You can support Terra Relicta by donating! Please, do so, and thank you!
Band: The Nightchild
Album title: The World Unseen, The World Unknown
Release date: 2 November 2012
Label: AF-music
Tracklisting:
01. Entrance
02. Dreams
03. Dreammaster
04. Dead Bride
05. The Mischievous Cat From Mars
06. Theatre Of Death
07. The Child Of Madness
08. Masquerade
09. Des Mondes Kind
10. New Ghoul Is Born
11. In Memory of H.P.
12. The Majesty Of Night
13. The Mischievous Cat From Mars (Russian Edit)
Bats from Ukraine are back with their fourth studio opus. This time with even more melancholic and darker sound than ever. The Nightchild have built quite a strong fanbase in goth/post-punk/bat cave circles all around Europe and abroad with their previous records, mostly because of great sense for crafting amazing melancholic melodies which anchored deeply into many hearts of fans of old school goth. Yes, old-schoolish their sound was and it remains, The Nightchild aren't searching for anything new on musical fields. They stick in late 70's, 80's and early 90's post-punk and gothic rock sounds. To tell you the truth I somehow expected more from this release and yes, I liked more their previous two albums, although to be sincere there are among those thirteen tracks some instant classics of the genre.
Don't get me wrong that this is a bad album, it has quite a lot of amazing tracks and truly supreme moments, but it fails in consistency. First of all, the main person and composer behind The Nightchild, Nightchild A. (also in Andromeda Eye and Sociophobia) proves that he is one of those rare specialists who can still take you back in time with his marvelous guitar lines and can create some captivating dark atmospheres. Right after the look at hypnotizing dark blue art on front cover I was pretty amazed by the first track after short intro, "Dreams", which could be expected at the end of the record as it is like a lullaby and it paradoxically calms you down at the very beginning, but at the same time it's kind of invitation into the dark castle of The Nightchild. Also next track "Dreammaster" with amazing vocal duet between Nightchild A. and guest Salomea Wrona from Cabaret Grey, she also delivered some great violin notes right here and only here (unfortunatelly), is amazing. Synths and harmonic guitar lines with a bit more uplifting tempo on "The Mischievous Cat From Mars" can't be overheard and the one must notice slight early David Bowie tone in vocals and guitar work. The melodic vintage guitar riffs on "Theatre Of Death" are breathtaking, but the best is yet to come with the highlight of this album "The Child Of Madness", great sing-along chorus, rather tuned down rough guitars and fantastic drum work make this one a joy to listen and I believe that this must become the peak on their live sets, if they have any. "Des Mondes Kind" sangt in German is nice too and fretless bass played by another guest, Kokel from Lakoma and Gruftschlampen, on short instrumental "In Memory Of H.P." is great. "The Majesty Of Night" is a nice and calm romantic bat-cave ballad which gives some shivers. Everything ends with Russian edit of "The Mischievous Cat From Mars" which I enjoyed even more than English version. So, where are the negative points? Some tracks like "Dead Bride", "Masquerade" and especially "New Ghoul Is Born" are at least to say unnecessary, annoying, if not even disturbing. Then, guitar sound is too much fronted and sometimes other instruments play a background role, there could be also a bit more of emotion implemented into singing and yes, lyrics are ridiculous and there is too much of Russian accent in Nightchild A.s pronunciation, what is not necessary such a bad thing to be honest.
All in all, The World Unseen, The World Unknown is still an enjoyable listen, it offers enough of grand moments if we can forget the bad ones and I believe that this album without some songs and with better production could be a killer. Recommended to all fans of true old-school spirited gothic rock and post punk. It can be downloaded for free from AF-music record label site (HERE).
Review written by: T.V.
Rating: 7/10
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
