980 - Promethean - Somber Regards (1999)

Artist: Promethean
Album: Somber Regards
Release Date: Apr 27, 1999
Label: Avant Garde
Styles: Progressive, Metal
Origin: Finland
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TRACKS
1 Rat Race 4:30
2 It's the Light 6:55
3 Blazah 4:56
4 Self-Portrait 4:32
5 Somber Regards 6:00
6 Spiderland 5:56
7 Pennywhistle_Attack of Überwermi 8:35
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REVIEW
From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website
Perhaps the best description of the style of Promethean that I have heard is polymusic, integrating influences from across space and time. This makes sense given that the group has received little attention yet has been categorized as anywhere from doom metal to atmospheric folk. A more earthy description might be a Lapland child of JETHRO TULL and CAMEL.
The corporeal origins of Promethean lie in death metal cult band BLACK CRUCIFIXION in 1994, when vocalist Timo Iivari and multi-instrumentalist Esa Juujärvi had grown tired of the genre and aimed for a more measured, melodic and progressive approach with clean vocals. While they only produced two albums before disbanding as the millenium was approaching, they appear to have achieved their goals at least artistically.
This is an example of intensely sad and lonely music, reflecting the isolation and depression of living under the tyranny of the 24 hour winter night, that comes full arctic circle and is a spriritual triumph in its own right. Most recommended is their 1997 debut, "Gazing the Invisible".
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