Old Season Press Material
Archaic Creation Reviews Volume One Reviews Live Reviews
www.doom-metal.com (Promo CD Review)
Hailing from Ireland, Old Season is a metal band that has lots of experience. Thay have been active for a long time under the name of Karnayna. When they finally managed to have a stable line-up since 2001, they changed their name to Old Season (originally the name of one of their very first compositions).
Frank Brennan (also guitarist/vocalist with Masters of Doom and Mourning Beloveth) features in the current Old Season line-up and his characteristic and melodic way of singing is one of the stronger elements in this band's music. Old Season play a special type of metal, a mixture of classic heavy metal with melancholic atmospheres and doomy parts. The music has melancholic and emotional elements that were influenced by bands such as Tiamat and Amorphis while still being strong and heavy and carrying the flame of classic metal bands such as Thin Lizzy or Iron Maiden. There are parts in the band's songs where the tempo gets really slow and the music is strengthened with melancholic keyboards. Keyboards, in my opinion, are one of the best elements in the final musical result of Old Season. However, the listener will encounter groovier parts in the faster tempos when the guitars are getting wild.
I should mention something about the vocals as well. As I have already pointed out, the vocals of Frank Brenman are so characteristic, melodic and to the point that anyone into Old Season's music will love them from the first listening. Frank has the ability to translate his own mournful stories into a special way of singing. The vocal melodies that Frank sings fit very well with the whole musical background. Well, in a few words here we have something really interesting. The listener will enjoy Old Season when they dive into melancholic lakes of music or even when they decide to be faster or groovier -reminding me in some specific parts another Irish band, Primordial. They have the ability to mix all their influences into a unique final music result. From Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden, to Tiamat, Amorphis and Primordial. The sure thing is that their music is melancholic and very melodic. Please note that this EP is used for promotional reasons and that their full length will be released soon.
www.hellridemusic.com
Quite a nice surprise here. I'd heard good things about this band, but I'm sure we've all had the experience of hearing good things and then upon actually listening...eeerrmmm..it's just O.K. Well these Irish lads exceeded expectations by a healthy margin. Imagine Doomsword moving towards epic melodic doom metal with a pinch of Celtic folk, bringing a vibe like a windswept seaside Irish graveyard at sunset on a stormy day. There are a lot of significantly softer, melodic moments on this skillfully entwined with full out metal riffing and mournful lead passages. Whereas that might usually be cause for worry, in this case it works brilliantly, the strength of the compositions making transitions natural even when there is a significant change in style very quickly. An at once sorrowful and epic feel permeates the melodies. Seriously these guys have gotten so right melody and melancholic vibe wise what a plethora of slow death goth bands shot for and widely missed.
It's hard to pick out either musicianship stand outs or favorite songs as consistency is one this albums many virtues. All six musicians (and yes I'm counting the singer, because the vocals are definitely another instrument here) play from one heart, no mean feat with six members. Song writing is well above average throughout with "And sands she turned for time" and "A Divine Plague" being narrow favorites due to stellar transitions from soft melodic passages into solid metal riffing. But as soon as I begin to think those are my favorites "The Sky Burns" and "A Dwindling Seed" with their growth from Celtic influenced openings into powerful epic melodic doom have me reconsidering.
The only real drawbacks are small. I'd would have loved to hear a fuller, more powerful production, this band really deserves that. And it wouldn't be amiss to beef up the rhythm guitar sound a tad and maybe set the keys back a bit (but that part is porbably just personal taste). Small complaints really on an over all stunning debut. This one is probably going to be a top ten this year for me. Get writing because it's limited to 666 copies.
www.metal-invader.com
Old Season - Volume One [featured album]
(Self-Released) Total Time: 38:45
Despite the fact that it came highly recommended from a friend, it was with a lot of hesitation that I bought this CD. You see the only thing I knew about OLD SEASON is that their singer is Frank Brenner, MOURNING BELOVETH's guitarist, and MOURNING BELOVETH's music is certainly not my cup of tea, nor I have the slightest interest in their sound. Well, being listening to OLD SEASON's debut for two weeks now I am very glad I bought this album, as it has nothing to do with MB, and it is a great album indeed!
OLD SEASON's music is not easily classified, the best I can come up with is epic doom-drenched melodic Heavy Metal with atmospheric elements and Celtic folk touches. Normally, the mentioning of the word atmospheric in the same sentence with the words Doom and Metal is enough to give me an allergic shock, because it usually WRONGLY brings in mind MY DYING BRIDE style crap, but not in the case of OLD SEASON. In fact, trying to describe OLD SEASON's sound, the bands that come to mind as main influences are "Into Glory Ride" period MANOWAR (just listen to the second track "Mortals of Mettle" and you'll see what I mean), CANDLEMASS, at points DOOMSWORD, and as far as the atmospheric element is concerned "Wildhoney" period TIAMAT. Combining elements from the aforementioned bands in different doses OLD SEASON come up with a personal sound and the result is really magnificent! Long epic compositions, very powerful and majestic still, not of the barbaric variety but rather more fragile and melancholic, like if it represents a lull in the fighting, during which the warriors thoughts and emotions take the place of the battle's mayhem.
