There are often times when, as every sane individual, I feel the need to escape from the anxiety of the everyday life, and allow myself to drift off into worlds that no human being has ever been to. When such feelings dominate my "cosmos", I tend to look towards my old Pink Floyd and Eloy vinyls, whom I have always considered to be the perfect soundtrack for such occasions, for "comfort" and the last thing that I would consider doing is to invest in an album that belongs in the heaviest genres of music. Well, it looks like I finally found a band that will help me reconsider, and that band is Cronian.

It is very easy to assume that Cronian are simply another Norwegian atmospheric Black Metal band, seeing as they are the result of the collaboration between Uystein G.Brun and Mr.V - both of which are better-known from their participation in Borknagar and Vintersorg. The truth is, though, that with "Terra", these two musicians have managed to step out of their "normal environment" and create music that is equally influenced by soundtrack music as well as the 70's Prog Rock scene.

My first encounter with this impressive effort, left me with the impression that "Terra" is one huge musical piece, but it only took a few more spins in order for me to realise that this album is divided into two equally important parts. The first part finds the duo moving in slower rhythms, with keyboard and clean vocals playing a predominant role. Mr.V's treatment of vocal melodies in unique for this genre, and fits well with the few classic growls that offer their support in the background. It is quite easy to get hooked with the melodies of the Eloy-influenced "Diode Earth" or the less symphonic but definitely Haggard-sounding "Arctic Fever" - yet, I have no hesitation in naming the seven-minute opus "Iceolated" as my personal favourite.

The three-minute string-based composition "Colures", which could have easily belonged in "Daudi Baldrs" (Burzum) provides the perfect opportunity for a slight change in colour and dynamics - a change which is visible in the more up-tempo sounding "The Alp". From this point onwards, the band indulges in slightly longer and more technical compositions, and you will all get the chance to enjoy some really good drum themes, which are unfortunately not a product of human intervention. If you find the mixture between brutal and clean vocals in "Nonexistence" to be very difficult to handle, you can always check out the more 70's sounding "Illumine" - your last chance to enjoy this emotional trip, before the classical theme of "End(urance) - Part I" will brings you back to our cold reality.

Having listened to "Terra" at least a dozen times, I realise how smartly arranged this album really is. Even though it is obvious that it is a concept album, and as such it should be treated as a musical unit, the melodies used in some compositions are so "magical" and "infectious" that they can demand attention even from people who do not normally commit themselves to listening to such albums. Cronian has proven to be a very successful experiment, and hopefully "Terra" is only the beginning!

****

Review by John Stefanis