Artist: Emeth
Title: Heroic Epics Cycle
Type: Album
Label: Digital
This actually came out in April and I put it on my ‘to listen to’ list around August. And it promptly got lost (doesn’t happen often but has been twice in recent months…) so apologies to Emeth. But none of that should detract from the fact that this is a little gem of a debut.
‘The New Hero’s Journey Begins’ has a slow, calm build of synths and the suggestion of medieval choirs before a little patter of percussion, soft, comes in and the light notes of a candlit melody begin. There is a strangely dark feel to the background music but the main theme has one of hope and of careful reverence. It feels like a good soul holding a cautious lantern to the dark. This has that old school feel, the sense of an organic ‘live’ feel with deceptively simple arrangements that slowly reveal their depth. It is a strangely sweet and yet eerie track; a sense that daring to adventure against darkness is simply the right thing to do. Captivating, thoughtful and strangely affecting, a lovely beginning indeed.
This sense of good vs the darkness continues with ‘Battle For The Glory Of Heaven’, a fantastic synth sound which reminded me of Deaad Can Dance early days with the drumbeat sounds. And then the melody quickens, the sense of ‘epic’ spreads out and yet the melody remains small and solitary and deeply personal. Perhaps there are grand and terrible things in the balance for all, but it is the personal act, that solitary battle that may decide them. I find my mind picking out memories from this of music in the 90s, not just Dead Can Dance but Arcana and the like; something of the dark ages about it, a sense of magic but more of light, through the beautifully woven melodies here.
A low rumble announces ‘Emerging Chtonic Forces’, a slow and dense dark synth sound. The sound is ominous indeed, unknown and with an intent that is difficult to grasp. At times the music feels like something looking around for the first time, unsure of its place. At others it has a more searching quality. But they have arrived.
‘Funeral March For A Great King’ is just perfectly that. Militaristic but soft and respectful drums, the sound of mourning choral voices as the procession approaches the resting place with music that bows the head. Some spoken words haunt the scene. “We await your return in our valiant hearts. But now…. let mortal heroes sing your fame…” It has a heart aching end of an era feel between the solemn ceremony and the pomp.
The cycle closes with ‘Ascent’. A beautiful, wistful shower of raindrops in sunshine notes, the slow lazy synth offering a time of reflection. Something has been lost, perhaps. A sense of loss threads through this melody but there is also the hint of a half smile in some of the brightness, a thought turned to those moments where warmth and a whimsical humour marked the soul of another.
This is a lovely debut collection. It fits together perfectly and offers this soft medieval layer to music that gracefully explores the grand and the epic, the personal and those moments that shone as bright as stars in their little way. Deeds may be grand but heroes might share a cup and a gentle humour with a friend as the lights grow low. Kings may die but perhaps it was so a poor family might live on.
I really hope to hear more from Emeth soon as this deeply but quietly emotional debut is something any fan of dungeon synth should have room for in their collection, and in their life.
Gizmo
Walking The Liminal Space 