of colour this pale material.

The Isolation Splendour has become quite an emotional, even melancho-dramatic and semi-gothic album with a specific theatrical and cinematic spine. You feel the despair, the grief, the sadness and pain defined by the seven compositions that make this album. That’s cool, for the heaviness of the main part (when referring to the instrumentation and grunts especially) and that deep-thought atmospheric splendour are performed within a well-balanced result. All this gets pronounced even sharper by the production. And that might be my main concern (though I need to admit that this isn’t but my personal opinion): the sound quality is too goody-goody, too well-polished. I would have experienced a rougher sound, little more brutal and dirty – not primitively grim and noisy, just somewhat less clean / clinical.

The elder songs, the ones written a couple of years ago, are heavier and less complex, while the newer ones come with a sophisticated craftsmanship that surmounts superficiality and that avoid any lack of inspiration. Therefor I think, but here too I am but giving my own impression, that this album is the best out of the two releases done in that higher-mentioned partnership (cf. both labels involved – see first paragraph). This stuff is recommended if you can appreciate stuff à la October Tide, Daylight Dies, Insomnium, Novembers Doom, Katatonia, In Mourning, Pantheist and the likes.

Rating: 75/100

Reviewed by: Ivan Tibos

Review from Metal Temple

Tue, 20 Dec 2016 19:01:32 +0100

From: Metal Temple

Published: December 19, 2016

Original Link

After the demo "The Lonely Aquarelle", IMMENSITY releases thru BadMoodMan Music and Hypnotic Dirge Records their debut full-length album entitled "The Isolation Splendour" combining growl and clean vocals. The band was founded in the beginning of 2009 by Andrew Kelekis (Guitars), the other members are Leonidas Hatzimihalis who did a great job in "Aspectations" (EQUAL VECTOR), Chris Markopoulos (Guitars), George Kritharis (Bass), Yiannis Fillipaios (Drums) and the female presence of Nora Koutsouri (Keyboards, Synthesizers).The sextet from Greece playing a Gothic Doom with some moments of Death Metal.

This delightful album has seven tracks, (two of them are remastered from the demo). "Heartfelt like Dying" was chosen to start this work, slowly calling you to an immersive IMMENSITY world. It has a progressive vein with a constant change of style and speed, the progression of the riffage is very exciting, the drums are perfectly played .Everything fits in a harmonious and splendid way, showing us basically what we will hear in the six next songs. "The Isolation Splendour" track, which bears the name of the album, shows all the cinereous atmospheric they can provide.

Composed of pure expressiveness and emotion, "Adornment" together with "Eradicate" (my favorite out of the seven) are the two tracks brought from the demo, and both are the only ones that start with clean vocals. About my last statement, I consider "Everlasting Punishment" basically an instrumental song that brings together all synergy between the musicians. "The Sullen" brings a little of death metal passages specially in the third quarter. "Irradiance (for the unlight)" is very melodic and walks over a depressive guitars road.

"The Isolation Splendour" is a splendorous album, drowning whoever listens to it in a parallel and reflective universe. The energy and passion used by the band to build that fantastic work is practically physically touchable in every single detail. Fans of MY DYING BRIDE and ANATHEMA probably will enjoy it to the maximum. Immensity does not create something fully new, but can be seen that they have strong personality.

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by: Bruno Diniz

Review from Aristocrazia Webzine

Tue, 20 Dec 2016 18:59:16 +0100

From: Aristocrazia Webzine

Published: December 12, 2016

Original Link

Il panorama doom-death metal melodico è di anno in anno più affollato, diviene quindi sempre più difficile cogliere impreparati gli abituali fruitori o sorprenderli. In alcune circostanze anzi è capitato purtroppo di deluderli, a causa di un appiattimento della proposta anche a opera di artisti che sinora avevano svolto il mestiere più che bene, ad esempio gli svedesi When Nothing Remains.

