DECALOGUE OF DARKNESS

If dark, chilling instrumentals are your thing, check this out right away, because this album is genuinely horrifying (especially Chapters VI-X). I'd never consider this album for casual listening. The best way to listen to this album is at night, alone, in the dark.

I first checked out this album seven months ago after I read the glowing reviews. I was not initially impressed. It sounded interesting, especially the first track, but it did not hold my attention, and I rarely went back to it. When I did return to it, I would usually get bored after the second track and stop listening. I recently listened to it again, (probably my fourth time all the way through), and I have to admit, the album grew on me.

It was late at night, and I couldn't sleep. I was sick of everything I had been listening to, and I wanted to listen to something creepy. So I decided to listen to this album again.

The first few seconds of Chapter I make it clear that this is bleak music. The whole track breathes doom and desolation, and I imagine figures in the dark. The drumming is intense, and the blaring mellotron is unsettling. Somewhere around the halfway mark is a break, where heavy, fatal piano keys begin. Eerie. The piano is used throughout this album very well.

Chapter II is the track that I enjoy the least. While it has an enticing start, I found the repetitive drumming and mellotrons that blare from the 4-11 minute marks to lose my interest. Honestly, the drumming is rather deranged. It's too "out there" for my taste. Thankfully the song get's real interesting around the 12-minute mark, but as a whole, this song is just too "demented" for me to really grasp and enjoy. Despite not really enjoying this song, I can definitely appreciate its artistic value. It almost seems like it is a genuinely "evil" song, (if that makes any sense). I could imagine music like this being played by demons in hell. Chapter II is the reason why I had such a hard time getting into this album, but I would not be surprised if I grow to love this song as much as the others.

Chapters III and IV have their moments, but in my opinion, they only serve to lead up to the truly heart wrenching, bleak, and chilling aspects of the album which begin on Chapter V. I have never heard instrumental music that was able to affect my emotions as strongly as tracks V-X.

Chapter V is an off-putting and demented song that is more than a little creepy. It ends with a bunch of explosions. Chapter VI is a tragic, tear-jerking song, which seems to embody depression itself, I'm guessing the war was lost. And just when you think it couldn't get any darker, Chapter VII begins, and it is exceptionally unsettling; it gives me the chills. Sound effects and eerie knocking sounds make it feel as if a hundred malicious creatures are trying to gain entry into my house.

Chapter VIII dials down a bit, (initially), but gets intense. The drumming and distorted guitar sounds are incredible. I get the impression that I am running through a dark forest, pursued by whatever those creatures were from Chapter VII. Chapter IX returns to the dismal, but incredibly beautiful depressed feeling presented in Chapter VI. The sound effects here are gripping, and the melody is chilling.

Chapter X begins a little lighter than the other tracks and features some excellent mellotron, guitar, bass, and drums interplay. Not only can these artists compose incredible melodies, but they can really play. The final two minutes are pure gold, a superb and fatal ending. Lots of goosebumps...

5 Stars, a masterpiece of prog. I have never heard instrumental music more disturbing, emotional, depressing, and tragic than this. I wonder what images the artists had in their heads when they wrote this.