HANGING GARDEN: The Garden (ATMOSPHERIC METAL,Doom): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

With their EP "Neither Most Nor Rust" released last year, the Finns of Hanging Garden had once again allowed themselves some liberties and had let their adventurous spirit run free. But it was high time to give a follow-up to the excellent "Skeleton Lake". Marking the return of Antti Ruokola behind the drums, "The Garden" is announced as a concept album dealing with nature and its sometimes complicated relationship with the human race.

On this album, Hanging Garden takes a malicious pleasure to be elusive. The eponymous track that opens this new collection seems to start on the same basis, wandering in a foggy garden hesitating to show itself bewitching through Riikka's delicate singing, or anguishing because of the growls that come to tear its spectral light. The contrast is reinforced by the usual duality, typical of the band's identity, between a heavy rhythmic and aerial keyboards. However, the final of this title has the merit to let us glimpse the continuation of this opus by giving a feeling of hesitant suspension which is translated by a gallery of pieces certainly varied, but on which Hanging Garden seems to want to condense its subject in order to make it at the same time more impacting and more accessible.

This evolution offers some surprises like 'The Four Winds' to the sound of medieval folk elements, or the instrumental 'The Derelict Bay' sinking into a darkwave mixing the shadows of Thence, Depeche Mode or Jääportit. Among the ghosts of different formations wandering within this album, evolve also those of Paradise Lost from the "Draconian Times" era on 'The Construct', or that of Moonspell haunting an angry and desperate 'The Nightfall'.

Composed of the epic impulse offered by 'The Fireside', followed by 'The Resolute' and its catchy chorus, the final track summons again the soul of a more classic Hanging Garden and stimulates the desire to dive back into this opus. Nevertheless, you'll have to be a confirmed fan of the Finnish band to make this effort which, if it will reward those who have taken the trouble, will probably put off more than one. It would be a shame to miss "The Garden", even if it loses in depth what it gains in impact. The Finnish band being among the most unpredictable, it remains to be seen which new horizons they will decide to take us to next time. - Official website

HANGING GARDEN

THE GARDEN

AGONIA RECORDS

ATMOSPHERIC METAL