Eye Of Melian
Forest Of Forgetting
Napalm Records
Drawing inspiration from the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Eye Of Melian have a sound that’s as vast and epic as anything that came from the pen of that famed author. The brainchild of David Martijn Westerholt (Within Temptation/Delain) who uses all his prowess to create evocative and enticing soundscapes, the band’s sophomore album Forest Of Forgetting is akin to awaking and finding yourself in an enchanted world. Combing words and music in unique and imaginative ways renders these songs three-dimensional with vocals that wisp around the listener like playful imps and glacial keys which tinker and fall as if snowflakes from a crystalline sky. There’s an orchestral feel to these songs with dramatic crescendos and ethereal passages sitting together quite effortlessly; more dreamlike and cinematic than Westerholt’s other work, so don’t be surprised if these cuts soundtrack a fantasy flick sometime soon. A somnambulists stroll through a nocturnal woodland, songs such as ‘Symphonia Arcana’ perfectly capture that magical moment that exists somewhere betwixt wake and sleep. By stripping bare Bruce Dickinson’s ‘Tears Of The Dragon’ they wrestle control of his most recognisable song and claim ownership, thus bringing the album to a stark conclusion and rendering Forest Of Forgetting a memorable experience.
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Review by Peter Dennis.