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"there are two ways to approach Portrait: forget that it owes everything to the Danes and appreciate "At One With None" as a solid old-fashioned heavy album, or judge that it only recycles what others have done (better) before it."
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3/5
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Based in Sweden, Portrait shows that it is easy to build a career without proposing anything original and to be satisfied with copying not only the style but the identity of its illustrious elders. At this level of mimicry, it is no longer a question of influences. But our Swedes don't care about that, and they are probably right, as shown by the success they have achieved. And after all, they enjoy themselves, give birth to solid records, that's enough for their happiness and that of their fans always more numerous.
It is true that "At One With None" is easy to listen to, full of anthems ('Curtains (The Dumb Supper') and less immediate but rich of sinuous progressions ('He Who Stands') which fill a technically irreproachable menu, although it drags a bit during a less prominent second part ('Ashen' and its nine minutes which are quite seductive). Nevertheless, the impression of listening to a Mercyful Fate album, since it's from them that Portrait claims to be, turns out to be disturbing as the singer Per Karlsson performs a convincing imitation of King Diamond with whom he competes without any difficulty, like on 'At One With None', an excellent beginning that seems to have escaped from "Melissa" or "Don't Break The Oath", with the current sound recording as well.
The result is embarrassing in that this fifth album cannot arouse the slightest reservation as for its execution coupled with a reinforced concrete architecture but whose influences are so obvious - although claimed - that it makes it impossible to totally adhere to the approach of a band that is always skilled in building epic tracks.
In fact, there are two ways to approach Portrait: forget that it owes everything to the Danes and appreciate "At One With None" as a solid old-fashioned heavy album, or judge that it only recycles what others have done (better) before it. Make your choice ! - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. At One with None
 02. Curtains (the Dumb Supper)
03. Phantom Fathomer
04. He Who Stands
05. Ashen
06. A Murder of Crows
07. Shadowless
08. The Gallow's Crossing
09. The Blood Is the Life (Bonus Track)
10. Farewell to the Flesh (Bonus Track)
LINEUP:
Anders Persson: Batterie
Christian Lindell: Guitares
Fredrik Petersson: Basse
Per Lengstedt: Chant
Robin Holmberg: Guitares
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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(0) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
2/5 (1 view(s))
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STAFF:
3/5 (1 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH PORTRAIT
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OTHER REVIEWS
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