Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 11:51 AM by Lilliana Tseka
Genre: Luciferian/Dark Folk/Country/Americana
Country: U.S.A.
Label: Not Just Religious Music (USA) – Dais (USA) – Ván (EUROPE)
Year: 2015
“At times I thought this record will kill me, writing it and recording it, I felt as though I was going insane. Now that it’s done I am convinced not only will people love it, but that I have become stronger than my former self. For this divine work I am given, I am blessed. “
– King Dude
And this is how the King and his friends reached this moment with their new fifth album with the title: “Song Of Flesh & Blood-In The Key Of Light” and eleven brand new pieces of dark folk, luciferian, country, americana style.
“Songs about death, darkness and damnation.”
Let me start by saying that we are dealing with the best release of King Dude so far, as the compositions are melancholic, minimalistic almost as personal as a journal, in this case a musical journal and more mature than ever. This review is going to be a track by track review as for me there is no song in this album that should be left unmentioned.
The first track of the album is “Black Butterfly” and moves into fiendish rock rhythms the kind ones that bring you closer to the darkness. “Deal With The Devil” follows next and the “King” puts in “order” and a sequel to what the he worships the most, captivates us with his charismatic voice and slow-moving dark compositions. King Dude’s style is classic, slow, dark and consistently strong, with acoustic guitars, percussion and synths. “Death Will not Take Me” is the single-video clip of the album and an extraordinary way to give us the first taste, before the album was officially released. This song is very well composed and while I’m writing this I bring to my thoughts the images that sorrowfully accompanied the song I really couldn.t think of any other way for TJ Cowell to introduce us to this new album.
“The Heavy Curtain” is one of my favorite songs. Here we have obvious influences from Nick Cave, well I guess there a lot of influences from the grand master of melancholy but I think that King Dude surpassed him gracefully. We continue with the song “A Little Bit of Baby Gonna Make Me Wanna Live Again” and here we have another piece with just an acoustic guitar and his lugubrious voice, with references to a “darker” Johhny Cash this time! In “I Do not Wanna Dream Anymore” you got the feeling that you are in a “service”, using the church organ to create this mystifying atmosphere and glory, almost of a gospel. At this point I would like to express my wish for another duet with Chelsea Wolfe, but I’m asking a lot, aren’t I… ? Well, I guess the percussion and synths in the track “Desolate Hour” traveled me to those duets. Finally we reached the last track of the album, “Silver Crucifix ” that closes this magnificent album using simple elements with little embellishment and this is exactly what this album expresses the simplicity slendor.
Somewhere in the darkness there is hope; at least for tonight, “everything will be fine”…
In a few days we’ll have a TJ Cowgill exclusive interview for our webzine so stay tuned.
5/6
