Description

One time side-project by Samael mastermind XY when he recorded an instrumental/keyboard version of most of the tracks on Samael's ‘Passage’ together with a few tracks from ‘Exodus’. Considering the excellent keyboard work on those Samael albums it seemed like a very good idea to make a classical version of those albums. However, Xytras version of ‘Passage’ is fun to listen to, but not much more than that. The piano lines are very good, even superb at times, and are by far the best element on this recording — especially on ‘Rain’, ‘Angel's Decay’ and the enchanting ‘Moonskin’. Xytras built this album around the original melodies, adding more piano lines, rhythm and orchestral synths. Here lie most of the problems: while the rhythm synths are effective, even if not too good, the orchestral ones tend to sometimes fail their purpose. Some songs still turn out very good, but the quality of the less keyboard-based ones on Samael's version varies. As it is, this ‘Passage’ has plenty of outstanding keyboard work (even for those who aren't into Samael's music), and is indeed fun to listen to for a few times if you know the original versions. Track 6 and 9 are from ‘Exodus’ the rest from ‘Passage’ Track listing: 1. Regen/Rain 2. Glanzendes Konigreich/Shining Kingdom 3. Des Engels Untergang/Angels Decay 4. Jupiterianische Schwingungen/Jupiterian Vibe 5. Die Vorher Kamen/The Ones Who Came Before 6. Der Stamm Kains/Tribes Of Cain 7. Mondhaut/Moonskin 8. Mein Retter/My Saviour 9. Wintersonnenwende/Winter Solstice 10. Ein Mensch Im Kopf/A Man In Your Head