A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

How does one follow up a veritable masterpiece?

I was dubious whether Tchort and Green Carnation would ever be able to even match, let alone top Light of Day, Day of Darkness, the most universally acknowleged epic dark symphonic progressive album of the year, maybe the decade.

Is it possible to improve on near perfection? Is it feasible to even match what had to be one of the most brilliant compositions and arrangements since the classical masters of the 1900s? Could Green Carnation replicate, or even come close to the energy and raw emotion of this truly unique creation?

We may never know the answer to those questions, for Thcort and his band of merry men didn't even try. They recognized the impossibly, daunting task before them and opted to go in a different direction. Smart move and I applaud them for it. A blessing in Disguise is pretty much straight Melodic, Progressive Metal/rock and, if you don't let your high expectations get in the way, it really is quite good. There is just a hint of L.O.D.,D.O.D. in the new album but gone are the choirs and the symphonic elements and A Blessing in Disguise regresses back to the normal routine, with nine separate tracks.

The Music

Light of Day was completely written by Tchort, however, this time there were 3 different composers involved, providing some variation. Tchort wrote 6 songs, Stein Rodger Sodal, 2 and Kjetil Nordhus, 1. The music can be described as melancholic rock with heavy elements and prog influences.

"Crushed To Dust" is a surprise for Green Carnation with a fairly fast tempo and a dominant crunchy guitar sound remeniscent of Megadeth.

"Lullaby In Winter" Starts as a melancholy ballad - "When tomorrow comes / All your worries fly / Hear the lullaby / All will be soft and warm / You will be safe and strong / Hear the lullaby" - but it digs a lot deeper because, after a few minutes, it's showing the typical Green Carnation sounds, which feature conjuring guitar riffs and a humming warm Hammond organ. The second half of this song is the closest I felt to Light of Day.

"Writing on the Wall" The fatalistic nature continues here - "Kill me, Down by the shore / I can feel it, She's not here anymore / Hear my call, It's borne by the breeze / Tell me, to where do I go.

"Into Deep" progressively moves up along a perfected bass line and transforms into some excellent guitar work.

"The Boy In The Attic", The piano lets us hear a sweet sadness containing just the aspect of despair for which music can be so healing. Vague elements of the powerful epic Light Of Day, Day Of Darkness can be found in this piece.

"Two Seconds In Life" gives us a fragile, dark voice which like a searching tendril of a vine, searching for light, the proverbial fight of an individual between good and evil, the need to evolve in darkness into the light. Written by singer Kjetil.

"Myron & Cole" similar in tempo and sound to the first track, through which at times of the unfolding of the grunge becomes noticeable again.

"As Life Flows By" has a rocking take off and a very catchy melody in a medium paced rocking love song.

"Rain". A string band opens a rich scale of sadness with whiney roots, ala Alice in Chains it's pure beauty with lots of skill translated in words and music. Halfway through, some elements of the previous CD come floating to the surface, which gives an exciting turn to the song.

"Lullaby in Winter" cont. "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"

"Tomorrow's new Tomorrow's warm Remember, when you're all alone"

"I know you're hurt, I feel it in my heart But I can promise you a spring I see you're down, I see it in your eyes But I can promise you a spring"

The band managed to pen ever more classic lines, continuing to solidify their place among the great lyricists in the todays metal scene. I say the band because, as I mentioned, unlike their previous album, which was written entirely by Tchort, both Kjetil Nordus(vocals) and Stein Roger Sordal(bass) contributed to this album as well.

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