Dopo aver pubblicato nel 2012 il demo "The Lonely Aquarelle", gli ellenici Immensity fanno il proprio debutto all'interno di quest'ambito con "The Isolation Splendour". Si tratta di un album scolasticamente perfetto sia dal punto di vista dello stile compositivo (non troverete difficoltà a individuare le possibili fonti di ispirazione fra gli storici gruppi britannici degli anni Novanta, compagini provenienti da oltreoceano o realtà alquanto valide di ultima generazione) sia da quello atmosferico ed emotivo, in grado di accaparrarsi la simpatia dell'ascoltatore con semplicità.

Tre brani come "Heartfelt Like Dying", "The Isolation Splendour" e "Adornment" bastano e avanzano per comprendere quanto e come i Greci abbiano assorbito e fatto proprie le lezioni impartite in passato da coloro i quali hanno modellato e svecchiato il genere. Pur non aggiungendo nulla di nuovo, le sfruttano in maniera attenta e appassionata, con la sapienza di chi è in grado di maneggiarne i tratti distintivi con gusto, inclusi i ben assestati momenti malinconici in cui si affaccia la voce pulita e le sporadiche divagazioni in area progressiva ("The Sullen"), oltrepassando così la barriera del mero esercizio stilistico per capacità e proprietà, tuttavia peccando palesemente di personalità, che avrebbe garantito alla band un pieno riconoscimento.

Gli Immensity conoscono la strada da seguire, eccome se la conoscono, possiamo quindi sperare in lavori ancora più intensi e soprattutto intraprendenti a livello compositivo dell'alquanto gradevole "The Isolation Splendour"? Penso proprio di sì. In attesa che ciò accada, il consiglio è di godervi il piacevole ascolto.

Reviewed by: Gabriele Strano

Review from Extreme Metal Voyager

Sun, 18 Sep 2016 21:51:42 +0100

From: Extreme Metal Voyager

Published: September 15, 2016

Original Link

It’s good to age. If the angst-ridden, stubborn teenager in me were to review an album like this, originality would be a decisive factor. Obvious musical influences would be a negative thing in my narrow-minded evaluation. The word “copy-cat” would be used once or twice as well, further strengthening my resolve on the “fact”. Ageing gives way to perspective, originality isn’t an aspect nor an argument in the digital renaissance, since you basically can compare bands 24/7. It’s good to be part of the march of progress.

The music sculptors in Immensity are likely to have great admiration for the Peaceville three (Paradise Lost, Anathema and My Dying Bride) as well as more contemporary mainstays within doom metal such as Draconian and Daylight Dies. That’s certainly not a bad thing. This band is following its own path from a classic template, creating epic styled compositions with a wide range of atmospheres.

The seven tracks (two of which are re-mixed and re-mastered from the band’s demo) have that journeyed feel where different emotions are being portrayed. Midway through “Irradiance (For The Unlight)”, the listener is deep seated in passionate, lovelorn moods similar to Candlemass or The Foreshadowing, skillfully arranged through and through. The trademark dreary sound of the Greek sextet reaches its peak on the title track with crushing results; Apollo and Dionysus would surely find solace in these compositions.

The album rarely breaks out from its midtempo, gothic splendor. Eleven-minute epos “The Sullen” has a bit of death metal riffage here and there but that’s perhaps one of very few occasions. Props go to singer and growler Leonidas for his performance on the album. There’s a lot lyrical content in the tracks, nicely mixed between guttural growls and soaring laments, positively surprised.

I’m all for music that sounds fresh and different. Original or not, in this case, the album connected with me and that sentiment has a crucial value! Entirely produced in the band’s homeland, “The Isolation Splendour” sounds every bit “hellas” as “Triarchy Of The Lost Lovers”, “Orama” or “The Ophidian Wheel”, only in a more updated form. It has that ancient, alluring romantic scent around it. Well played!

Reviewed by: Fróði Tórálvsson Stenberg

Review from Necromance Webzine

Fri, 29 Jul 2016 04:51:58 +0100

From: Necromance Webzine

Published: July 28, 2016

Original Link

Buen material de Atmosférico Death/Doom Metal que encierra este primer lanzamiento completo de los helenos IMMENSITY, llegándonos de la mano del sello canadiense Hypnotic Dirge Records (SUBTERRANEAN DISPOSITION, WOMB, FUNERAL IN HEAVEN…).

