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Xenward - Xenward



7.1 | 13 votes |
Release date: 23 July 2018
Style: Dark Ambient , Black metal

Owners:

3 have it
1 wants it


01. Divided States
02. Of Nothing
03. Lodge Upon The Hill
04. Falling Monuments
05. Order Of Dust
06. The Carbon Star
07. The Unforgiving Sun/Solar Extraction
08. Turned By Valtiel

Staff review by
Auntie Sahar
Rating:
8.5
Black metal has always had a strong inclination towards ritualism and the creation of alien atmospheres with its distinct sense of ambiance. But damn, does Xenward know how to nail the aesthetic well.

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published 09.09.2018 | Comments (7)

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Comments

Comments: 8   [ 1 ignored ]   Visited by: 85 users
07.09.2018 - 14:52
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Pretty excellent work and a black metal highlight of the year for sure. Can't think of much else that sounds like this, really, it's a pretty tight fusion of the BM and the dark ambient influences. Great balance between some tracks that are more to the former and others that are more droney and formless with the BM just slowly creeping in the background.
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I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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07.09.2018 - 14:54
Mercurial

This album slays. Like the last of humanity fled the Earth in a spaceship and encountered wayfarer aliens, and the only way they could communicate was through music. The result was this ominous work.
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07.09.2018 - 15:27
Zap
Guest
Wondering if I'd like this. Haven't listened to much new black metal but I love that album cover.
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07.09.2018 - 19:54
Auntie Sahar
Drone Empress
Written by Zap on 07.09.2018 at 15:27

Wondering if I'd like this. Haven't listened to much new black metal but I love that album cover.

It's pretty up there in quality, I think you'd dig it as a lover of BTC, Leviathan, and Mories' work. Not too similar to any of those really, but you can pick up traces
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I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.

~ II. VII
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08.09.2018 - 13:12
Zap
Guest
Written by Auntie Sahar on 07.09.2018 at 19:54

It's pretty up there in quality, I think you'd dig it as a lover of BTC, Leviathan, and Mories' work. Not too similar to any of those really, but you can pick up traces

Wow, this is great stuff. I was expecting some Darkspace-like stuff (yeah, no one mentioned them, but when I see black metal + space + dark ambient, it's hard for me to get Darkspace out of my head ) with some hints of the bands you mentioned, but while there is definitely some of that here, its influences are much more varied. I was surprised to be reminded of Elysian Blaze and even Lychgate at times. I hear influences from so many great artists, but never too much that this wouldn't stand on its own. Not to mention its influences outside of black metal.

You were right, this is right up my alley. Glad that the only black metal-related album (from an unknown band) I decided to check out this year was this one, definitely worth it. Gonna be spinning this one again asap.
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09.09.2018 - 18:09
3rdWorld
China was a neat
Yes has traces of LoC and Elysian Blaze's dark ambient bm approach but here the ambiance is notched up to insane levels. Great album.
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27.03.2019 - 02:12
Rating: 9
mz

Was away from music last year with this being one of the few records i would go back to.one of the finest achievements of ambient black metal, ever.
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Giving my ears a rest from music.
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04.09.2021 - 15:52
Alakazam
spendin' cheese
Rewarding revisit. Stranger than that is revisiting this thread alone is a blast from the past and surprised about the low score.

Back then I drew parallels from this to Murmuüre and I still stand by that. Murmuüre sounds like aliens coming to you whereas this contrastingly sounds like being offered to join them and leave everything behind. Now I understand the final track, there is definitely an Akira Yamaoka reflection on its style. Cool name too, life would be improved if you can pick this up one day. Equally, as with Murmuüre, this is compact as hell for its amount of ideas in its time which is a major compliment.

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I may not have the largest collection but I certainly have the absolute best

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