Veil "Sombre" CD (Bonustrack)

All music/lyrics written by S. between 1997-2006, except "To Die Alone" written by S. & Paul H.
Track 6 Joy Division cover!!

There`s a real sense of motion in the cover art for Veil`s first full length album, Sombre. A wolf is running past trees misshapen and gnarly, devoid of leaf. It`s an interesting perspective we view the picture from ground level everything towers above us, it`s as if we`re encouraged to witness more the brevity of time than the actual scene. A winters night (presumably) cold and lonely with tattered clouds streaming overhead. They say wolves live only in the present tense and are unsentimental creatures who can accept you warmly one minute or rip out your throat the next, if you should show weakness or hesitancy (denoting untrustworthiness).
A heart rending cry and mournful guitar so begins To Die Alone. A man condemned for his beliefs knowing he`ll finish what days he has left incarcerated.
The guitar sound is fuzzy, jarring, similar to those on Nattens Madrigal though lower in tone and not so frenzied (maybe a good discription would be to imagine if Burzum and Xasthur were to join together this is the sound they may produce). Stolztrager manages to convey a deep sense of loss and passive acceptance, not seeking pity more a desire to pass quickly through this empty life and travel to a place more forgiving and non judgemental. A bassoon-like sound interweaves with male choir effects to give this track profound melody and strangely calming qualities.
Mater Maternis (maternal mother) is the welcoming forest, "profound overseer" she laments the short sightedness and perniciousness of man.
The song starts slowly, welcomely, before the "wall" of guitar descends once more and Thurisaz`s whispered haunting voice beseeches us as if from beyond the grave to take heed of the sleeping powers of mother nature, soon to be evoked by mans wanton destruction. Keyboards accompany the song together with occasional acoustic guitar and add a rich though mournful layer.
Stolztrager`s guitar playing is distorted and penetrating but is the main reason I extol Veil, it gives them a very distinctive sound. The drumming is straight forward not overly technical but helps bind the songwriting together and, when listened for, gives a rhythmic undercurrent that (coupled with those buzzing guitars) borders on the hypnotic.
The pace picks up with the last track "Hope". We`re lulled by gently stirring keyboards before a "pattering" drum beat and urgent symbols impinge the listener. A sense of expectancy permeates, choral voices can be heard lamenting softly in the back ground before Thurisaz`s hair raising cry gives the cue for a more frenzied cadence.
I picture the lone wolf darting through trees laced with moonlight, misty tendrils rising from damp decaying leaves.
Another reason this masterpiece resonates so strongly with me is the feeling of empathy, and we`re reminded,

"Winds will blow
Tides will turn
Change is eternal, change is eternal."

Sample: