Released
1998
Label
Palace Of Worms
Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund
Contact
Palace Of Worms
via Bronzetti 19
22053 Lecco
Italia
Runes Order
c/o Claudio Dondo
via Borzoli 103A
16161 Rivarolo Genoa
Italia
Visit
Last Edit/Update
05 juli, 1998
Runes Order
WAITING FOREVER
(MEMORIES REMAIN)
Track Listing
1. Forever
2. Solitude
3. Through The Years
4. Angel
5. The Razorblade -- Winter
6. Blackage
7. Memories
8. Waiting Forever
9. The Last Delight
10. ...Of Shame
11. Sickness Of Beauty
12. Passover
13. The Intruder V.3
14. Endless
Runes Order's fourth full-length release is an extended nocturnal voyage
into a cold, windswept land, where the darkness is held at bay only by the light of
musical beauty. The fourteen songs on Waiting Forever (Memories Remain) combine
powerful percussions -- that balance on the knife's edge between march drums and
ritualistic dance beats -- with sweeping synth melodies of an often strongly melancholy
character. Aside from a couple of instrumental pieces, the songs are all adorned with
vocals that nicely complement the moods set by the musical arrangements. Memories, loss,
and a general sense of finality permeate the lyrics, which are performed by the members of
Runes Order themselves (Claudio Dondo, Paola Magarelli
and Daniele Magarelli), and, in a few instances, by Diego Merletto of Frozen
Autumn, and Ersilia Di Addamio.
The guest vocalists are well
chosen, and add much nuance to Runes Order's songs. Particularly strong
are "Solitude" and "Memories," both sung by Diego Merletto.
"Solitude" very effectively evokes the atmosphere of loneliness, with subtle
chimes, slow string themes, and ticking staccato beats marking the passing hours. Merletto's
grand, introspective voice rings out as if inside a vast room, and from across the other
end of this space echoes the frail words of Paola Magarelli, answering Merletto's
solitary musings. Paola also introduces "Memories" with a brief spoken
passage, setting the stage for Merletto, who once more delivers an almost
operatic vocal performance. Dynamic percussion, and multiple layers of expansive melodic
synth themes carry along the words, and soar to a strong crescendo at the end of the song.
A number of the tracks are very
foreboding in mood; none more so than "The Last Delight." Here the distant,
beautiful chanting of Ersilia Di Addamo is countered by deep, almost droning
synth atmospheres, a truly Teutonic beat, and -- for a brief moment -- by the echo of the
"führer" himself, reaching down the corridors of time like the memory of a bad
dream. The following piece "...Of Shame" builds on the disconcerting qualities
of "The Last Delight," with Claudio Dondo himself whispering words that
speak of nothingness and emptiness. This song is again underscored by a rich stream of
synth harmonies, and an intense, marching beat.
Not all of Runes Order's
songs are exclusively garbed in black, however. While their music always leans toward the
melancholy, they at times do create some highly dance-oriented songs. Standing like a
monument amongst these is "The Razorblade," an eleven minute tour de force of
layered synth percussions and windy melodic atmospheres, with Ersilia Di Addamo's
feline vocals cutting through the air, supported by Claudio Dondo. Also written
with the dance floor in mind are the songs "Through The Years,"
"Angel," "Waiting Forever," and above all "The Intruder,"
which is perhaps the most compelling track on Waiting Forever, featuring not only Runes
Order's hallmark dark and melodic thematic qualities, but also a prominent and
highly danceable beat. Dondo performs the vocals in his subdued whispered fashion
-- occasionally accentuated by electronic treatment, and voice samples in French are
interjected into the saturated stream of thematics throughout. The compressed format of
the song (3:12) does not detract from its power, yet, it is certainly a track that
justifies the CD player's "repeat" button.
Runes Order hail
from Genoa, Italy; and Waiting Forever (Memories Remain) is their first release on
the likewise Italian label Palace Of Worms. With other recent releases
from such bands as Stay Frightened and Bleeding Like Mine,
as well as Heilige Tod (a tribute compilation to Death In June), Palace
Of Worms is establishing themselves as a darker sibling to such labels as Projekt
and Hyperium.
