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Darkwater - Calling The Earth To Witness CD (album) cover

CALLING THE EARTH TO WITNESS

Darkwater

Progressive Metal

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Sparky74
5 stars Stunning! I am so disappointed that this album of all doesn't have any reviews on here yet. Its just awesome from start to finish (well.. the intro track albeit short isn't all that great but once it gets going its just awesome!). I would describe it as progressive metal for the light-hearted. Unlike Dream Theater, its easily accessible and the music doesn't chop and change as much as DT listeners are used to. Its definitely similar to the likes of Circus Maximus.. The singer from time to time sounds a lot like Khan from Kamelot.. But what I like most of all is the use of PERFECT sounding rhytm guitar riffs and lovely pads and synths (keyboards). The tracks range from punchy to gentle and atmospheric. None of this cookie monster vocal crap - the guy can really sing and its a great album. I can't wait for more. These guys rock.
Report this review (#141432)
Posted Tuesday, October 2, 2007 | Review Permalink
Ovidiu
4 stars STOP!This a pure prog metal bomb,an album that it's impossible to let without reaction even the most pretentious metal,prog metal lover!This debut album for this SWEDES is trully impressive!The high level of musicianship and the so clever and mature musical structures for the album ..WOW!!!I am really blown away!I didn't expect to find such a great album and that';s why my reaction is so positive!We find here everything what we are looking for about a good prog metal album-great imagination,crunchy guitars and aggressive keys parts-slow moments followed by an avalanche of notes and rhythms and overall a fantastic impressive and expressive vocalist!The technical level is so impressive and the vocalist is more then excellent!Great technical chops and changing rhythms...sensational!The production is wonderful and all the tracks of the album are pretty long but without any second to have the feeling of boredom or lack odfinspiration!!!AU CONTRAIRE!A wonderful album, a musical pearl for all good music lovers in the prog metal genre!We wait the second album for years already!I am sure we won't be dissapointed!4.5 STARS for a sensational prog metal album!
Report this review (#292932)
Posted Sunday, August 1, 2010 | Review Permalink
cpuobsessed
5 stars This is one album and band that is a must for all progmetal fans. The vocals are top notch and never sounds like someone reaching for a note they know they can't hit. "All Eyes on Me" is an excellent example what progmetal is about. The use of keyboards is never over over done or dominates any song, Darkwater carefully balances all instruments on every song. The two suites "The Play/Shattered" and "Tallest Tree/In My Dreams" show off as examples of what progressive music can be. I first heard these songs on progrockandmetal.net and didn't understand why "Tallest Tree" was the top on the request list until I heard it.
Report this review (#402834)
Posted Friday, February 18, 2011 | Review Permalink
AlexDOM
5 stars Solid, solid, solid. Darkwater have released an incredible debut. The instrumental talent is superb as most prog metal bands are. Though I smell no cheese, this is serious music instrumentally and more so lyrically. Though not quite as technical as say Dream Theater, they rely heavier on great melodies and such. I love the vocalist too. I know for some the guitar chugging can be repetitive, but honestly with all my like to extreme metal and such, this is some of the best guitar chugging I've ever heard. I love whatever sound the guitarist is using, it just rocks. Sure there are great little instrumental breaks (The song Again has such a sweet one that I think Mr. Petrucci would be pleased) For the sub-genre of prog metal this is one the best albums in the genre period. The sound is unique, unlike most of the prog metal bands I've heard (but love prog metal anyway). This is a masterpiece. Tallest Tree has one of the most powerful lyrics I've heard. And Shattered, wow that song rocks. The rest of the album is solid too!

Five out of Five.

Report this review (#434624)
Posted Saturday, April 16, 2011 | Review Permalink
Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars DARKWATER are a Swedish Prog-Metal band and this is their excellent debut released in 2007. Man i'm impressed with this band and album. In fact after the first four tracks I was thinking 5 stars but then it leveled off for me but it's still a very solid 4 stars. What is it with Sweden and Metal ? The bass player thanks Daniel Gildenlow and the gang. I like just about everything about this album, well except for the short ballad (haha). I love the way the keyboards are implimented and the singer has an excellent voice.They can rock hard or create atmosphere.

"2534167" is a short and strange intro. "All Eyes On Me" kicks in heavily rather quickly. As I mentioned earlier the keyboards are a nice touch and used so well here. Vocals around a minute as it settles. Contrasts continue. What a great sounding tune. Love the dark mood and also the uplifting chorus and those words "Don't stare. Don't stand so close". It kicks in hard after 5 1/2 minutes. "Again" is heavy duty to start. How good is this ! It settles with keys a minute in. So good as the guitar joins in. It's still heavy.Vocals before 2 minutes. I like that crunchy sound with vocals. A nice heavy sound after 6 1/2 minutes with background synths. "Habit" kicks in hard quickly.Vocals before 2 minutes. Lots of riffs here too. I like the calm after 4 minutes then it kicks back in as contrasts continue. Great sound 7 minutes in. An all out assault before 9 1/2 minutes. Piano only before 11 1/2 minutes then it kicks back in. Absolutely amazing up to this point.

"The Play-I" is a short ballad with fragile vocals and piano. Not a fan. "The Play- II" is much better.The tempo picks up when the vocals arrive.Vocals and piano only before 5 1/2 minutes as it continues to shift and change. Nice and heavy 7 minutes in. "Shattered" has a heavy intro then the synths take over. Heaviness is back ! Nice and crunchy as it settles in. Great tune but not as good as songs 2 to 4. "Tallest Tree" is heavy then piano only takes over before the heaviness returns.Vocals join in. Nice guitar solo 3 1/2 minutes in. Riffs follow. Piano only again before 5 minutes as themes are repeated. "In My Dreams" opens with keys then it kicks in heavily. Great sound here. We're galloping a minute in.Vocals follow as it settles some.Guitar solo before 4 1/2 minutes and piano comes in late.

A must for Prog-Metal fans and I can't wait to hear their latest.

Report this review (#443284)
Posted Thursday, May 5, 2011 | Review Permalink
dtguitarfan
5 stars This is one of those bands that became a favorite of mine almost right away. I actually wasn't sure about it the first time I listened to their debut, but after each listen I loved them more and more. While some people compare them to Dream Theater, and I do hear the resemblence, they also have a style their own - a little more laid back, relying less on lightning fast riffs, and building more on the compound rhythms. This is quite possibly one of my top 10 most played albums in my collection - one I keep coming back to after periods away, and I would recommend it to anyone.
Report this review (#756161)
Posted Monday, May 21, 2012 | Review Permalink
Progrussia
4 stars Calling the Earth to Witness is a surprising beast. Darkwater's second, Where Stories End, is a highly melodic, but fairly standard piece of lightly progressive metal, with a pop-gothic feel. The first album is not dissimilar, maybe a bit rawer and heavier, not because of the guitar sound - it's crunchy but not banging - but of overall feel. But Darkwater guys allow themselves to stretch out here more, resulting in some 9-minute-plus songs with winding instrumental jams and heady prog structures (on Habit and Tallest Tree). Jams not your usual guitar-synth rapid solos plus atmospheric break, but groovy (especially song Again) and not always predictable. A peculiar feature is the vocal - good, but something I'd associate with some American teen angst song, for example, given the lyrics of All Eyes On Me.
Report this review (#1055427)
Posted Sunday, October 6, 2013 | Review Permalink

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