Entry 073 - Wayfarer - World's Blood

 

I bought this record without hearing it, not something I normally do. I heard two things that intrigued me to the point where I wanted to hear it fresh. One: much of the band from Stormkeep was involved with this release. Two: this album is heavily influenced by the American Wild West.

I'll get this right out of the way, this sounds nothing like Stormkeep - zero resemblance. Secondly, I'm not familiar with the music found in the wild west, but this album certainly channels feelings of isolation, loneliness, and helplessness. I get this sense that I'm alone in a vast world that just keeps spanning as far as the eye can see, not a single soul in sight.

The songs are long, most going well over the 10 minute mark. This helps build the intensely lonely atmosphere. The base music here is black metal, however calling this black metal is only half the story. There are extended periods of clean guitars strumming simple tunes. I get images of a lone wanderer playing a few notes over an open fire at night.

Is this an ode to the Wild West? I can see how that conclusion could be drawn. If nothing else, look at the cover to the album. That is what this music sounds like. A lone figure riding their horse in a vast empty unexplored land.