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Artist: EPOCHATE
Album: Chronicles of a Dying Era
Year: 2009
Epochate is a freshly new combination between two quite known individuals - namely Victor Love (Dope Stars Inc., as well producer for Subsound Studios) and Noras Blake (Edenyzed, as well known for his work in Spineflesh) - formed in 2008. According to the biography we can expect "a mix of industrial rock with heavy and concrete orchestrations, cutting edge guitars and killer vocals". The debut album of this project, 'Chronicles of a Dying Era', has seen the light one year after the formation of this project. It contains nine tracks, and was released by Subsound Records.
The release opens with the title track - 'Chronicles of a Dying Era'. It's a very bombastic track, including excellent orchestral keylines, ambient/electronic sampling and bashing programming. The vocal lines fit the atmospheric attitude of the track excellently, and melts the different instruments excellently together. '1600 A.D.' is a dark though sensitive track, including influences from classical music, (neo)folk, wave and (a small amount of) ambient. It consists of bashing drumming and recogniseable vocal lines, giving it despite the complexity a certain accessibility. 'Substantia' excellently mixes old school EBM tunes with a danceable rhytm and orchestral keylines. The vocal lines are recogniseable and accessable. 'The Flood' is a bombastic and orchestral track, with a slow protounding rhytm and wellfitting vocal lines. The song is mostly build on it's keylines, and small fragments of ambient sampling. 'Creators' follows. This composition includes bombastic, sometimes even theatrical keylines, slightly added riffing, bashing programming and an overall recogniseable and gentle approach. The sensitive vocal lines fit the music excellently. 'Needle Hive' is a bashing, danceable track including wave influences and keylines mixing future pop with classical music and orchestral approaches. The diverse vocal lines are recogniseable, and give the song a certain boost. 'Burning' is again a more bombastic track, with wellplaced riffing, bashing drums and essential key- and vocal lines. It's a track that makes you want to press the 'repeat' button every second. 'Introspection' has a Nine Inch Nails likely opening, but turns into a more orchestral track when the dreamy keylines are added to the composition. Overall the song flies from old school electro/wave to outgoing electro metal and orchestral additions, with a wicked rhytm and recogniseable vocal lines. Best track on the record! 'Of Shade And Light' is the closing chapter of this release. It's an instrumental track, moving from quiet orchestral parts to bombastic and even slightly danceable parts, creating an essential atmosphere all over.
With 'Chronicles of a Dying Era', Epochate doesn't deliver you something regular or random. No matter if you like it or not, it's something you won't be hearing every day. All the songs are blessed with an own identity, and it feels like this album takes your hand and guides you through a journey each time you're listening to it again - without getting boring. The vocal lines by Victor Love are used a different way than we're used to with Dope Stars Inc., but on Epochate he shows that he survives with ease on things more complex and different. Epochate doesn't really covers any music genre or subgenre - to describe it: think of a more original, more orchestral, more bombastic, more talented and more innovative version of The Vision Bleak - or the for many reasons never born bastard child of Vangelis and My Dying Bride, with a slight touch of industrial. Not something for the random or the close minded souls.
Like the biography says: "Epochate is not a new beginning - Epochate is the end." If this is really the end, it's a damn sweet one.
Vote: 95 / 100
Review by: Gerardo
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1. Chronicles of a Dying Era
2. 1600 A.D.
3. Substantia
4. The Flood
5. Creators
6. Needle Hive
7. Burning
8. Introspection
9. Of Shade And Light
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