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Ennoven - Redemption Award winner

Ennoven
Redemption
by Dave "That Metal Guy" Campbell at 28 May 2018, 11:44 AM
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ENNOVEN is a one-man project inspired by beauty, and the power of nature, located in Warsaw, Poland. “Redemption” was originally released in 2014, and recently, Northern Silence Productions picked up the band for a contract for three albums, including a soon to be CD release of “Redemption,” which contains four tracks.

The near-six minute “Spirits” opens the album. The opening guitar sequence and background ambiance remind me of the band INSOMNIUM. It has that refined grace and regal overtones that make it sound magnanimous. The sound then drops off a bit to let you soak in the atmosphere. Mist rises from the earth and lifts to show mountain spires. Within the mix are some vocal shrieks, but they don’t play a prominent role in the sound. “Ethereal Winter” is a ten-minute opus. The subject talks about creation and death, and the phrase “ethereal winter” could be referring to the latter. The celestial entrance is all about setting a tone; a scene. In this case, it’s rumbling thunder, and ominous skies…a foreboding sign of something wicked. The vocals are like tortured whispers carried into a gale wind. It builds to a full sound after the half-way mark; a hypnotic trance of gorgeously crafted guitars. The layering and tracking are fantastic. Waves crash over you and despair surrounds you…is this the end?

Segueing into the four-minute instrumental “Of the Ice,” the sound remains despondent and hopeless. The skies lose their luster and all turns to dull shades of grey. Is Hell the absence of all matter? Can people survive in a totally solitary existence? “Reborn” is the near fifteen-minute closing song. This song is about resolve and rebirth. “Every end is dim…every end is dire. But in the darkness, there is always a light. As above, as below, there is fire. As above, as below, there begins the life.” Time almost ceases to exist and this song creeps along, registering nearly motionless. Yes, it crushes you with the weight of the world. As it fades out, it takes you with it.

A lot of Black Metal bands who claim to be “atmospheric” fail to deliver. The temptation to choose heaviness over melody and aura is just too high. That is not the case with “Redemption” by ENNOVEN. Mateusz paints a magical landscape that is both desolate and alluring, and a place you can only find in your dreams. Though it has only four songs, it feels like a complete story, so any more might interfere. The album will seduce you, and I am happy to hear that Northern Silence Productions is bringing it back around.

Songwriting: 9
Originality: 9
Memorability: 9
Production: 8

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Ennoven – Redemption (Review)
JANUARY 1, 2017 BY WONDERBOXMETAL
EnnovenEnnoven is a one-man atmospheric black metal project from Poland. This is his debut album.

Redemption is just under 35 minutes of atmospheric black metal with post-metal and progressive influences included in its misty embrace.

This is a very textured release. The album contains sprawling, expansive soundscapes that paint a darkened picture of the natural world. There’s harshness here, of course, just as there is in nature, but there’s also great beauty.

The artist weaves layers of nuance and depth into the music, with colourful resplendent melodies and shaded introspective reflection taking turns at the fore of the songs. There’s a lot of depth and nuance in these tracks, created with ease as the music flows through the playing time like a largely untroubled body of moving water.

The album is very well-played and written, and it’s clear that the guy behind it all is a very talented individual. Some of the progressive elements really add to the narrative of the songs on Redemption, and I especially like some of the long-winded solos/leads that crop up here and there.

I’ve said on previous occasions that my favourite type of vocals for this kind of atmospheric black metal is the extremely high-pitched, low-in-the-mix, almost static-like screaming variety. Guess what we get on Redemption? Yes, exactly this. Very nice.

Redemption is a mature and engaging piece of work that achieves what it sets out to do quite easily. The album contains a lot of content for anyone into textured atmospheric black metal and the entire release is very enjoyable.

Recommended.

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Ennoven - Redemption
"The gateway to another world"

Artist: Ennoven

Origin: Warsaw, Poland

Album: Redemption

Game length: 34:28 minutes

Genre: Atmospheric Black Metal

Release: December 23, 2014

Label: Northern Silence Productions

Link: https://ennoven.bandcamp.com/releases

Band members:

Instruments and vocals: Mateusz Sworakowski

Tracklist:

Spirits
Ethereal winter
Of The Ice
Reborn

Almost four years ago, Mateusz Sworakowski launched his Atmospheric Black Metal Solo project. Influenced and inspired by the beauty and power of nature, the native Pole was, according to his own statements, tempted to record his impressions musically, which he also presented to the public in December 2014. In the four tracks, the artist deals lyrically with topics such as death as inner peace, with nature itself, and asks whether there are such things as higher powers in nature.

The music of this album was only delivered in mediocre sound quality, but with more epic melodies, which include both the quieter and stormier sections. With Redemption, Mateusz Sworakowski manages to deliver a work that you shouldn't just listen to in between, but for which you should take the time and get more involved with the music. When listening to this album, you will be transported for a short time into another world due to these emotional and engaging tracks, the Sworakowski's thoughts accompanied by guitar chordslike drawing in the landscape with dark red colors. All of this may sound questionable to someone who has not heard the music, but after listening to the album, they may have changed their minds quickly.

Conclusion: Ennoven has published a work of art with this album, which unfortunately receives too little attention. A "must" for fans of Atmospheric Black Metal.

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