It has been said that more is known about the surface of the moon than that of the bottom of our oceans. looking like a tranquil getaway in open water, however if you were to dive slowly down into the depths you would encounter an uncharted world. Where darkness governs and light is a scarce, the unknown worlds exist at the bottom of the ocean.
[tracklist]
1. The Isle
2. The Thing That Made Search
3. Red Foam (The Great Storm)
4. The Weedmen
5. To Mourn Job
6. The Light In The Weed (Mary Madison)
[/tracklist]
[details]
[length]67:00 [/length]
[record_label]Napalm Records[/record_label]
[release_date]August 28th 2015[/release_date]
[/details]
One of the keys to writing an brilliant concept album lies in the story. Having made use of the nautical aesthetic before, Germany’s Ahab navigate the fierce temperamental oceans with ease. Though many remember the H.P Lovecraft’s of the world the forgotten tale of the Glem Carig is one that is just as ghoulish.
For those who might not be familiar with the work its a Horror novel written by William Hope Hodgson, known for its distinctive writing style the tale is a recount of the from the shipwrecked Glen Carig. Detailing the surviving crew’s various different trails and tribulations the book is entrenched in a mysterious atmosphere.
Within the novel the writer plays on the sense of loss, with our heroes being adrift at sea. Opening subtly the album begins with the serene clean chords of “The Isle“. Using space to maximum effect the band let each note of the chord ring out before moving on. Couple with the gruff and unorthodox style of vocals of singer Daniel Droste. This sweet introduction hooks you from the word go, pricking intrigue added with the slow time signatures and the very gradual slipping into the abyss, a brooding foreshadowing of what will be coming our way.
The album sticks to a rigid sense of structure entrenched in the book, breaking up the ten minute plus sections before it the more straightforward approach of “Red Foam (The Great Strom)” ensures that the listeners attention doesn’t waver with some wonderful bleak subdued lead sections. Followed by the inert sense that something is amiss, “The Weedmen” ominously begins , in this section of the story our heroes are pursued by the entities that are not quite human yet not quite creature. Normally the slow build up would have bored me to tears and this is where the idea of the concept is of paramount importance. Giving the riffs reason and meaning, the sheer fact that the slow and steady delivery of guitar puts pressure on your psyche, similar to the situation that our Marrator and his crew found themselves in when they see the arrival of these Weedmen. Whilst ebbing and flowing, a mid section of withdrawn feedback makes for an ethereal atmosphere with our singers crooning. Very much the aural equivalent to being dragged through the murky depths.
The idea of the concept album has to encompass every aspect of the record. Helped with the absolutely beautiful cover artwork, which gives a sense of unearthly twilight zone style creatures. Painting a beautiful picture, using simple effect like colours. Being light at the top whilst slowly moving to the darker shades in the lowers section of the picture along with deep sea fish it enhances the listen to no end. Often being the hardest part of a concept album to encapsulate the record on one image, the band have nailed it. What Ahab craft with their new release is not only brilliant music but successfully create a melancholic, ethereal and despondent atmosphere. Making for a simple but effective delivery that is surprisingly easy to listen to.
Using clever dynamics the band are able to separate the listener from their reality and slowly move theninto this fore lorn land. Coupling story with the isolating riffs the longer sthe song goes the more adrift the listener becomes in this story. “To Mourn Job” again brings the delay heavy unresolved clean sections back to the fore, perhaps it might not appeal to all Metal heads out there but The Boats Of Glen Carig is a fantastical story told in a fantastic musical setting that that will sink right to the bottom of your psyche.
[verdict]Yes[/verdict]
[why]A truly spooky tale that is enhanced by the beautiful dynamics within the record. A classic ghoulish tale told in the most musical of ways.[/why]
If you like what you read / heard then you can pick up the brand new album here!
