Johan Ericson (Draconian) released a solo album that feels like a work of passion. The problem is that it has a difficult time identifying with the listener. The music is incredibly slow paced with no hooks, and the six songs all feel like extensions of each other. It was an album that begs to be enjoyed, but just doesn't quite satisfy. Musically, there is not much originality here. The enjoyment of this album is mostly in the dark atmosphere that the passages create, and the poetic lyrics. However, after a while one becomes desensitized to this, and later parts of the album have little effect. As with blast beats, slow dark passages have their strongest effect when done at select times. Otherwise it's like watching a horror movie where every time the camera pans the scary guy is there, after a few times it is anticipated and has no impact.
Track Listing
1. The Light that Would Fade
2. Empire of the Fallen
3. The Faded Earth
4. Oblivion Upon Us
5. The Crawling Insects
6. Aeternus