Mysterious Melodies Part I
January 30, 2007 by Jo Minor
Heavy Metal is viewed by outsiders as a style of music that thrives and survives on youthful rebellion and primal anger; yet for those who truly understand the art know that melodies play an indispensable part in this particular genre.
Within its many incarnations and sub-styles, Heavy Metal is a treasure trove of memorable melodies and haunting hooks, usually bathed in mystifying atmospheric sounds; thus creating aural landscapes that dissolve the existence of reality. The sheer artistry and creativity of musicians that live within the walls of Metal is indescribable; and a listen to these captivating sonic passages into the unknown would truly be an unforgettable journey into the brilliant labyrinths of sounds sculpted by brilliant minds.
She Mourns In A Lengthening Shadow by Cradle Of Filth
Taken from V Empire or Dark Faerytales In Phallustine
Haunting, yet equally entrancing, it would take a million words to describe just a second of the endless beauty captured by this instrumental track by one of England’s best known Metal exports Cradle Of Filth. In the vein of a motion picture soundtrack, the piece utilizes clever orchestral arrangements that support the main synthesizer tunes present in the song. It’s sad to see that the band has long forsaken their practice of including meaningful instrumental tracks, such as this masterpiece, into their newer albums in favor of simpler, catchier tunes.
The Wanderer by Emperor
Taken from Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk
At just under 3 minutes long, this gem by Norwegian Black Metallers Emperor stands as the only instrumental track in Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk - arguably their best album to date. By using distorted rhythm guitar work and employing the services of the band’s drum wizard Trym, The Wanderer is a lot different from other instrumentals in the genre - the guitars and drums create a solid sonic foundation for the main synthesizer tune, thus creating a nice blend of melancholy and intensity.
The Quest Of Enigmatic Dreams by Old Man’s Child
Taken from In Defiance Of Existence
A pleasant surprise from yet another landmark Norwegian Black Metal band, The Quest Of Enigmatic Dreams is a mesmerizing classical guitar instrumental. The main guitar melodies could have well been taken straight out of the courts of a medieval castle, and the double guitar work is arranged to perfection by Old Man’s Child mastermind Galder. The man’s decision to insert this near-minute long track smack in the middle of a fast and brutal Black Metal album is rather perplexing, though, but it would be unwise to question the decisions of a seasoned and very talented musician.
Peace Of Mind by King Diamond
Taken from House Of God
The last song of yet another brilliant concept album by the greatest storyteller in Metal history, Peace Of Mind is the finale of the tragic story that takes shape in this album. The instrumental piece starts of with riveting guitar parts, which are soon accompanied by the band’s rhythm section towards the 0:54 mark - and the amazing guitar solo (contributed by guitar maestro Andy LaRocque) that starts soon after makes Peace Of Mind one of the best tracks in the album.
Moondance by Nightwish
Taken from Oceanborn
Moondance is a stunning piece from Finnish Power Metal greats Nightwish - and with all of the band’s songs, it can be said that songwriter/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen had everything to do with the inception of this folk-tune-meets-metal masterpiece. Moondance starts off as a melodic piano piece, and after the 0:18 mark it goes into full gear with other instruments joining in to create an amazing array of sounds - but it doesn’t stop there. The track goes through a number of progressions until it finally stops right after the 3:30 mark - leaving the listener in a euphoric state.
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