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Review: Crystal Moors/Omendark - Crystal Moors/Omendark Split CD
Crystal Moors
www.crystalmoors-clan.com
Omendark
www.omendark.cjb.net
Crystal Moors/Omendark Split CD

Label: Draug-Dûr Productions
Year released: 2007
Duration: 41:07
Tracks: 8
Genre: Black Metal

Review online: December 20, 2007
Reviewed by: Pagan Shadow
Readers' Rating
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Rated 3/5 (60%) (2 Votes)
Review

Once again, we have a nice introduction to two metal bands by the means of a split CD. Both acts are from Spain and are similar in genre and sound.

The overall production is raw but decent. On the Crystal Moors side, the sound gets muddy in the fastest parts while the other band, in similar tempos, has the cardboard sounding double bass. Off both acts, Crystal Moors is the one I preferred for their melodic and epic Pagan/Folk type of Black Metal. They use variation in paces and their ambience can be crushing at times, orchestral or calmer at other moments. The musicians make use of a wide array of instruments, from the usual metal trio to keyboards, piano, flute (whistle), bagpipes and acoustic guitars. You can hear both types of vocals, growls and clean. I like just about any and all the tracks including the acoustic instrumental, "El Sueno de Nabia Orebia", "At the Moon Realm's Gate" and "Lacrimae Lugus".

Omendark also have a raw edge but are aiming more for a Pagan Black Metal direction. They rely mostly on a fast Black Metal structure, a bit repetitive sometimes, with rasp vocals and frequently using acoustic guitars and flute. Although all the compositions are pretty good, none of them stand out so I don't really have a specific one to point out as my favorite. To give you a bit of an idea as to what's to expect, I can say that "Oroimenaren Sustraiak" has a nice crushing guitars and epic riffs and leads; "Aldi Baten Bukaera" comes in with mouth harp, tremolo picking and lots of acoustic guitar parts. A touch of keyboards is also offered on every track.

Here you have it, an enjoyable split but I think that a better production would have benefited the music even more.

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