Volere o volare i Samel, grazie alla loro mistura apocalittica di Industrial, Dark, Elettronica e basi Black (qui totalmente assenti, anche se se ne carpisce bene l'eco del genere in ogni solco), non dico che abbiano inventato un genere che potrebbe chiamarsi "Elettro-Metal", ma quantomeno, se la definizione esistesse e fosse canonica, di certo annovererebbe tra i suoi fautori proprio questi svizzeri, che dalla propria madrepatria hanno saputo estrapolare il meglio del meglio, pescando dalle esperienze precedenti di Hellhammer/Celtic Frost e Coroner, tanto per citarne due, e poi influenzando band che si sono mosse sulla loro stessa falsariga, come gli Alastis, che poi però, soffocati dallo stesso avanguardismo estremo che li aveva generati e influenzati, non avendo le capacità mostruose dei Samael, sono scomparsi in maniera abbastanza ignominiosa.
Ed "Eternal" è il testimone perfetto del percorso coraggioso e cupo che i sei in questione avevano intrapreso già con "Passage" e che li ha poi portati a pubblicare la summa ed il registro delle loro mire con "Exodus" e "Reign of Light".
A differenza di "Passage" però, questo album si muove su coordinate maggiormente catastrofiche e meno intimistiche, tralasciando per un pò la cattiveria abominevole per lasciarsi coinvolgere nei buchi neri dell'elettronica e dei synth ad ogni costo. E questo si è dimostrato come un'arma a doppio taglio: se da un lato il prodotto finale infatti, è certamente degno di lode riuscendo sempre ad entusiasmare e ad eccitare la fantasia dell'ascoltatore, riuscendo, ancora, a tenerlo incollato allo stereo per tutta la durata del cd, dall'altro stanca un pò, proprio perché, essendo ricercatissimo nella produzione, essendo stato mixato in maniera colossalmente grandiosa e perfetta, toglie ai pezzi molta "atmosfera", riducendoli poi a sembrare niente altro che esperimenti sterili l'uno diverso dall'altro, e questo, per una band come i Samael non è certo un punto a favore.
Non sono un "defender" del cosiddetto "True Metal" ci mancherebbe. Affermo solo che, forse, qualche campionamento di meno, qualche effetto tolto e qualche dose massiccia di pazzia in più avrebbero fatto di "Eternal" l'ennesimo capolavoro a cui si sarebbero elevati osanna interminabili. Certo, le fanzine specializzate e tutti quanti ne hanno carpito l'essenza si sono sciolti comunque la lingua ad impalmarlo come il tentativo "estremo" di portare il Metal su di un altro livello fino a quel momento mai battuto (e ci sarebbe da dire tanto anche su questa affermazione...). Ma io mi chiedo: e se poi, invece, di tentativi estremi se ne volessero certo, ma in dosi tali da non de-naturalizzare l'essenziale passione che anima questo genere di musica? Che cosa cambierebbe?
Tutto e niente. Visto che comunque, anche sotto questo aspetto i Samael sembrano essere prevenuti, vista la incostanza con cui hanno voluto proporre di proposito questo album, senza che se ne avvertisse la sfrontatezza e le forza, ma se ne riuscisse ad intravedere solo l'ombra, mastodontica, che ne discende.
Se fosse così, come io credo in definitiva, allora mi troverei a sbagliare clamorosamente, ma forse non è detto che commetta errore; certamente, purtroppo, devo affermare che due o tre buone canzoni che mi sono piaciute su di un album che ne conta dodici in tutto, non possono farmi dire che questo sia un capolavoro. Semmai una prova buona, ottima in certi frangenti ("Supra Krama", "Together") stupefacente addirittura in "The Cross", mediocre in altri ("Us", "Nautilus and Zeppelin", "Infra Galaxia"), ma certamente non sui livelli di "Passage" dove ogni canzone era un piccolo diamante nero che si incastonava alla perfezione nella struttura granitica ed audace del disco.
Dunque, stavolta non grido al "miracolo" e nemmeno al "capolavoro". Onestamente mi sento di consigliare il cd ai fans affezionati della band svizzera, ma a chi, certamente vorrebbe conoscerli per quello che veramente sono, allora, non posso dire che di procurarsi "Reign of Light" e "Passage" e di iniziare il viaggio nelle profondità dell'universo che i Samael tanto bene sanno esplicare.
