Artist: Shattered Sword
Title: Battle On The Ice
Type: EP
Label: Digital
I wasn’t expecting to review this. I bought it as I like the artists other project Skyhammer and this was a fundraiser I wanted to support (see Bandcamp for details) but I was absolutely floored by the depth of poignant emotion encapsulated within this short EP.
‘Battle On The Ice’ opens with the bitter cold wind, boots crunching through snow with determination, a sword drawn and then the deep, epic synths rise up and I swear my heart swells to twice its size in a moment. Just something about the simple, steadfast sounds and stoic beat had in a moment placed me amidst the snow, the night, watching the warrior and the grim reality of a battle where than can be no retreat.
‘Graves In The Snow’ though is where the aftermath is revealed. This is a world of stillness and notes falling like the memory of names. It is a mournful, elegiac moment. It breaths soft commemoration and the deepest regret. The human tragedies of those gone. I may have stopped breathing for a moment or two here. The soft touch here is just beautiful. There is no anger here, no rage; simply the memories of those lost.
‘My Blood Amongst The Snowfall’ closes the short EP. A moment at last for self reflection of the warrior themselves. The heroic but bitter deed done, the lost carved into the stones of memory and the hero retreats into the shdows with perhaps just a look back at what they themselves have lost upon the snowfields. The haunting flute sounds over the slow, sad synth wash is the perfect end to this short tale.
The winds cover the footsteps away but for a while at least the shadows of the battle remain.
Dungeon synth can be epic trilogies and deep tomes, dark adventure in sprawling ruins. But this proves also that it can be the short tale, but one that strikes true and deep into your heart. A quite perfect and poignant moment in time.
Gizmo
Walking The Liminal Space 