Varathron

His Majesty at the Swamp (1993)

Varathron employ long phrases of slow-to-medium paced power chords, leaving ample time for their harmonisation to sink in, and giving the band an ability to overlay melodic lines to further extend the cycle of the phrase, for both reasons of progression and resolution. Longer fragments of the entire cycle fade into each other, effortlessly merging, and eventually resolving within allusions to their former state. Sometimes mournful, sometimes reflective. There is both patience and precision in this application, which results in the immersion in the relationship between each note and also gives a great perspective as towards its place in the whole of the composition. This has the effect of lulling the listener into a hypnotic dream-state, where the deathly lullaby of the realms beyond invokes visions of the arcane. An atmosphere of the ancient realm of the dead slowly takes its footing, its effect multiplying with each repetition and addition to the song-cycle and finally it is completely overwhelms; ethereal and long-lasting. Clever and subtle transitions of mood and theme make this a worthy listen.