We are proud to see that Aardia get wonderful reviews of their debut album Conquest of The Ancient Halls. Check it out!
Chain DLK = 4,5/5 Stars
Musical Zone Japan = 910/1000
Spirit of Metal = 20/20
DT Magazine = N/A (good review though)
ROW Magazine = 85%/100
Dark Entries = 7/10 stars
Mentenebre = 7/10
Sci-fi-Online (Review Graveyard) = 8/10
Chronicles of Chaos = 9/10
Here's all the complete reviews so far:
CHAIN DLK
By: Ivan Racheck
Aardia - Conquest of The Ancient Halls
4,5/5 stars
Aardia is a Swedish trio that started creating music together as soon as 1999, making music to underground horror films (mostly in the Zombie genre) and creating demos, have songs on compilations and more. 2008 they joined Waerloga Records, a label that releases Za Frūmi and other dark fantasy inspired groups, and now in the early parts of 2011 the debut album is released.
According to Waerloga Records the process has been very slow and demanding but really worth the while. Not many albums like "Conquest of The Ancient Halls" reach me but when they do I get really happy.
The music is bombastic at times and more moody at others. Arcana, Za Frūmi, Erdenstern and film music to fantasy movies comes to mind when listening. One thing that strike my right away and that's the great sound of the album. Simon Kölle of Za Frūmi have both mixed and
mastered the album and that was a great move by Aardia for sure!
Another thing that I really like is the way the music feels so well done. The music is neo classical at times, but does not resemble classical music as much as music for the movies.
The album is clearly made with inspiration taken from dark fantasy and I think this is the best Waerloga release in a while. A friend of mine visited me while listening to the album and she asked me from which new computer game the music was from and first I took that as an insult but she did not meant it that way. Music to computer games now a days is made by really good composers and
some of the games sell in millions.
Conquest of The Ancient Halls got no bad song and one hit in the bombastic and action packed piece called The Conquest. Great work, I am impressed and will listen to Aardia a lot this spring.
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Musical Zone Japan
By: David Purdie
Grade: 910/1000
I don't know exactly how Waerloga Records always find these perfect acts? Aardia is a Swedish act consisting of three composers inspired by a book not yet published. I can only imagine how good that book must be. For each individual track and musical theme, Aardia sort of cover a chapter in the book. The artwork is fine and the CD comes in a neat digipack, perfectly reflecting the mystical atmosphere of the album.
The composers live in the northern parts of Sweden which is one of the most dark places in the world. The winters are long and the nature is vast and beautiful. Both the beauty and the darkness can be heard on Conquest of The Ancient Halls.
The music is very likeable and has several dramatic moments as well as soft ones. Piano and symphonic orchestrations are accompanied by enchanting yet malicious dark brooding sounds from the deep and voices which float in the background. The 8 tracks balance the serene and the dynamic, creating a great atmosphere that is perfectly suiting for their theme. The Conquest deliver the most dramatic impact but Legion of Darkness is the best track. I am truly amazed, but not surprised to read that Simon Kölle (Za Frūmi, Abnocto, Musterion, film composer) mixed and master this astonishing debut. He's done a fantastic job as the sound and richness of it is masterful.
If you're into the music and genre that Waerloga Records represents (dark fantasy) then you should already know what to except just by observing the title and cover art of the band Aardia's debut CD, Conquest of The Ancient Halls. This CD truly opens the gates of the world of Tolkien-like arts, allowing glimpses of a spellbinding nocturnal realm.
Listening to this CD, you will enter the domain of shadows, feel the effect great fantasy can have on you and in this case also the dark energies, and travel to mysterious realms of existence!
In my humble opinion I think that Conquest of The Ancient Halls is one of the best debuts in this genre and it could easily stand as this year's jewel of the year 2011!
