Arcana- Magna Silentia

...And now for something completely different. 


I've mentioned my love for post-industrial before, and no other label had the influence on my taste as Cold Meat Industry did. It was formative in shaping my taste beyond Metal music which also shaped my taste in Metal as well. I like a fair amount of "atmospheric" Metal and I consider that a by product of Mr. Karmanik and his label. 

Now, while most of the label was more dark industrial and noise oriented, he did release a few other releases that I loved. Including releases from Penitent and Arcana both of which used neoclassical with a Dark Ambient flourish. So, when I heard the label was coming back and the first release would be the new album by Arcana, I hoped I was in for something special. I can tell you my hopes were satisfied.

Magna Silentia is the perfect Arcana album. Combining choral voices with neoclassic instrumentation and cold Dark Ambient drones, this album provides a wondrous and enthralling listening experience. Every time I listen to it, I feel drawn into another world. A world shrouded by shadow but still cracked through with light. The voices are used like an instrument. I'm not even sure there are lyrics as most of the utterances seem more like "Ah"s than anything else. "The Adversity Bell" is a standout using the  aforementioned choral arrangements most effectively while also showcasing mercerizing percussion that backs up the entire piece.  

As mentioned before, the album highlights darkness mixed with light. The overwhelming shadows in the record are partnered with a delicate tracery of light and one has a hard time separating one from the other. In fact this record would be nothing without both. It is a very mature and atmospheric piece that draws the listener into Arcana's world with each note. 

This is easily one of my favorite records this year and a triumphant return for CMI. I hope we get more future endeavors from the label that are this serene, melancholic and beautiful. I recommend this for anyone who is Ambient, Neo-classical or post-industrial music, in general. Every bit of this record is glorious in its structure and will stand the test of time. 

Highlights: "The Adversity Bell", "The Obsidian Mirror" and  "The Collapsing of All Light", but, again, a fantastic record from start to finish. Thanks again for reading and look for more reviews this week.  We'll return to your regularly scheduled program shortly, headbangers.

https://brighterdeathnow.bandcamp.com/album/magna-silentia
https://www.facebook.com/arcanasweden/