No, it’s not Moonspell, they lost the title couple of releases ago when deciding to go over the top and become some sort of gothic Opeth. The band we are talking about is named Heavenwood, and the guys really know how to play quality gothic metal. They got together at the beginning of 90’s, released two masterpieces before disappearing only to be revived in 2007. Since then, Heavenwood released another two albums; both had an enchanting atmosphere and a proper gothic feel to them. Instead of disappearing again, they released their fifth album a couple of months ago, five years since their last offer, a fantastic Abyss Masterpiece.
Name of the album is The Tarot Of The Bohemians, it has 12 songs and lasts just a little over one hour. The first thing you’ll notice is the dark, mesmerizing atmosphere that perfectly embodies all of the songs. Clean and harsh vocals are intertwined throughout the album, giving it constant shifts between melodic and heavy parts, all perfectly packed in quality riffs and spot-on drum work.
Production is not at the highest level, which makes guitars somewhat toned down, pushed to the background; bass is melted with drums, giving the album that low key sound which can be found on numerous gothic albums. Cherry on the top is presented in the form of orchestral parts, responsible for the perfect atmosphere I mentioned earlier.
The Juggler and The high Priestess (almost all song names are depictions of different tarot cards from this imaginary Bohemian card deck) start the album with a bang, making you immediately sucked into the gray world of The Tarot Of The Bohemians. Another favorite is The Pope with its killer chorus and symphonic arrangements, pure Gothic bliss. When arriving at the middle of the album things start to get a bit stale, but when you finally enter the final third of the album, it becomes apparent why. Last three songs are pure art, with catchy hooks, a mix of gritty riffs and symphonic parts, and amazing vocal work. The Hanged Man, last song of the album, is probably the best of the bunch, featuring female vocals for Sandra Oliveira. I don’t get why the bands usually left more experimental songs for the end; it would be much better if The Hanged Man was placed somewhere in the middle of the record because the song rocks.
What to say at the end, except that Heavenwood managed to deliver another strong record, full of memorable moments. If you like Moonspell or just gothic metal in general, this album is for you. One of the strongest metal releases of the year so far, well done guys.