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Spirit of Metal
By: Irma S. Mandel
Grade: 20/20
If the Lord of the Rings soundtrack (Howard Shore) and band/composers such as Nox Arcana, Za Frūmi, Jesper Kyd and Joseph Loduca got together and made music to a film this is how it would sound! Maybe that sounds bold and like an odd mix but honestly all those above mentioned composers are the ones I come to think of while listening to Conquest of The Ancient Halls, the debut album of three Swedish artists.
This is the kind of CD where every other song is punctuated by thundering, booming drums while a choir urgently sings sinister tunes far away. Aardia is a force to be reckoned with. The music is enchanting. Upon listening to Conquest of The Ancient Halls, I'm reminded of the soundtrack scores of great sword and sorcery movies but also some more darker pieces and the compositions of Za Frūmi.
I mentioned Joseph Loduca who has composed music to films like Evil Dead, Army of Darkness, Brotherhood of the Wolf to mention a few. Sometimes in Aardia's music I can feel the same atmosphere as Loduca. Jesper Kyd, whom I also mentioned above, is mostly known for his music to games. I most of all think Aardia is similar to the sound Kyd sometimes touched in the game Assassin's Creed II but Aardia is more dramatic and not so folk or east influenced.
Aardia create amazing melodies and arrangements. The majestic feeling of the music is built up by the sound and structure which surely will take you to ancient lands, the ones imagined by this trio. I am impressed.
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DT Magazine
(Dark Treasure)
Jim Dickinson
With this debuting release of the experienced Swedish film composers behind Aardia you will be taken on a journey to the time and land of Ancient Halls, prophecies and the mighty warriors who sought to destroy them. While this CD doesn't have the usual obvious theme, which is what I normally prefer, "Conquest of The Ancient Halls" has enough darkness flowing through the majestic neo classical songs it surely appease any fan of dark fantasy.
What is without a doubt the best thing with this album is the epic sound! Simon Kölle, a Swedish film composer mixed this album to utter perfection together with Gustaf Grefberg of Aardia.
Not to downplay the melodies and compositions in themselves, but this album rely on the general sound and works best when the songs build up an atmosphere and then bursts out in a grand and epic way. Legion of Darkness is a great example of one of the better songs on the album and Halls of Insanity is another. Angel of Misfortune takes too long before it breaks out and become majestic but on the other hand it got some great atmosphere.
I could easily see this as a soundtrack for many movies in the fantasy genre. The different tracks bring to life various places. Plains of Sorrow, Halls of Insanity and Ancient Halls. Filling the listener with visions grand halls, wide open twisted landscapes, barren lands, and even great wars.
Aardia has taken a great step being signed by the premium label in the genre and this album is the biggest and best sounding album since last Za Frūmi release. Just listen to it and you can almost feel yourself be taken to another place, a dark fantasy world.
The album is no classical masterpiece but it works fine in this genre and breath roleplay games and fantasy in general.
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ROW Magazine
By: Alexander Garrett
85%
I had just finished LOTR again when I got this Digipack release sent to me from Swedish label Waerloga Records. Normally when they send me stuff I really like what I hear. This time was no different. After listening to the first few cues I realized this CD is a film! Aardia creates an inner film in the listeners' mind and spark the imagination, a quality sadly lacking in many real films that are out there nowadays!
Conquest of The Ancient Halls leads you on a musical voyage that got all the elements any fan of the fantasy genre would like. First I thought the music felt a bit shallow but when listening to the CD again and again it get better and better. The mix and master is made by a pro, Simon Kolle, and the artwork is a feast for your eyes, really lush and gives a dark glimpse into the fantasy world of the album. Aardia paint you enough picture to get the feel for the music, but then allow you to leave the rest to your imagination.
There are some great cues here like Awakening, The Conquest and Legion of Darkness. Angel of Misfortune is the only cue I don't like all that much. The Prophecy is making me think of Vangelis and his work on 1492 which is great of course.
The music many times comes full circle, complete with crescendo, climax and often a resolution. At times the bass arpeggiation is a bit simple but drums are handled with great care. The beats are very LOTR at times but never in a bad way.
