Ordeal
| Ordeal | ||||
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| Live album from Skepticism | ||||
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Publication |
18th September 2015 |
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admission |
January 24, 2015 |
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| Label (s) | Svart Records | |||
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Format (s) |
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Title (number) |
8th |
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running time |
77 min 40 s |
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| occupation |
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Skepticism |
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Studio (s) |
Klubi, Turku |
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Ordeal ( English 'torture') is the fifth music album by the Finnish funeral doom band Skepticism . It was released on September 18, 2015 via Svart Records and was recorded live in front of an audience rather than in a studio.
Emergence
production
On May 30, 2013 Skepticism announced the work on a new album on their homepage, the release date was planned for the end of 2014. About a year later, on April 11, 2014, the announcement followed that the new album would be recorded live and in front of an audience, and the name of the album was also announced. The recording took place on January 24, 2015 in Klubi ( Finland ). Timo Sitomaniemi was hired as additional support. In addition to the six new titles, two older titles were also played, but in a slightly modified form. The album was then mixed in the D-Studio under the direction of Jarno Hänninen .
The band members had the following to say about the process:
“Recording the album live was a positive experience. I started to believe that skepticism is best live. The 'Ordeal' session proved it to me. Being able to only use the things that your hands and feet can do at the same time forced me to only play the essentials. "
"Having a whole day and concentrating on this one perfect performance created a positive form of pressure - and of course a bit of torture too."
publication
| Track list | |
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The release date of the album was announced on July 1, 2015 on the homepage. On July 27, 2015, an official music video for the song The Departure was released on YouTube , and on August 14, the song You was offered on SoundCloud . The album was released on CD and LP , each with a DVD containing the recording of the concert.
Musical style
Musically, Ordeal continues the style of the band, the songs live "a lot from the interplay of the heavy guitar riffs and the dominant organ sounds", but according to Eckart Maronde they have "become more complex" and partly rely on "single plucking, soft chords and restrained melodies". For Andreas Schiffmann the guitars sound “relatively playful”, the album is “flexible in rhythm and dynamics”. The growls are deep and profound. According to Maronde, the effect of the music is “no longer quite as depressing as it used to be”, but “there is still no trace of happiness”. Manuel Berger attests that the album has a high level of atmosphere and describes the music as a deep "hole of sorrow, transience and decay".
reception
| source | rating |
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| Decibel |
 
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| Metal.de |
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| Powermetal.de |
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| Metal hammer |
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| The Metal Observer |
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| Laut.de |
 
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| Rock hard |
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In the October 2015 issue, the Metal Hammer awarded 6 out of 7 points. The album presents itself “neither old-fashioned nor silly”, and the idea of recording it live turns out to be “terrific”. Despite reduced resources, instrumental “mountain massifs” and “dense, heavy keyboard surfaces” permeate the album. In doing so, “ORDEAL can convey epic monumental power with immeasurable, at the same time vulnerable tragedy”. Only the clapping of the audience should “not have to be included”.
For Eckart Maronde from Metal.de , Ordeal has "become a worthy SKEPTICISM album". Despite a reduced approach, the album is "just as intense as the previous studio albums". There are “effective arrangements” that “live from the interplay of the heavy guitar riffs and the dominant organ sounds”, and the “tonelessly grunted vocals are quite abysmal even without superimposed effects”. Despite a playing time of over 77 minutes, the album presents itself "without lengths". He awarded 8 out of 10 points.
Raphael Päbst from Powermetal.de is also positive . The album could "convince in all respects" and is characterized by "a generous organ instrumentation and wonderful guitar melodies", which are accompanied by "deeply grunted vocals". "Each instrument would have enough space". There is a “cozy, warm mood of mourning” throughout the album, the listener can expect “deeply melancholy Doom ”. It received 8 out of 10 points.
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d SKEPTICISM - ORDEAL. oktoberpromotion.com, accessed September 29, 2015 .
- ↑ a b c The Official Skepticism Website. Retrieved September 29, 2015 .
- ↑ a b c d e f g Eckart Maronde: Skepticism "Ordeal". Metal.de, accessed on September 29, 2015 .
- ↑ Jonathan Selzer: Funeral doom pioneers Skepticism unveil a new track. Metal Hammer . Retrieved September 29, 2015 .
- ↑ Chris D .: STREAMING: Skepticism "You". Decibel , accessed September 29, 2015 .
- ^ Skepticism - Ordeal. Discogs , accessed September 29, 2015 .
- ↑ a b Andreas Schiffmann: Rock Hard Edition October / 2015, p. 104
- ↑ a b c Manuel Berger: suffocating funeral marches with the forefathers of Funeral Doom. Laut.de , accessed on September 29, 2015.
- ↑ a b c Raphael Päbst: Sublime in the autumn. Powermetal.de , accessed on September 29, 2015 .
- ↑ Chris Dick: Ordeal Alone Again. Decibel , accessed September 29, 2015.
- ↑ a b Thomas Sonder: Metal Hammer No. 10/2015, p. 96/97
- ↑ James Bushnell: Funeral Doom Godfathers Return in Triumph. metal-observer.com, accessed September 29, 2015.