Shadowdream/The Sunsettler's Motel/WormHoleDeath Records/2016 Full Length Review

  Shadowrealm  are  a  solo  project  from  Serbia/Sweden  that  has  been  featured  before  in  this  zine  and  originally  started  out  as  a  black  metal  project  before  going  into  dark  ambient,  jazz  and  neo-classical  direction  over  the  years  while  still  retaining  a  touch  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2016  album  "The  Sunsettler's  Motel"  which  will  be  released  in June  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  Tragic  sounding  keyboards  start  off  the  album  and  they  also  give  the  music  an  atmospheric  dark  ambient  feeling  and  after  a  few  seconds  drum  beats  are  also  added  onto  the  recording  which  also  add  elements  of  jazz  into  the  songs  along  with  some  saxophones  and  some  tracks  also  bring  in  a  touch  of  psychedelia.

  Throughout  the  recording  you can  hear  a  variety  of  many  different  sounding  keys  coming  out  of  the  keyboards   while  acoustic  guitars  can  also be  heard  at  times  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  thunder  sounds  along  with  the  voices  of  tortured  souls  and  as  the  album  progresses  the  music  starts  getting  more experimental  and  every tracks  sounds  very  different  from  each  other  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  flutes  while  some  of  the  songs  are  long  and  epic  in  length.

  On  this  recording  Shadowdream  move  into  more  away  from  their  black  metal  roots  and  creates  an  album  that  is  more  close  to  avant  garde  jazz,  neo-classical  and  dark  ambient  while  also  being  all  instrumental,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  albums  concept  is  based  upon  a  motel  and  a  murder with a  supernatural  edge.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  album  from  Shadowdream  and  if  you  are a  fan  of  black/dark  ambient,  neo  classical  and  jazz,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "The  Sunsetter's  Theme"  "While  the  Motel  Sleeps,  Nightmares  Are  Being  Painted"  and  "The  Obsession  Begans  Tomorrow".  8  out  of  10. 

http://shadowdreamband.webs.com

Shadowdream Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the music project these days?

Just recently I have signed with Italian label WormHole Death Records which will release my sixth full length album titled Um. This album also marks my 10 year musical work under the name Shadowdream. I must add that I am more than happy with collaboration with the WormHole Death, as they are very honest and professional label.

2.Recently you have released a new album, how would you describe the musical sound of the new recording and also ho does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

I was preparing this album for three years, as not only the concept for it but the whole process of materializing this concept into the right sound was very exhausting. As with previous Shadowdream work, the album is dealing with certain themes I find mesmerizing and worth exploring.

The theme here are the struggles of a schizophrenic mind, the process of losing the touch with the reality and crossing the line into the deepest disturbances a human mind can produce. Therefore, the album title is Um, which is Serbian word for mind and the music I describe as “psychotic jazz”, but in a metaphorical way, as it is not, for example, psychotic in a free-jazz way. The music is a mixture of dark ambient and jazz.

On every Shadowdream record the music comes from within the theme, so some Shadowdream albums are more neoclassical, some electronic, some metal, but the core is the same – eclectic musical expression in order to enlighten me and individuals who want to think, as the music is always a two way process – It is not just what I compose, it is how the spectator on the other end perceive it. And everyone who thinks with their own mind will perceive it differently, that is the beauty of it.

3.The earlier material was more black metal but the newer stuff  is more ambient, what was the decision behind going into this musical direction?

First three releases were black metal, but as the concepts for the albums became more complex and my thirst for artistic exploration bloomed, I have progressed into ambient / neoclassical / jazz style, which still has black metal influences, they are just played and expressed differently.

4.What are some of the  concepts  and images you bring out with your newer music?

As for the latest album, I have already explained the concept behind it. Previous two albums were dealing with artistic and scientific spheres I hold very dear and close to me – Renaissance and Astronomy. With music I tried to evoke the human imagination in order to experience, if only for a minute, the greatness of the achievements these two themes brought to us.

5.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Shadowdream'/

The inspiration and meaning behind the Shadowdream lies in the idea that Art gives an answer to what cannot be answered. Therefore, it gives me and people who listen to the music, a new dimension which could help understand as well as to pose new questions on the ideas and themes I am dealing with.

6.With this project you work all solo, do you feel this adds to the creativity of the music?

Absolutely, as I have freedom to work at my own pace and there are no restrictions in how to approach the matter in question. As the themes are quite complex and require good background preparation i.e. reading and exploring the matter, the time and subjectivism is really important.