Many cues are driven by piano and Aardia work a lot with chord progressions that are really good. The sound of the strings are at times not the best which is sad. Other than the strings the sound of the instruments are good and with the help of the mix the instruments are woven together in a none classical way but more modern, which I like.
I cannot wait to listen to the next album of this interesting group. I think Aardia is here to stay.
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Dark Entries
Folk / Ethnic / Tribal
By Didier Becu
(Translated from Dutch to English)
Link: http://www.darkentries.be/nl/cds/aardia-conquest-of-the-ancient-halls/
Grade: 7/10 stars
Ever heard of Aardia? Even if we don't underestimate the musical knowledge of our readers, we presume that the name for most
of you will sound more than obscure. From the first second you get to know this group you will love them.
These three Swedes [Aardia] have worked some ten years with composing music for horror films that are doomed to be released immediately on DVD.
The album "Conquest of the ancient halls" is a soundtrack, for a film that does not exist.
Once you hear the music, you will inevitably think of a fantasy world where you quite soon wonder why Peter Jackson did not
hired these Swedes for composing the music of his Lord Of The Rings trilogy?
More than one hour you will be immersed in atmospheric, bombastic music with Slavic choirs in the background ... and yes,
sometimes the old Therion surfaced, albeit minus the metal factor!
"Conquest of the ancient halls" is a beautiful drawing that has become at times resembled with the work of film composer
Maurice Jarre and actually could be ideal for some fantasy game.
Very nice release that certainly goths with a weakness for the medieval will come to speak about!
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Mentenebre
"Conquest of The Ancient Halls" es un trabajo de Aardia editado en Waerloga (Ref: WAER018) en Enero de 2011.
Interpretado por Patric Söderlund como compositor & Daniel Johnsson como compositor & Gustaf Grefberg como compositor &
Ronny Ahlgren como guitarrista & Anette Johansson como vocalista desde Suecia y se centra en el estilo Neoclassical y tiene
una duración de 45 minutos.
Enlaces Relacionados: Aardia & Waerloga
Valoración: 7 sobre 10
Link: http://www.mentenebre.com/articulos.php?op=verarticle&artid=2084
(Translated from Spanish to English)
Aardia is a veteran Swedish group specializing in music of epic fantasy films, not in vain because they have already been composing two soundtracks: "Die Zombiejäger" (2005) and "Dragonetti" (2010).
This is Aardias seventh work, and continuing on the path, the album is a kind of fictional soundtrack in the epic tone that you can imagine: the chronicle of a quest for a lost world. It's set in the Tolkien heritage as evil beings beset the sacred fortress of the elves.
Those who already may know the Swedish label Waerloga can really understand what we mean as the production line (catalouge) is well defined: projects, mostly instrumental epic, as if it were soundtracks. Furthermore, the topic is very clear, musical stories fantastic feats in Middle Earth or similar sites with goblins, orcs and elves as protagonists.
In the pages of Mentenebre we have followed the path of bands like Frūmi Za Frūmi much in the line of work that we discussed above. This time some terrible creatures of darkness are about to take over a place called The Ancient Halls. There the elves defend the savage attack.
The story is based on a book not yet published, the third part of The Land of Aardia, a chronicle with different stories of what can be deduced that the band's future work will be inspired by new narratives of these chronicles.
As for the music that we can find, as I said, is a sort of pseudo-orchestral compositions "I'm afraid that all music, except for some elements like the guitar, are generated by computer-dye totally epic. Thus, pianos, drums, strings and choirs will populate this fictional soundtrack.
The narrative aspect is the linchpin of the entire composition. First, the prophecy that, as in all the accounts of the branch is seating, from the beginning the future of the whole story. After the characters are, on one hand the evil legion and the other, the Angel of Misery. Then comes the struggle, conquest, afterwards the pain. The album closes with a kind of hope, all is not lost. Perhaps history will continue in another Aardia legend?
The CD have spectacular moments, no doubt 'Legion of Darkness' is one of the best. It is the presentation of the army of darkness. Great, dark and terrible at the same time. It has great strength and leaves you totally shocked by the rush of adrenaline you produce.
