'Veil of Imagination' has been already released several months ago but it took me this period to digest as much wealth and inventiveness because the Americans of 'Wilderun' had released in 2015 'Sleep at the Edge of the Earth' which had already been well received but 'Veil of Imagination' exceeds all expectations for all those who are constantly looking for new musical horizons : indeed, as much to warn you right away, there is no group that looks like them and they draw on a multitude of influences whether in metal or rock and we can occasionally refer to formations like 'Opeth', 'Therion', 'Leprous' or 'MaYan' but also references to classical and contemporary music with epic components.
It is with 'The Unimaginable Zero Summer' and 'O Resolution!' (Which are only one for 21 minutes) that we get to the heart of the matter with from the first minutes, this contrast between a part soft and peaceful, then a rise of power made of choirs and an explosion in an outpouring of power with growls and epic choirs which are followed in the 2nd part of the title by a relaxation of all this tension, first of all, in a part sung by aerial choirs then by 'Evan Anderson Berry' and then, in an instrumental part, with some piano chords preparing an epic finale which ends up falling again in few piano notes and finally strings which gain momentum for prepare the beginning of 'O Resolution!' which takes us on an epic fresco with lots of choirs and growls with an astonishing instrumental final. Without really a break (we have the impression that all the compositions are linked together naturally), it is the turn of 'Sleeping Ambassadors of the Sun' to offer us several alternations between calm parts and other powerful with a symphonic dimension in the final, then 'Scentless Core (Budding)' is a kind of melancholic break which is an introduction to an epic 'Far from Where Dreams Unfurl' which is certainly the most affordable title of the album because it is quite linear and whose melody accompanies us throughout the different parts whether calm or powerful. Follows 'Scentless Core (Fading)' which echoes 'Scentless Core (Budding)' and which rises in power in the 2nd part to finish with an intense instrumental part with a remarkable performance of 'Jon Teachey' in the section rhythmic that serves as a launching pad for the captivating and grandiose 'The Tyranny of Imagination'. The album ends with 'When the Fire and the Rose Were One' which borders on 12 minutes and which takes us one last time in a symphonic saga torn between a calm and serene atmosphere and on the other hand, a surge of power pushed to a veritable paroxysm.
In summary, the Americans of 'Wilderun' release a confusing album but of remarkable emotional force which requires many listenings to extract all its quintessence and 'Veil of Imagination' will undoubtedly be intended for a public of savvy who like to mix styles quite distant that are extreme metal and classical music... | |
