A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

After the release of the masterpiece "Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness" I'm sure GREEN CARNATION had some sort of a problem. Because: how could they possibly top this? Fortunately they weren't trying to do something similar, but something completely different. "Blessing in Disguise" is a "standard" 9 track album with an average length of 6 minutes or so. Another difference is that on this album all band members helped writing the songs as with "LOD, DOD" Tchort was the mastermind behind the whole project.

"Crushed to Death" is an up-tempo into your face rock song and if you left the volume of your stereo system still a bit up from the previous cd you listened to, I'm sure you will be awake immediately!

After the opening track of this album the contrast couldn't possibly have been bigger than with "Lullaby in Winter". This is my favourite track of the album! Very dramatic and melodic track sung with a lot of passion by Kjetil Nordhus. After 3:15 we think the song is over, but in fact what follows is a beautiful transition with some great drumming. I love the part that goes: I know you're sad, because it's winter, but I can promise you a spring. I know you're cold, I see you shiver, but I can promise you a spring. wonderful! Also nice to mention is that there are some great winter pictures enclosed in the booklet.

"Writings on the wall" is a bit more up-tempo again and it has a very catchy chorus and contains some heavy metal riffs. "Into Deep" is somewhat similar and "The Boy in the Attic" is another mellow track and kicks off with a beautiful piano into which lasts for about two minutes. After this we get a vocal part and in the middle section we hear a classical string section. Towards the end the delicate piano which was used for the intro is now used for the outro of the song. "Two Seconds in Life" is another mellow track in the same style of "The Boy in the Attic". "Myron & Cole" and "As Life Flow By" are both a bit heavier again. To me definitely not the greatest songs of this album, but still better than average though...

Thankfully the last track "Rain" is a lot better again. It start out as a mellow track, but at 3 minutes we get some great riffs accompanied by keyboards and some nice drumming. I wish they would have made more use of those tempo/mood shifts in the separate tracks by it self. This is what made "LOD, DOD" a masterpiece and makes this "just" a very good album.