Este sexteto ateniense creado en 2009, nos muestra en 5 extensas canciones, su progresión desde que editasen su primera referencia, “The Lonely Aquarelle” en 2012 que contenía dos temas y que por cierto, también han sido incluídos aquí en forma de bonus tracks (remezcladas y remasterizadas) para completar casi un total de 70 minutos. Es decir, que esta obra recoge toda la discografía de la banda hasta el momento.

Melancolía, emotividad, pesadumbre…son palabras que me vienen a la mente al escuchar los cortes aquí contenidos. Esa carga y esa velocidad media general, sin acelerones ni grandes brutalidades, se mantienen durante todo el disco. Parecen también tocar algunos palos de los diferentes estilos en los que se divide el Doom Metal, como el Clásico (hablamos de Doom/Death), Gótico, Melódico…e incluso algún pequeño guiño al Funeral. Sin duda “Heartfelt Like Dying” y “The Sullen” son los que más Death Metal poseen del conjunto, con voces guturales (que junto a las tristes melodías han conseguido evocarme a los germanos CREMATORY) y esas guitarras potentes y pesadas al mismo tiempo (quizá el sonido es algo áspero aunque desde luego cumplen su objetivo). “The Isolation Splendour” da título al álbum y es sin duda mi pista favorita. Es la más larga de todas las que podemos hallar en el conjunto, con algunos toques progresivos y esas voces limpias y melódicas (presentes a lo largo y ancho del trabajo), que tienen su punto álgido durante sus más de 11 minutos y que en algunas partes, han llegado a recordarme a los suecos OPETH, una de sus posibles semejanzas o influencias, mientras que en “Adornment” (perteneciente a su EP, totalmente en sintonía con el nuevo material) podría hablar de MY DYING BRIDE.

Producido brillantemente por el propio grupo junto a Kimon Zeliotis (guitarrista de los progresivos PSYCRENCE), quien se ha ocupado de la mezcla y masterización y quien ya hiciese la propio en “The Lonely Aquarelle”, con buen resultado consiguiendo un sonido potente y en el que los diferentes instrumentos pueden apreciarse sin grandes dificultades. La portada ha sido realizada por Nikos Stavridakis/VisionBlack (DODSFERD, IMPERIUM INFERNALIS, AKILKARSA…). En esta grabación la formación está compuesta por Leonidas Hatzimihalis a la voz, Andreas Kelekis a las guitarras/sintetizador, Chris Markopoulos guitarra, Yiannis Filippaios a la batería, George Kritharis bajo y Chrisa Kourenta a los teclados, siendo estos dos últimos sustituidos en la actualidad, por Nikolas Loukopoulos (bajista de sesión) y Nora Koutsouri respectivamente.

Salvo algunos momentos puntuales, en los que la música se torna en algo constante e insistente provocando algo de desesperación en el oyente, es una excelente edición para seguidores de DAYLIGHT DIES (con los que me ha parecido encontrar algunas similitudes… o al menos es el primer nombre que apareció en mi cabeza en cuanto a aproximación), SWALLOW THE SUN, AHAB, de los ya mencionados MY DYING BRIDE…

Rating: 7/10
Reviewed by: Robin RM

Review from Metallifer Blog

Mon, 11 Jul 2016 02:40:08 +0100

From: Metallifer Blog

Published: July 8, 2016

Original Link

Immensity est un groupe grec originaire d’Athènes qui évolue dans un registre de atmospheric doom / death metal. Le groupe a été fondé en 2009 par le guitariste Andreas Kelekis. A partir de 2010 le chanteur Leonidas Hatzimihalis commence à s’occuper des chansons et surtout du concept derrière les textes. Le groupe s’affine ensuite en 2011 avec l’entrée du batteur Yiannis Fillipaios, du bassiste Giorge Kritharis et du guitarsite Chris Markopoulos. Au clavier on trouve Nora Koutsouri.

Immensity a sorti sa première démo The Lonely Aquarelle en 2012 avec deux titres au menu : Adornment et Eradicate (The Pain of Remembrance). Ces deux titres sont présents aussi sur l’album The Isolation Splendour. La pochette de la démo est l’ouvre du artiste du groupe Andrew Kelekis alors que la pochette de l’album The Isolation Splendour a été réalisée par l’artiste Nikos Stavridakis.

