Empyrium
A Wintersunset (CD) 1996 Prophecy
This debut album of the German atmospheric, folky band Empyrium, is dedicated to the 'overwhelming beauty of nature'. The bandmembers declare that nature is their greatest source of inspiration, which they illustrate with a beautiful cover painting. But converting this beauty into music, is not an obvious thing to do. However, I think the band does a great job by creating very melancholic melodies supported by a very atmospheric sound. The music contains broad layers of synths, acoustic and electric guitars, background drums, clean, deep male vocals and black metal screams. Tempo ranges from mostly slow to some mid tempo parts. All in all, this album is a big candidate to play outdoors, during the warm summer evenings, accompanied by candles and a little bit cold red wine. Empyrium fully draws the card of atmosphere and melody, so some 'true' doom-metal fans will probably not like this album, because of the lack of heavy, distorted guitars and sick grunts. But for those who like this melancholic, rather folky type of music, I can only recommend this effort. Compared to later Empyrium albums, this album is a little harsher [Editor note: personally, I think that 'Songs of moors and misty fields' is much harsher]. On 'Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays', the band even dropped the electric guitars and the screams.	1. Moonromanticism 2. Under Dreamskies 3. The Fraconian woods inwinter's silence 4. The yearning 5. Autumn grey views 6. Ordain'd to thee 7. A gentle grieving farewell kiss Approx. 49 minutes
Reviewed by: Heiko Isselee
Songs of moors and misty fields (CD) 1997 Prophecy
Oh Muse, tell me about this versatile man named Marcus, whose fame surpassed the narrow boundaries of his country! Sing to me, Muse, about the craftsmanship with which he embellishes his melancholic compositions, about his talented songwriting and his multi-instrumental abilities. Chant about the folky atmosphere of his songs, Muse, and also mention his beautiful lyrics, that examine the thin red line between our inner world and the macrocosmos. Tell those who have a doomed soul about the exquisite way he combines low, gothic vocals with harsh screams, a combination which expresses perfectly the contrast of the beautiful, tranquil nature that is able to transform herself into a fury within some seconds, making you, an insignificant human being, realise that there is no shelter for her rage. Don't forget to mention to them the beautiful flute and etherial keyboards which emphasize the suffocating melancholy of this work. And Muse: taking all this and the excellent artwork into consideration, tell the doomed ones that they should own this album...	1. When shadows grow longer 2. The blue mists of night 3. Mourners 4. Ode to melancholy 5. Lover's grief 6. The enselmbe of silence Approx. 45 minutes
Reviewed by: Kostas Panagiotou
Where At Night The Wood Grouse Plays (CD) 1999 Prophecy
With this release, Empyrium has created a beautiful (if somewhat short) collection of folklorish songs and nature themes. This time they have given up on electric instruments, using just acoustic guitars, flute and vocals. The sound is still recognizable, although a bit on the softer, quieter side than their earlier work. The songs are all rather on the short side (if you are used to doomy songs, that is), but flow into each other nicely, each one telling its own tale to the listener. Some of the songs are an instrumental ode to the beauty of nature and others recite a short folklore from Empyrium's region of Germany, or one made up by the band itself. "When Shadows Grow Longer 99" is a more in-depth remake of the song from "Songs Of Moors & Misty Fields". The artwork is once again stunning. Empyrium prove once again that the visual art is an important aspect of a release, with a sober booklet, stylish letters and beautiful, small nature photographs. Concluding, "Where At Night The Wood Grouse Plays" is a short, but thoroughly satisfying journey through nature and folklore, comparable in style and high quality to Ulver's "Kveldssanger".	1. Where At Night The Wood Grouse Plays 2. Dying Brokenhearted 3. The Shepherd And The Maiden Ghost 4. The Sad Song Of The Wind 5. Wehmut 6. A Pastoral Theme 7. Abendrot 8. Many Moons Ago 9. When Shadows Grow Longer 99 Approx. 32 minutes
Reviewed by: Oscar Strik