Elenco tracce testi e samples
01 Year Zero (03:38)
life is a road life is a plan
life is a role life is more than it seems
enlightened delighted
confused or clear today is your day
there's a world in a world outside
they're all the same when you stay inside
getting the news from here and there
blocking thoughts before they turn into lies
switching on switching off
when you're on your own you belong to yourself
and the night is alright
and your days get better and better in every way
just slip down your sleep to enlighten tomorrow
'till you go flashing up the sky
there's a world in a world outside
they're all the same when you stay inside
life is a road life is a plan
life is a role life is more than it seems
enlightened delighted
confused or clear today is your day
run around get over
and the night is alright
and your days get better and better in every way
just slip down your sleep to enlighten tomorrow
'till you go flashing up the sky
02 Ailleurs (03:54)
take it down a little bit before we start
you meant to get the best
and to borrow the rest
carrying an omen to save your love and guest
be honest to your own self
develop your skills
be aware of the abyss
put your soul sky-high
got to see the light - got to see the light
that lights other lights
got to feel the sound - got to feel the sound
that comes over silence
read the shadow on the wall...keep an eye on your own I
got to socialize - got to socialize
your independence
bridges have to fall, bridges have to fall
if you wanna rise
clear your view from abnegation
wait the time of transition
stand.......................gather staff for war of reason
please get a grip when you explode
for some may be exposed
avoid the peace that she imposed
compress the past 'till it implodes
just play with what you won't control
games you lose are those you win
giving and taking a lesson to thrill
pull up your heart where it hasn't gone
pull up your heart where it hasn't gone
got to see the light - got to see the light
that lights other lights
got to feel the sound - got to feel the sound
that comes over silence
read the shadow on the wall...keep an eye on your own I
please get a grip when you explode
for some may be exposed
avoid the peace that she imposed
compress the past 'till it implodes
just play with what you won't control
games you lose are those you win
giving and taking a lesson to thrill
pull up your heart where it hasn't gone
pull up your heart where it hasn't gone
invited, guided, harmonised, organised, terrorized by what is ailleurs
03 Together (04:27)
can you give as much as you can take
can you love as much as you can hate
the flame we share is one as you're aware
the needs we burn is the child we never had
we split our lives to find our mind again
we do divorce so our first fight's regained
together will we remain to say
together we will live, this century got so much more to give
together we will leave, giving to the world a better place to grow
feelings we keep away from decay
feelings we send each other everyday
does your silence speak the word I hear
does your reserve mean what I fear
the forever we are is the forever we murdered
stay right here, stand by me
together we will live, this century got so much more to give
together we will leave, giving to the world a better place to grow
together we will live, this century got so much more to give
together we will leave, giving to the world a better place to grow
together will we remain to say
together will we survive to see
04 Ways (03:48)
How long is a life how many ways can you try on
How long is your life how many ways did you try on
don't need to reach the end when you know what's there
no one knows what's there...
get in get out don't lose time in the roundabout
get in get out read your map if you ever doubt
try on try out all different sense
try on reach out for distant suns
the way we take, the one we don't
the one we left, the one we change
the one that burns, the one that freezes
the one we built, the one we are
along the way there's some ways we take another way
got power to ponder
to construct to structure
to be tuned, uninterfered
to conquer our inner self
to prevent and assure
to invent our future
fighting the resistance of time
with persistence of faith
softly, cunningly cleaning the dirt
wildly, radiantly drowning to rebirth
winged by pressure
dazzled by pleasure
distorted absorbed
restored again and again
there's an after to every now...