Immensity signe avec The Isolation Splendour un très bon premier album. En effet si on lit les chroniques sur la toile comme sur french metal ou les eternels, l’album est bon sans être renversant et pêche par manque d’innovation. C’est bon mais sans plus. Je pense que ce n’est pas le cas. Certes il y a un hommage à payer par moment à Anathema, My Dying Bride ou encore à Paradise Lost mais ce ne sont que des hommages, des clins d’œil et rien de plus. Je pense que le problème vient des étiquettes collées au groupe comme atmospheric doom / death metal. Oui parce que si vous cherchez du death metal vous vous fourrez le doigt dans l’œil. Immensity fait un metal novateur. C’est la branche controversé de ce que l’on appelle post-black metal et qui se décline en deux branches l’une atmosphérique et l’autre d’avant-garde. Immensity fait du metal atmosphérique avec une touche doom et une touche plus aérée, pas shoegaze mais plutôt blackgaze. L’importance donnée au clavier et synthé est prépondérante puisque bien deux membres se partagent cette tâche (Nora Koutsouri et Andreas Kelekis). Alors non l’album n’est pas mou. Oui Immensity fait un travail d’orefèvre dans les tempi qui s’alternent comme des vagues mais des petites vagues et l’accent est mis sur les atmosphères, la voix et les guitares. La voix passe de grunt à claire avec une aisance impressionnante et une bonne compréhension de la part de l’auditeur. La voix claire ou grunt est très bien adaptée aux morceaux et elle les enrichit. De même le travail fait à la guitare en phase rythmique ou soliste est très intéressant. Il y a une patte bien évidente et maitrisée en phase de soli chose qui les rend reconnaissables et personnels et c’est une chose assez rare pour être soulignée.

The Isolation Splendour est un album imprégné de douleur et de souffrance. C’est un album difficile et pas immédiat. Il faut du temps pas pour l’apprécier mais pour l’apprivoiser. Et le temps dans le monde actuel est devenu un bien rare.

Lancez-vous à l’écoute sans préjugés et vous saurez l’apprécier à sa juste valeur.

Rating: 9/10

Review from Last Day Leaf

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 01:00:40 +0100

From: Last Day Leaf

Published: June 7, 2016

Original Link

Immensity is an atmospheric doom/death, with Progressive influences, metal band from Athens, Greece, which was formed in 2009. They released their first demo called ‘The Lonely Aquarelle‘ in 2012, and this year they present themselves with a full-length album called ‘The Isolation Splendour‘ (Hypnotic Dirge Records/Solitude Productions).

The founder of the band is Andreas Kelekis (guitars, synth). In 2010, Leonidas Hatzimihalis (ex Fatal Morgana, Equal Vector, Agnosia) became the voice and the developer of the lyrical themes of the band. Gradually, other members joined the band. In 2011, Yiannis Filippaios (Drums, ex- Decemberance, Daylight Misery, Ritual Of The Black Sun), Giorgos Kritharis (Bass, ex- Fortress Under Siege), and Christos Markopoulos (Guitars, ex- Apomihanis Theos) joined Immensity. The latest member appearing in their first album was Nora Koutsouri (Keyboards, Synth), but she recently, as well as Giorgos Kritharis, had to ‘abandon the ship’, due to professional obligations.

According to the band, they have been influenced by various doom/death metal bands, such as Daylight Dies, My Dying Bride, Anathema, Swallow The Sun, Opeth, Katatonia, Primordial, Dead Can Dance among others. Listening to the two tracks that have been released as a pre-hearing of the album only solidifies the previous statement. The first track, ‘Irradiance‘, and the second one, ‘The Sullen‘, which now has a lyric video, reveal an existential concept, a classic theme for the genre.

Immensity seem to establish this kind of doom/death metal in the Greek metal scene, from a quality point of view. The pre-released tracks from their new work give us a taste of a classic slow, atmospheric, funeral doom metal, with a lot of progressive accents. So far, listening to these two tracks won’t get you anything innovative for this genre, but that is not necessarily a negative feature. In anticipation of their new album, I am hoping for the best from Immensity.

