"Has lost a bit of clout over the years…"
As odd as such a statement may seem for the beginning of a review, Winterheart's Guild is one of the most peculiar records I've ever come across. It's not the music that's unusual, but rather how many times my opinion of the album has changed over the years. Off the top of the head I can't think of another album that matches the heated, internal debate Winterheart's Guild stirs within me.
Still, my experience with "Winterheart's" really begins in 2003 after receiving a mixed CD with "Victoria's Secret" and "The Ruins of My Life" on it from an old friend. Of the two songs I found that really I liked "Victoria's Secret" but I totally despised "The Ruins of My Life" and still do. Despite the latter being one of the worst songs that Kakko has ever penned, I was definitely interested in hearing more of the album, especially after checking out Silence and Ecliptica. Unfortunately, my first impression of Winterheart's Guild was somewhat negative. There was something about it that quickly put in behind its predecessors. The album would remain at the back of the pack until I got a roommate of mine interested in the band and his interest reignited my exploration of the band's music. Eventually I discovered I liked the album, I liked it a lot. There was something about it that was simply "edgier" and a bit more chaotic than the straight-laced albums that preceded it.
For years, and even through the release of Reckoning Night, this was enough to put the album at the top of the heap. Things would eventually change with the release of Unia - an album I disliked for the better part of a year. Once Unia wore down my initial defenses - presenting the change I didn't know I wanted - I realized it and follow-up The Days of Grays outclassed the majority of band's previous material. After listening to those albums, I found it hard to have patience with a speedy, one-dimensional track like "The Cage" or a slow, one-dimensional track like "Gravenimage." These songs are far from bad but they just can't compare to albums with more to offer, or even other songs on this album like "Champagne Bath," "Silver Tongue" and "Abandoned, Pleased, Brainwashed, Exploited."
Beyond knocking "The Cage" for being a bit shallow, you may notice that the slower songs are the ones I'm picking on and not the fast ones. This ying and yang is another area that's been slightly tarnished by time. Despite the band being more known for their speedier numbers than slower ones, I always felt the band struck a good balance between both. The band's newest releases reaffirm this to me but Winterhearts, perhaps more than any other album, proves the slower pieces are more susceptible to time's wear and tear. As noted, "Gravenimage" has some problems getting out of the gate as does "Broken" even though it's still one of the album's greatest calling cards. Things get even more confusing as the album draws to a close with the ultimate Replica wannabe "The Ruins of My Life" and enchanting yet conflicted "Draw Me."
CONCLUSION:
Neither the star-studded masterpiece nor the misguided rush I initially thought it was Winterheart's Guild is an album that is shrouded in a veil of uncertainty. As important as the album is in the scheme of things, albums like Unia and The Days of Grays have done a more than efficient job at chipping away at its allure. Such a situation is a double edged sword. While one would obviously want the band to continue their effort in making great music no one wants it to be at the expense of where they've been. Alas, that's something musicians can't really help. That said, even though Winterheart's Guild will always be there, it's definitely less inviting than it once was.
Overall Score: 7/10
No comments:
Post a Comment