'Halls of insanity' leads to another completely different scene, starting with the quiet of a sweet female voice. Despite the dark touch below. They put a chorus and a dense atmosphere that somehow sully the virginal purity of the lady. The touch of the strings attached with the percussion create an unsettling atmosphere. Another hit from the album.
If you're a freak of Tokien-like work, you are very welcomed to a world that no doubt will be very familiar for you.
A great epic musical album.
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Link: http://www.reviewgraveyard.com/00_revs/r2011/music/08-02-10_aardia-conquest.html
and
http://www.sci-fi-online.com/00_revs/r2011/music/08-02-10_aardia-conquest.html
Review Graveyard (Sci-fi-Online.com)
8/10
By: Darren Rea
Dark Forces have just conquered the Land of Aardia. An army of Orcs is marching towards a fortress that sits atop an ancient hall. Within the walls of this structure lies a knowledge buried by an extinct civilisation. In the wrong hands this could lead to the destruction of the world. A small army of Elves have barricaded themselves in the fortress where they await their destiny...
The tracks on Conquest of the Ancient Halls are influenced by the middle ages, dark fantasy, horror films and classical orchestral music. There are eight tracks here representing just under 45 minutes of music.
Personal favourites for me include the beautiful 'The Prophecy', which has a central theme that wouldn't be out of place in a big budget Hollywood movie; 'Halls of Insanity' the first half of which reminded me of Alan Silvestri's score for Predator; and 'Plains of Sorrow' which has an incredible central theme that is packed full of emotion.
Aardia have done a remarkable job of using old and familiar instrument samples (which you'll have heard numerous times before) and presenting them in a new light. As I always say with these releases: it's just a shame that orchestras are so expensive to hire, as this album would sound incredible performed by a choir and orchestra.
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Link: http://www.chroniclesofchaos.com/reviews/albums/2-6268_aardia_conquest_of_the_ancient_halls.aspx
Chronicles of Chaos
9/10
By Chaim Drishner
So, there's this legendary land called Aardia, and the rest is pretty much a been-there tale of good versus evil, Orcs, Elves, Wizards and what lies between -- you know the drill: an album whose theme is heavily influenced by J. R. R. Tolkien's stories, H. P. Lovecraft's horrors and Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana"'s bombast; and even though Aardia's concept isn't the most original of the lot, this mere fact is inconsequential in the face of the band's amazing music.
Aardia deliver the most bombastic and beautiful neoclassical instrumental soundscapes, spiced up with melodic dark ambient passages, and an undeniably alluring distant human chanting choir of sorts, not unlike what Vangelis did on his Opus Magnum soundtrack to the _1492_ motion picture, and, as above mentioned, pretty much along the lines of Orff's "Carmina Burana"'s engaging pomposity.
The orchestration is perfect; building up from the most tranquil moments, slowly picking up pace and power and exploding in the face of the listener in a whirlwind of martial prowess, thundering drums, militant keyboards and doomsday trumpets. Some pure martial industrial track prologues take the listener by the throat with their hard-hitting power and baroque-like fanciful bombast, like a whirlpool percussion holocaust; some tracks focus on delivering this mysteriously melancholic chamber music, driven by string instruments and a piano, but these minimalist interludes are scarce and far between. The better part of the body of music captured on _Conquest of the Ancient Halls_ is lush, multi-layered and larger than life.
Aardia's imaginative work bears the characteristics of refined optimism coupled with the gravest of tragedies; at times absolutely somber and stern, at others it allows the meager rays of sunlight to penetrate the thick layers of the governing sadness.
Epic from beginning to end, there's not a single dull moment within this excellent recording, and although Aardia's music is not exceptionally challenging an experience in any way -- just beautiful and awe-inspiring -- it is the best in this field of music this reviewer has listened to in recent times, and an absolutely fresh surprise coming from both a band and a label he was not in terms with until now, but a recording this reviewer will not quickly forget. |