Reviewed by: Mary Kalaitzidou

Review from Crossfire Metal

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 00:58:15 +0100

From: Crossfire Metal

Published: June 7, 2016

Original Link

Atmosphärischer Todesdoom soll das sein, womit die Band aus Athen ihre Fans beliefert. Nun ja, der Deathanteil beschränkt sich hier auf die tiefen Growls, denn sonst musiziert man softer und sehr melodisch. Auf cleane Vocals wird häufig gewechselt, die ebenfalls nicht zu kantig oder zu laut gebracht werden, sondern sich harmonisch in die Songs einfügen. Zusammen können sie Stimmungen zum Abheben erschaffen, für die in erster Linie Keyboarderin Nora zuständig ist. Dabei entsteht auch viel Melancholie, dass „The Isolation Splendour“ als eine traurig schöne Angelegenheit bezeichnet werden darf. Das Sextett aus Griechenland hat einiges zu sagen, auch wenn die sieben Tracks ihres ersten Albums sehr gleichförmig klingen. In diesem Fall ist die Spielzeit von siebenundsechzig Minuten sehr lang, denn die Angelegenheit kann sich echt ziehen.

Rating: 6/10

Reviewed by: Joxe Schaefer

Review from Metal Invader

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 00:55:10 +0100

From: Metal Invader

Published: June 7, 2016

Original Link

Ντεμπούτο για τους Αθηναίους Immensity με τίτλο »The Isolation Splendour» , τέσσερα χρόνια μετά το “The Lonely Aquarelle” demo τους και σχεδόν 7 από τη δημιουργία της μπάντας. Από τα πρώτα λεπτά ο δίσκος σε βάζει σε ένα θλιμμένο mood, σε μια υγρή ομιχλώδη ατμόσφαιρα. Θλίψη λοιπόν, πένθος, μελαγχολία, στεναχώρια, συναισθήματα που δυστυχώς ή ευτυχώς αισθάνεται η ψυχή κάθε ανθρώπου και που πολλές φορές πηγάζουν από ή οδηγούν στον Θυμό. Εκεί είναι που έρχεται η doom/death μουσική να σταθεί αρωγός στον ακροατή, να σταθεί δίπλα του σε αυτή την δύσκολη ψυχική κατάσταση, όπως το κάνει με επιτυχία το άλμπουμ. Θυμωμένα brutal φωνητικά από την μία, απαλά και πένθιμα από την άλλη. Και όλα αυτά συνοδευόμενα από κατά κύριο λόγο αργόσυρτους ρυθμούς με lead κιθαριστικές πινελιές που έχουν αποφοιτήσει από την μεγάλη Βρετανική σχολή (Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride και Anathema της πρώτης εποχής). Εξαιρετικά ενδιαφέρουσα κυκλοφορία, με άψογη παραγωγή και πάνω απ’ όλα γεμάτη ουσία.

Rating: 4/6

Reviewed by: Από Kostas Gekas

Review from Bravewords

Sat, 18 Jun 2016 00:54:35 +0100

From: Bravewords Reviews

Published: May 28, 2016

Original Link

Some majestic doom on display here from Greek crew Immensity, who impress with the delivery and confidence displayed on this, their debut. The band lay down death/doom with a power and punch often only seen in bands like Paradise Lost back in their early coming-of-age heyday, when every song was an event, every chord change important; the sounds also bring to mind My Dying Bride in a big way, which is always a good thing. Immensity manage to incorporate clean vocals, and while it sometimes works, as on excellent opener “Heartfelt Like Dying”, other times (like on the title track) it doesn't quite click.

But talk about huge crunching death/doom riffs; this band's got them all over the place, the power mighty, the glory in such death/doom apparent all over this 68-minute album. But this band also handles quieter moments with grace; “The Sullen” has tons of atmosphere without being cheeseball, and we're talking about a song with spoken word in it (never, ever a good idea); the same song also shows off some killer subtle drumming and more of their powerful death/doom riffing. Immensity pull it all off here, the band sounding like grizzled death/doom vets, surely a good sign that the future is only going to get brighter, and doomed.

Rating: 8/10

Reviewed by: Greg Pratt