The Aftermath (Midnattsol album)
| The Aftermath | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Midnattsol | ||||
| Released | 25 May, 2018 | |||
| Recorded | Klangschmiede Studio E, Mellrichstadt, Germany | |||
| Genre | Gothic metal, folk metal | |||
| Length | 53:24 | |||
| Language | English, Norwegian, Swedish | |||
| Label | Napalm | |||
| Producer | Midnattsol | |||
| Midnattsol chronology | ||||
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The Aftermath is the fourth studio album by the German Gothic/folk metal band Midnattsol. It was released in 2018 on Napalm Records. [1] [2]
Background
The Aftermath represents the return of the band to the recording studios, after seven years in break. Midnattsol mastermind, singer and main songwriter Carmen Elise Espenæs was involved in a parallel musical project called Savn,[3] and she was dedicated to her two sons, born in 2012 and 2014.
Features the debut of Liv Kristine (Carmen Elise's older sister), as the band's second official singer, after her sudden departure from Leaves' Eyes in 2016. [4] [5] Previously, bassist Birgit Öllbrunner, drummer Chris Merzinsky and guitarist Matthias Schuler left the band for personal reasons before the recording sessions began in 2017. Replacing them, producer and new member Stephan Adolph plays all their instruments as session musician.
The album is characterized by including some slower songs than in previous works in a doom metal style, as well as a greater number of lyrics in Norwegian. In comparison to its distant predecessor The Metamorphosis Melody (2011), The Aftermath has much more Nordic folk influences, including songs with a somber social content as "Ikje glem meg" (about 2011 Utøya massacre) or "The Aftermath".
A music videos was made for the cover of the medieval piece "Herr Mannelig" (with lyrics in Swedish) and "The Purple Sky", directed by Michael Rother and Tim Loeschmann.
A limited edition was released with a bonus track.
Track listing
All lyrics written by Carmen Elise Espenæs except where noted. *"Vem kan segla" (a song originally titled "Vem kan segla förutan vind?") and "Herr Mannelig" are Swedish folk ballads; all music composed by Midnattsol [6].
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Purple Sky" | 6:06 | |
| 2. | "Syns sang" (“Syn's song”) | 5:01 | |
| 3. | "Vem kan segla*" (“Who can sail”) | Anonymous | 3:47 |
| 4. | "Ikje glem meg" (“Don't forget me”) | 4:22 | |
| 5. | "Herr Mannelig*" ("Sir Mannelig") | Anonymous | 9:05 |
| 6. | "The Aftermath" | 5:18 | |
| 7. | "The Unveiled Truth" | 3:58 | |
| 8. | "Evaluation of Time" | Instrumental | 6:44 |
| 9. | "Forsaken" | 6:05 | |
| Total length: | 51:11 | ||
| Limited edition bonus track | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 10. | "Eitrdropar" (“Drops of venom”) | 2;53 |
| Total length: | 53:24 | |
Personnel
Midnattsol
- Carmen Elise Espenæs – vocals
- Liv Kristine - vocals
- Daniel Fischer – keyboards
- Alex Kautz – guitars
- Stephan Adolph - guitars, bass, vocals, drums (uncredited)
Production
- Rune Gunnar Stensøy - Recording
- Stephan Adolph - Mixing, Mastering
- Heilemania - Photography, Artwork
- Joachim Cilslik - Logo
References
- ↑ Metallum Archives
- ↑ MIDNATTSOL: 'The Aftermath' Artwork, Track Listing Revealed
- ↑ "MIDNATTSOL, THE SINS OF THY BELOVED Members Join Forces In SAVN". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 2013-07-17. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
- ↑ "Leaves' Eyes split with founder Liv Kristine". Metal Hammer. 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
- ↑ "LIV KRISTINE Joins MIDNATTSOL". Blabbermouth. 2017-12-14. Retrieved 2017-12-12.
- ↑ Discogs.com