7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your newer music by fans of dark ambient and black metal?

The feedback was great. I am very happy with that as I am not composing music to please anyone’s taste but mine.

8.What is going on with your other musical projects these days?

Currently, there are two more bands I am involved in. First is a Serbian Black metal act Ancient Sorrow (https://myspace.com/ancientsorrowhorde), which is working on the upcoming EP, while second one is a Swedish Deaosophic Death/Black Metal Dys Inbunden (https://www.facebook.com/DysInbunden13), that is currently working on second album and is in the progress of promoting the first album worldwide.

9.Where do you see the project heading into musically during the future?

I will need some time to clear my mind from the current album and concept behind it and search some new challenging ideas and themes in order to continue the Shadowdream. When I find the ideas, the musical style will start to come on it’s own.

10.According to the bio you have an interest in astronomy, can you tell us a little bit more about it?

That is correct. Astronomy was always a thing of interest for me, not just because it puts in perspective some of the greatest scientific questions, but because it shows us how insignificant we actually are on a grand scale. The whole symphony and cacophony happening at the same time is amazing to follow first hand and it inspires me in my Artistic journey.

11.Also the bio said you had an interest in Mayan Civilization and have written many essays about it, what is it that interests you about this ancient tribe?

The main interest behind the Mayas is their scientific achievements, which again brings me to the astronomical themes, but also the cultural and artistic features of this great civilization. However, the fall of the Mayas and the mysticism behind it is a driving force in my exploration of them.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

I basically listen to all sorts of musical styles and bands, as I can find something interesting in any number of them. Mainly, I listen to metal music, jazz, classical, electronic, rock etc., but am always open to exploring new horizons. Just now I am enjoying in the brooding atmosphere of Dale Cooper Quartet & The Dictaphones and Paimonia’s Disease Named Humanity, an excellent death/black record from this Serbian band.

13.What are some of your non musical interests?

As I have an MA degree in Cinema, one of my greatest passions are moving images. I am a massive film collector as well as the owner of Sunsettlers Cinema, where I work as a film director, editor and director of photography. That is the reason why I create conceptual albums based on the program music style, as I want to create a film without moving images, just with music tones.

14.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thank you for the interview and to those few who read this to the very end.

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Shadowdream/Um/WormHoleDeath Records/2014 CD Review

  Shadowdream  are  a  band  from  Serbia  that  started  out  as  ambient  black  metal  but  have  evolved  more  into  ambient  jazz  with  strong  black  metal  overtones  on  this  release  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2014  album  "Um"  which  was  released  by  WormHoleDeath  Records.

  Ambient  sounds  start  off  the  album  and  they  bring  a  haunting  feeling  to  the  recording  along  wit h programmed  drum  beats  and  on  the  following  track  spoken  word  parts  become  a  part  of  the  music  along  with  female  vocals  and  cries  and  the  recording  also  starts  utilizing  a  more  atmospheric  sound.

  Each  track  brings  a  very  different  sound  to  the  album  and  the  jazz  influence  really  starts  to  show  up  on  some  of  the  later  tracks,  as  the  album  progresses  one  of  the  songs  brings  in  tribal  beats  and  middle  eastern  style  folk  instruments  which  also  gives  the  album  a  more  new  age  feeling  and  the  songs  also  start  having  a  more  occult  and  esoteric  atmosphere  to  them  as  time  goes  on  by  and  when  the  album  gets  closer  to  the  end  you  can  also  hear  a  small  amount  of  chanting  and  grim  black  metal  vocals  in  one  of  the  songs.

  Shadowrealm  create  a  very  interesting  sounding  dark  ambient  album  with  this  recording  and  while  the  black  metal  sounds  of   the  earlier  release's  are  absent  from  from  this  album,  the  music  is  still  very  dark,  haunting  and  evil  sounding  along  with  a  dark  sounding  production  and  song  themes  that  cover  schizophrenia,  supernatural  and  dying  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  recording  from  Shadowdream,  and  while  some  of  the  more  close  minded  black  metal  fans  might  not  enjoy  this  album,  i  see  this  recording  appealing  however  to  fans  of  dark  and  black  ambient.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Theological  Agnosia"  "Pavor  Nocturnus  -  Death  to  Me"  and  "Ghost  Sickness  -  End  Of  Life".  8  out  of  10.

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