Τρίτη 14 Ιουνίου 2011

The First Aphorism: Dronning Maud Land

Dronning Maud Land from Germany is one of the most inspired Gothic Rock bands that have passed from the scene. Their saga was sort but their releases are still mentioned as big influence for many bands as as top favorites by many fans -myself included-. The saga of the band was sort however they have left behind some excellent pieces of music. The reference to this great band will start with the reviews of their first two releases. We shall have more DML coming into the page but for now anyone that is not aware of them should start discovering this band by those two releases, you will never regret it, believe me. Well I have first written those two reviews back on August of 2007 for the official DML page of MySpace that a good friend of mine and I started together back on the day.

Dronning Maud Land – Alteration (Maxi CD – Glasnost Music - 1994)




















The Alteration Maxi CD was released back in 1994 by Glasnost Music under the matrix code GLAS 22, containing four tracks it is the second release by this German Gothic Rock act. It includes the song "Cry For Happy" –originally from the debut- but here you can listen it to a different –"Alterated" is the name that is used by the band in here- version. The song remains great as a composition but I prefer the original version. Moving to the next track we will have the chance to listen "Spirits", a mid tempo, foggy Gothic Rock song, for sure it is not the band's best composition but it remains interesting. "Chains Of Fear", is one of the most FOTN-ish tracks of Dronning Maud Land and to be more specific it captures that Rock 'N' Roll feeling that Fields used to spread in some of their songs, you would enjoy it even better if you are drunk or something, on an opposite situation you would simply point it –as I did- as the fastest and wildest song on this Maxi CD. The musical epilogue in here is something that hardly can be described with words. Due to this song I would add the "Alteration" release very close to the top of my favorite Mni / Maxi CDs, EPs, 7'' / 12'' / CD Single releases. Yes folks, I am referring to the amazing "Roses For Margie" track. A deep, emotional and mournful Gothic Rock anthem, a hymn to romanticism, an ode to the cold sorrow that the –with no reason- Death of a beloved (love? What it is? Anyway out of topic…) person brings. Just listen to the way that Carsten sings this song, just dive into its deep melody, just wait for its –full of mourn and anger- crescendo and you MAYBE could grab the chance to understand what Gothic Rock REALLY means…This track is enough to make this release a must for every serious fan of this type of music (no it is not only music but anyway…) and of course I am referring the real think, the original Maxi CD and not any kind of dump mp3. I would finish here adding the fact that –apart for my own opinion and list- DML remains on the pantheon of Gothic Rock and one of the strongest reasons, is included in this release, so go out there and grab it.

Dronning Maud Land – Aphorism (CD – Glasnost Records – 1993)




















Take a most careful look into the back catalogue of the –now inactive- Glasnost Records and stop to the number 13 (GLAS 013), yes you got it right folks, this is the debut album of Germany's Dronning Maud Land, I really do not know if the number 13 into the matrix code of this release was a spooky trick or something, the fact is that in here we got a Gothic Rock masterpiece. Nine tracks… yes they are enough to capture they gray painted skies and bring them straight into your stereo speakers. You may ask for more details after reading all these. Ok you going to have them. The music of Dronning Maud Land is mostly based into the crystal clear guitar melodies built under a solid but progressive rhythm section. In here you would not discover the monolithic drum and bass rhythm section of your everyday Gothic Rock band. Drum and bass lines are getting more complex, making the songs to sound even more rich and interesting. Melodic themes and atmospheric musical lines built by guitars and NOT by keyboards is the main feature in here. Keyboards are offering the last musical pieces of gray wherever they are sounding. Of course I left the vocals to be my last mention in this text cause for sure are the strongest feature in this album. I am sure that once you hear the vocals of DML you would never forget them not for the reason that they got a special sound or whatever but mostly due to the fact that every single vocal line is sang with such passion and feeling that ends to be DML's trademark. Mournful and cold as ice the vocals in here are nothing more or nothing less than a strong and unforgettable musical experience for every listener. Do not ask me to pick a specific song from the nine tracks that are included n here simply because Aphorism is an album that got to be heard form the beginning to the end, with the booklet of the lyrics in one hand and a glass of wine in the other. This is just the beginning of the journey….



http://www.dronning-maud-land.de/
http://www.myspace.com/dronningmaudland
http://www.darkdimensions.de/
http://www.myspace.com/darkdimensionslabelgroup






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