an answer to every how
there's an after to every now
the way we take, the one we don't
the one we left, the one we change
the one that burns, the one that freezes
the one we built, the one we are
along the way there's some ways we take another way
there's a way there's one way and that is the way
there's a way
away
05 The Cross (03:21)
"The wind of spring blows in heaven
in the land of gold in the land of god
manipulate the holiness
maculate the lonliness
shining between two worlds
learning to win and hold
fraction of monopoly
tension of opposite`s pole
give or take what has to move
for i will fight for my country
eldest to the one and i
harvest of love and light
armless - amnesty
North south east and west the cross is sent over the lands
keep draining what was and will be in our time in our life
pilot soul takes you on the ride, no rise no fall for Humankind
Among the best survive or leave
paranoid night so hard to relieve
would you betray innovation
in the name tradition
hopeless - amnesia
North south east and west the cross is sent over the lands
keep draining what was and will be in our time in our life
pilot soul takes you on the ride, no rise no fall for humankind
Halvetia gloria still smile behind the shade of shame
cross your faith, join your hands tomorrow holds another day
eldest to the one and i
harvest of love and light
dictated by war and hate
supported by those who hide
it lives in yuor mind
whatever you may say
whoever you may pray
christianity worldwide
06 Us (04:14)
some say it's hard to get it all
but what I dreamed is what I am
I turned my eyes to see it all
to give you what you're looking for
come the force come the wind come the sun
into our ring
make me shine make me rain make clear water with blood
take me high burn me up and tear it all down
push me out throw in the ocean of love
make me one make me I
should I keep you in my wheel should I take you in my arms
if you want what I want
if you need what I am
come on let's be as one
if you want what I want
if you need what I am
come on take me home
step on it stay above I did spoil your life with light
to let you see what can be if our hearts ever collide
won't you give me a try won't you give me another chance
won't you give me a try won't you give me another chance
you're here when I'm there
I see you everywhere
you're cool you're special
you're calm and beautiful
you're a nine you're mine
and we got along at night
if you want what I want
if you need what I am
come on let's be as one
if you want what I want
if you need what I am
come on take me home
won't you give me a try won't you give me another chance
won't you give me a try won't you give me another chance
07 Supra Karma (04:33)
some stay some leave
some come some go
get on the air
and check your plan
If you do try you'll remember
the fine line no one denied
unsharing joy is a pain to release
One by one we all came around and we danced around night and day
One by one we just play our round to leave and drop another way
some stay some leave
some come some go
unsharing joy is pain
One by one we all came around and we danced around night and day
One by one we just play our round to leave and drop another way
get on the air
and check your plan
get on the air
and make a wish
if you do try you'll remember
the heart is strong
and it keeps warm
what the distance
will never change
One by one we all came around and we danced around night and day
One by one we just play our round to leave and drop another way
09 Nautilus & Zeppelin (04:12)
let me glow, let me flow
let me grow in your heart
in your mind
in your soul
anywhere, anytime, anyhow
when you want, when you need, when you know
I will be there for you
I will be there with you
the sea is navigable
the sky has no limits
for those who are able
to understand what does fit
to the world they're heading for
to the life they're looking for
let me take you on board
let me sail you to the shore
to choose is sometime to lose they say
to lose what you haven't chosen but yes
I confess I want you all
welcome on board guide you on both sides
lighthouse in the fog I show you where you stand now
catch my aim from below
lose control let you drown
catch my aim from below
lose control let you drown...
wanna have sun in the winter
wanna have snow in the summer
wanna feel always better
wanna come a bit closer
we get on the top and we keep being more than we ever expected to be
yes that's exactly what I meant
yes that's exactly how I went
Aproche...
the sea is navigable
the sky has no limits
for those who are able
to understand what does fit
to the world they're heading for
to the life they're looking for
let me take you on board
let me sail you to the shore
12 Radiant Star (03:46)
Reversed time climb up the side of mystery
holding tight the key to nowhereland the long time promise
at the beginning
the origin
aren't we supposed to be bound
aren't we prepared to re-cloned
the universe we imagine
the memory we left behind
the time we drain the time we kill
what's the need for a better life tell me
from where you are radiant star
light the way of those who search of those who stay
from where you are radiant star
light the way of those who search of those who pray here
spend a day to wonder
have a night to remember
beyond the pain that each day gives
rising the joy that you perceive
through blurry thoughts you do conceive
a strong passion that won't deceive
the force you own needs no shelter
nowhere should be the place that you fear
nowhere should be the place that you fear
from where you are radiant star
light the way of those who search of those who stay
from where you are radiant star
light the way of those who search of those who pray here
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