I think it is meaningless to refer to any track in particular as all six compositions are of the same very high quality, and that's what makes this album a grand one, it's a highlight from start to finish. All songs are characterized by wonderful melodies, powerful and emotional at the same time. Frank Brenner's clean melodic vocals are an excellent match to the music, and the wonderful guitar riffs in particular. My only complain regarding this glorious album lies in the extensive use of keyboards. While the keys most of the time add to the epic feeling of this album, there were points I felt they should be confined to a secondary, supporting role, discretely enhancing the atmosphere instead of being a major player. I wouldn't say that they ever become disturbing, more likely I think they are at points unnecessary or redundant for this musical style; then again this is only my personal opinion.
Concluding, I think that OLD SEASON came up with an impressive album and that the Irish five-piece has huge potential and we should really follow them closely for more outstanding releases in the future. Actually, I believe that "Volume One" is one of the highlights of the year and will most probably have a place in my year's top ten releases, close to PRIMORDIAL's "The Gathering Wilderness" - the other great Heavy Metal offering from the Emerald Isle in 2005. Therefore, CONGRATULATIONS to OLD SEASON for this release, and no offense, but I think that Frank Brenner should seriously consider leaving MOURNING BELOVETH to focus on OLD SEASON, something infinitely better and much more worthy and original.
Reviewer: Themis Pamfilos
Rating: 5/6
www.metal-obersver.com
The second of the bands I've nominated for this month's "The Metal Observer" "Unsigned Band of the Month" are a step up from FALLEN. FALLEN are the band with limitless potential who could and should make a name for themselves by building upon what they have and creating something earth shattering. OLD SEASON however are the band who already have created something earth shattering and if there is any justice in the world this release will catapult them to global success (well in Metal terms at least) and critical acclaim.
In terms of style OLD SEASON draw on some wide ranging influences, with elements of MANOWAR, TIAMAT and CANDLEMASS, for example, being heard by this reviewer. The package as a whole, however, is something quite unique to OLD SEASON themselves, as they've crafted a melancholic and melodic form of Doom that can be emotionally draining and incredibly epic yet, in a split second, can change to something more earthy and rousing. Elements of Doom and traditional Heavy Metal genres placed into melodic ballad format, all blended together to create a new entity that promises to take the Metal world by storm.
My only previous experience with OLD SEASON was in the live arena which is truly where they belong. Frank Brennan (of MOURNING BELOVETH fame) has a voice that is capable of stopping time and making you forget just where you are and what you're doing and leaving you totally captivated by the sheer emotive majesty of his pipes. Furthermore, the keyboards are often a little on the loud side live which, although can be distracting, allowed the full nature of their genius to shine through. Each melody is simply perfect.
On CD however, I've finally gotten to hear and appreciate the individual efforts of the band members in their crafting and delivery of some of the most compelling pieces you're likely to hear labelled "Heavy Metal." Opener "And Sands She Turned For Time" is among the best ballad tracks I've heard in my entire life. Frank's voice really twists the old heart strings and the epic nature of the keyboards really adds to the deeply melancholic mood.
Variation is shown in the next track, the live favourite, "Mortals Of Mettle" with its strong leanings towards Heavy Metal mastery in the vein of MANOWAR. The rousing "Whoh oh oh oh" sections and pulsing riffage really makes this an undeniable Heavy Metal classic and, in all honesty, it is probably my favourite track on the release. It's just too damn infectious. The slightly more light-hearted and catchy nature of this track is explored again in "The Claw" which also introduces some Celtic overtones.
"A Divine Plague" is another fantastic ballad that has one of the most compelling vocal sections that I've ever heard (particularly live). When "The Sky Burns" slowly approaching the two minute mark of the song it has a truly beautiful vocal and melody. The general nature of the song is very like "A Divine Plague" before it, but more Metal and less ballad. There is however a nice little piano piece in the midst of the track and a return a really mournful melody to close.
The closing track, which re-introduces the Celtic element with the opening riff, is another superbly strong Heavy Metal masterpiece. "A Dwindling Seed" showcases all of what OLD SEASON is about, namely music that is full of epic melodies, exquisite harmonies, sublime riffage and an amazing voice. All of which is wrapped up in moody atmospheres which possess more light-hearted overtones. Simply put, "Volume 1" is a masterpiece and if it's an indication of future things to come then I can't wait for Volumes 2, 3, 4, 5 and however many others they decide to release. (Online July 1, 2005)
