Circsena are an atmospheric black metal act comprised of Daniel Kirchhoff (Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards) and Jens Wallis (Drums and Percussion). From their bio; "It was during a long winter at the stormy sea of East Frisia, when the two members of Circsena first met and quickly discovered their common passion for nature mysticism, dark romanticism and especially atmospheric and nontypical black metal." That sums up pretty well what you can expect on this debut EP; it's black metal, sort of, plenty melodic with lots of atmosphere and the occasional folk & prog element. The band have plans to release a trio of full-length albums after this one that will fully tell the tale of the feud between humans and Dryads, a race of hybrid tree-man creatures. Based on what we have here, it should be a thrilling fantasy epic, as Circsena really seem to have a handle on creating textured, intricate musical & lyrical passages dripping with atmosphere, much like acts such as Agalloch and Wolves in the Throne Room. "Wandering Above the Trees and Moors" is the most 'black metal' sounding track here, a crushing display of furious riffs, speedy drum blasts, and harsh vocals, with a nice touch added by some folky bits and keyboards. On "The Sleeper", the duo opt for more serene, soothing arrangements that hold back on but give glimpses of menace for a nice touch of restraint. The moody "I Am Here" features dueling vocals between Kirchhoff's haunting rasps and the angelic strains of guest singer Janina Jones. Symphonic & gothic elements creep in on the engaging closer "The Age of the Dryads Pt. 1", musically diverse and with lyrics that begin to tell the story of the Dryads that will continue shortly on the bands next release.
This band shows a lot of promise, and they certainly have a unique and fascinating story to tell that will unfold over their next few releases for all the dark fantasy lovers out there. Don't expect full-on black metal, as that's not what Cirsena are all about, but if you like dark folk/pagan styled metal with moments of fury, do yourself a favor and check this band out.
Track Listing
1.
Wandering above the trees and moors 04:29
2.
The Sleeper 05:37
3.
I am here 05:31
4.
The age of the dryads Pt. 1 03:43
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