Drei Auszüge Aus Weiland (7") 2002 Prophecy
This 7" is a small taste of the long-awaited upcoming 3CD album, "Weiland". It features one song from each of the three "chapters", along with a gatefold cover and a lyrics sheet, with a photograph (quite doomy!). The first song reminds me of the previous album, but also of the older works. This is probably because of the drums, which make this song sound like effectively old-style Empyrium, but without the metal guitars and screams. The second song is a short track featuring piano and whispers. It is very calm and dreamy. This is certainly a progression from the previous works, opting for an even mellower approach. The last song is a bit longer than the rest (4 minutes), and starts out as an acoustic guitar piece. Later on, the guitar gives way to a violin and cello quartet. I must admit that the melodies haunted me for quite some time. Quite beautiful! All in all, Empyrium continue on the same path, making the songs less "dense" than before. This gives the listener a gentle mood, and emphasises the quieter sides of nature, where once they did the opposite. Anyhow, this small taste makes me yearn for the big thing, and I hope it gets released soon.	1. Kein Hirtenfeuer Glimmt Mehr 2. Das Blau-kristallne Kämmerlein 3. Einsam, Verlorn, Den Lieben Entrissen Approx. 8 minutes
Reviewed by: Oscar Strik
Weiland (CD) 2002 Prophecy
There are only two negative remarks about this magnificent release: It's way too short for my liking, I could have listened to a few hours of this perfect folklore. Besides that, there won't be anymore of it, because this is Empyrium's swansong. Being done with that little quasi-criticism, I can get down to business. This is one of the best releases this year has seen, in any genre. The final release does not disappoint me in any way. The music has evolved as a more varied exponent of that heard on 'Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays'. Empyrium have added a string quartet, a tenor, acoustic drums and dug up the good old black metal screams in a few places. Don't get me wrong, this is not a metal release, but neither is it mere acoustic guitar prattle. 'Weiland' is far beyond that. This is 50 minutes of the most evocative music you'll ever hear. Depicting the beauty and mysticism of nature in three chapters is the aim, and the result is a grand musical painting. Moonlight on the trees, the soft ripples in the water, the ghosts in the forest, the mist on the moor. Chapter I depicts the "moormood", and it has six songs of the calm plains. 'Fortgang' stands out because of the great piece at the end where the listener is pleasantly surprised by Schwadorf's screams for the first time since 'Songs of Moors and Misty Fields'. Chapter II is a single 14-minute epic tale about the forest in all its splendour. Not only the beauty, but also the thrill and fear of being lost in a dark wood. Especially the string section in the middle of the track (on 'Auszüge…' it is called 'Einsam, verlorn, den Lieben entrissen) is particularly beautiful. Chapter III is the part of Empyrium we haven't heard before. It is a chapter full of songs about the waters of the earth, accompanied by piano melodies. 'Die Schwäne im Schilf' puts forth the screams one final time, and thereafter the album slowly calms down until it is finished with the almost ambient 'Blau-kristallne Kämmerlein'. Concluding, everything on this release is great. Thomas Helm, the new tenor, has a great voice, which would also be suitable for accompanying Schubert's work, for example. The string quartet adds variation where needed and complements the music where acoustic guitars alone cannot. The piano in Chapter III serves as the surprising element, compared with the older work. The artwork is once again sombre, but beautiful. In short, if you do not own this album, you should at least give it a try (in other words: buy it!). This may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it is pure art, natural mysticism at its moment supreme. Romanticism is still alive!	Kapittel I: Heidestimmung 1. Kein Hirtenfeuer Glimmt Mehr 2. Heimwärts 3. Nebel 4. Fortgang 5. A Capella 6. Nachhall Kapittel II: Waldpoesie 7. Waldpoesie Kapittel III: Wassergeister 8. Die Schwäne Im Schilf 9. Wasserfall 10. Fossegrim 11. Der Nix 12. Das Blau-kristallne Kämmerlein Approx. 50 minutes
Reviewed by: Oscar Strik