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""Nivalis" offers a relaxing trip in the Icelandic winter lands thanks to a pop tinged with folk and classical and a remarkable vocal work."
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4/5
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When we think of Iceland, images of peaceful snow-capped mountains, rumbling volcanoes and towering geysers come to mind. For the past 10 years, Arstidir's music has perfectly embodied these icy natural landscapes with a style somewhere between indie folk, chamber pop and neo-classicism.
After having articulated as a sextet for some time, the musicians have returned to the reduced line-up of their beginnings as a trio. This restructuring is at the origin of a very purified music as the minimalist cover with a simple pen suggested it, the artwork being signed by the ex-keyboardist of Opeth, Per Wiberg!
On this fourth album entitled "Nivalis", the 13 tracks share a great musicality with violins flights, atmospheric and rich melodies and three voices singing. As you can see, the beauty of the songs is the real keyword of this new opus.
Although the songs are all in the same register, one can't stop letting himself go in Arstidir's universe, and this from the first track, 'While This Way', which is also the first single of the album. With its beginning reminding of Riverside or IQ, it won't take long for the listener to get the vocal lines of its chorus stuck in his mind. Because beyond the harmonious and well-crafted melodies, the work on the vocals is really remarkable. The voices of the three companions blend perfectly and are magnified by the music of a constant beauty. We will remember the chorus of the beautiful 'Entangled' or the masterly 'Mute', one of the key tracks of the record, and its atmosphere halfway between Anathema and Imagine Dragons.
There is also sometimes a small electro side in the compositions as on 'In The Wake Of You' with its drum machine, in a style that is dear to Girls In Hawaii, while 'Circus' will remind the classic pop of Revolver. As on the previous albums, we also find some lyrics in Icelandic. It is the case of the excellent 'Thar Sem Enginn Fer', perfect from the first to the last second, with its highly addictive chorus.
"Nivalis" is an album mastered from beginning to end that offers a relaxing trip in the Icelandic lands, where we are willingly lulled by a soothing winter wind. The natives of Reykjavik sign there a very encouraging disc which will delight the amateurs of the genre. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. While This Way
02. Lover
03. Please Help Me
04. Entangled
05. Like Snow
06. Thar Sem Enginn Fer
07. Circus
08. Oroi
09. Mute
10. Conviction
11. In The Wake Of You
12. Wasting Time
13. Passion
LINEUP:
Daniel Audunsson: Guitares
Gunnar Már Jakobsson: Guitares
Ragnar Olafsson: Claviers
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