In the Woods
Omnio (CD) 1997 Misanthropy
Before the writing of this review, there has been a discussion between the reviewers of this site. Should we include In the Woods... in the reviews section of the site, or not? After all, their first albums were almost pure black metal, then 'Omnio' could be considered rather doomy and afterwards they went into a more progressive and experimental direction. Since we also included other bands with only one doomy album, we decided to include this one too. This album is a drop of 100% pure melancholy. Massive guitar melodies, a beautiful clean male voice, very high quality female vocals and pieces of string interludes, result in one of the most beautiful albums in my collection. Guitar melodies and vocal lines seem to be involved in one big dialogue, creating an epic feel with most of the tracks. Inspiration comes from nature (once again), love and passion, feelings of despair and weakness. On '299796 km/s' and the three parts of the title track 'Omnio', a string quartet is added to the massive sound. And even without the strings, a song like 'Weeping Willow' is a really outstanding epic and melancholic piece of art.	1. 299 796 km/s 2. I am your flesh 3. Kairos! 4. Weeping willow 5. Omnio?   - pre   - bardo   - post Approx. 63 minutes
Reviewed by Heiko Isselee
Strange in stereo (CD.) 1999 Misanthropy
The music that Norway's In the Woods... play on this album can not be easily defined. It isn't as doomy as 'Omnio', and it most certainly isn't as black as 'HEart of the Ages'. Only clean vocals are used, both male and female, and both are stunning. This album combines elements that are not common in the metal genre, which are blended together to create a rather unique and phenomenal sound. Moreover, 'Strange In Stereo' is perhaps not even a metal album, but I could not care less. As a fan of doom-metal, the depressive nature of this album is something I enjoy very much. Unusual instruments like a sitar or the viola are used to perfection. Songs like 'Generally More Worried Than Married', 'Ion' and 'Vanish In the Absence of Virtue', are flawless masterpieces. All in all, I give my thumbs up to In the Woods... for just having the guts to experiment and drift a bit from metal altogether. This is an extraordinary piece of work. To make a long story short, 'Strange In Stereo ' is in my mind the best release of 1999. Great stuff.	1. Closing in 2. Cell 3. Vanish in the abscence of virtue 4. Basement corridors 5. Ion 6. Generally more worried than married 7. Path of the righteous 8. Dead man's creek 9. Titan transcendence 10. Shelter 11. By the banks of pandemonium Approx. 52 minutes
Reviewed by Bojan Janjanin
Three Times Seven on a Pilgrimage (CD.) 2000 Prophecy
As is often the case in this type of situations, an even better follow-up to what is in my mind one of the best albums ever, 'Strange In Stereo', was almost impossible. However, one may not consider 'Three Times Seven...' a regular album, as it consists of three seven inch singles (which explains the album title), plus a few previously unreleased tracks. The singles include covers from performers such as King Crimson, Jefferson Airplane, Pink Floyd and Syd Barret, all done in the familiar In the Woods manner. Traditionally, In the Woods use superb male and female vocalists, while the rest of the band make gently and smoothly a web around the listener. True highlights of the CD are 'Karmakosmik' and the cover of Jefferson Airplane's 'White Rabbit', which culminates with superb female vocals. Although not a regular album, 'Three Times Seven...' makes a good listen and offers nine strong tracks. It just makes you wish the band didn't call it quits as they did. 'Three Times Seven on a Pilgrimage' is a must for fans of the band's previous two offerings.	1. Seed of sound 2. Karmakosmik 3. Epitaph 4. Empty room 5. Let there be more light 6. Child of universal tongue 7. Soundtrax for Cycoz 8. White rabbit 9. Mourning the death of Aase 10. If it's in you Approx. 65 minutes
Reviewed by Bojan Janjanin