Bardo – I

posted by Zamo on November 28, 2010

Bardo – I

Genre(s): Slow black metal / atmospheric / funeral doom

Hungary

Label: Valse Sinistre






Reading the information sheet, to name it this way, written by ”Valse Sinistre”, I have to say that my interest has grown remarkably, through the actual meaning and philosophy, actually, of the term ”bardo”, which seems to mean an ”in-between state”. And as a quote..

The first bardo* begins when we take birth and endures as long as we live.

The second is the bardo of dreams.

The third is the bardo of concentration or meditation.

The fifth is known as the bardo of the luminosity of the true nature.

The sixth is called the bardo of transmigration or karmic becoming.

Anyway, to start properly, Bardo is a funeral doom/slow black metal/atmospheric band from Hungary.. It’s the new band of Khrul, present in Funebre, Witchcraft, Marblebog, Vorkuta, etc. And today, I’m going to review their creation, ’1.’ . I honestly wonder if there’s a connection between the title and the first bardo*.

The EP contains five tracks. I’m going to review each of them, partly.

’0.’ is a very well thought introduction into the EP. I really liked the choir-like, atmospheric idea. Voices melting into void and giving the music a sacred notion with an organ playing in the background, even achieving choral perfection. Kudos for an awesome beginning.

’1.’, a gentle intrusion of something similar to Mors Principium Est’s ‘Lost Beyond Retrieval’ in a way, concerning the pallette of sounds. Apart from the beautiful atmosphere, I have found some monotony and some ruptures between fragments, but the depressive black metal sound is underlined and very noticeable, like a scream of distress, that occurs between unclear, harsh textures and calmer ones, in a way, more doom-like, ambiental even.. Calm, shoegaze influences fading into the background.

’2.’, rather improvisional. It’s similar to 1 at the beginning. Actually, from the beginning to around 2:22. Which isn’t really disturbing me on one side, because a connection is very nicely achieved, a similarity between tracks. The thing that kind of gets me down is the shade of monotonous. Though, a better passage for around 12 seconds, a texture that gives a very nice, calm atmosphere and then, another lighter texture that pretty much denies the whole musical line.. I found it slightly incongrous but then again, depressive black metal sounds that way to emphasise distress. I was pleasantly impressed by the shoegaze, post-rock atmosphere.. Followed by a brutal intrusion of a violent guitar, but a beautiful outburst, really.

’3.’, nice beginning. A tremolo in slight textures. Relaxing. But soon afterwards, in turns into a combination of 2 and 3, the band follows the same sound lines.. And as constructive criticism, change is always welcome. Though, I did hear an amazing guitar solo, a depressive one, in this song and it turns into melancholy, yet, a beautiful melancholy, like a voice flowing in the guitars. 2:06-2:32. That was the most remarkable thing I managed to hear in the album, amazing fragment through that simplicity itself. And even the guitar afterwards is decent and easy to listen to without thinking of the repetitions. It’s addictive, actually. And it starts to have emotion through maddening riffs and warped sounds.

’4.’, nice harmony. I enjoy the dimension of relaxation this band manages to create at times, some figments are really impressive. Symphonic sounds. Yet, again, I got the impression that a pitch of either anger, either calm would’ve made it sound better. It would’ve given it a spark.

In other words, I enjoyed this album and I’m pretty sure anyone would feel pleased, actually, after hearing these tracks for the first time.

Good job, guys. And honestly, the whole concept the band name flashes is amazing and it flashes potential and creativity.

Rating : 7,5

http://www.valsesinistre.com/

http://www.myspace.com/bardoband