Description
2017 edition with new backcover artwork saying “in memory of Tony IT Särkkä”. Comes with an insert with memorial reflections from Dan Swanö
Ophthalamia is a fantasy-world created by IT. The Goddess of this world is the woman with the demons, called Elishia. IT has also created the surroundings of Ophthalamia (I guess that the shores of Kaa-Ta-Nu are a part of this world, as the sea of Ragiih-Nib and the moutains of Makubu-Keen are), the land’s creatures and a language for Ophthalamians. Ophthalamia first started in 1989 and their debut album ‘A Journey In Darkness’ was released in 1994 and features Dissection front man Jon Nodtveidt (RIP 2006) on vocals. The atmosphere of the music is very dark, gloomy and mysterious. The guitars are very melodic and hypnotizing at times throughout the entire album, and it picks up with parts that very heavy and gloomy, almost even depressing at times but still maintaining its initial element of mysteriousness which give life to Ophthalamia. The vocals done by the late Jon Nodtveidt of Dissection, give the right aggressive feel to the music, the entire recording of this album could not have been completed without the sound of his piercing vocals. This is just one of those albums you have to hear to believe, it’s quite a memorable album, and would make a fine addition to any metal collection. All members of Ophthalamia are well-known for their other activities on the Swedish metal scene and here they are, collaborating with each other in a pretty good way. The line up on their debut album is:
It (Tony Sarkka) – Guitars, Vocals (Abruptum, Vondur, Incision, War and 8th Sin)
Winter (Benny Larsson) (Edge of Sanity, Pan.Thy.Monium and Stygg Dod)
Shadow (Jon Nodtveidt) (Dissection, The Black, De Infernali, Satanized and Nifelheim)
Mourning (Robert Ivarsson} (Pan.Thy.Monium, Facebreaker, Incapacity and Stygg Dod)
Track list:
1. A Cry From The Halls Of Blood / Empire Of Lost Dreams
2. Enter The Darkest Thoughts Of The Chosen / Agony’s Silent Paradise
3. Journey In Darkness / Entering The Forest
4. Shores Of Kaa-Ta-Nu / The Eternal Walk (Part II)
5. A Lonely Soul / Hymn To A Dream
6. Little Child Of Light / Degradation Of Holyness
7. Castle Of No Repair / Lies From A Blackened Heart
8. This Is The Pain Called Sorrow / To The Memory Of Me
9. I Summon Thee, Oh Father / Death Embrace Me