Description
Black vinyl with gatefold cover
Swedish black death veterans Thulcandra are back. Since its foundation in 2003 by Steffen Kummerer (mastermind of Obscura), the band has worked with genre greats such as musician and producer V. Santura (Woodshed Studios, Triptykon, Dark Fortress, Celtic Frost). A Dying Wish is the bands fourth studio album after six years of silence and it was produced, mixed and mastered at Unisound Studio by the renowned Dan Swanö. It’s again a journey back in time to the origins of the genre, as it was musically and visually shaped by bands like Dissection, Entombed, Sacramentum and Unanimated. On A Dying Wish the four-piece around Steffen Kummerer once again draws the listener into dark and cold soundscapes. This is also reflected by the icy-blue cover artwork as on their previous albums (Fallen Angel’s Dominion [2010], Under a Frozen Sun [2011], Ascension Lost [2015]). Opener Funeral Pyre swiftly showcases clear direction: a calm intro is followed by freezing riffs, grim growls and powerful drums. Thulcandra spans a dark arc between acoustic interludes and harsh death metal parts. The quiet interlude In Bleak Misery leads into A Shining Abyss, which instantly pulls the listener down with rich blast beats. Dramatic riffing and the growls of Steffen Kummerer create dark and dense walls of sound, leading into quiet, but no less atmospheric parts. Stormy up-tempo tracks like Silvering Silver and Devouring Darkness offer strong leads, driving riffs and engaging drums that keep tension at a high level. Thulcandra create a special accent with Nocturnal Heresy by incorporating doom metal passages into their ice-cold storm. A Dying Wish is a detailed album that combines clashing guitars and epic mid-tempo moments with discreet acoustic guitars and rapid outbursts to create a versatile and rich sound. It’s an homage to classic extreme metal, performed at an inarguable technically proficient level, keeping the tradition of Jon Nötveidt’s Dissection sound alive and worthy.
Track list:
1. Funeral Pyre
2. Scarred Grandeur
3. Orchard Of Grievance
4. In Vain
5. Nocturnal Heresy
6. The Slivering Silver
7. In Bleak Misery
8. A Shining Abyss
9. Devouring Darkness
10. A Dying Wish