Review by Allan on October 25, 2002.

I have always liked a band that strives to improve. It seems that if a band has the will to move beyond what they’ve accomplished already, they’re more enjoyable and rewarding. Such is the case with Primordial and their third album “Spirit the Earth Aflame”. After two albums Primordial has now reached a new standard for themselves. “Spirit the Earth Aflame” is the culmination of the past, and Primordial has taken full advantage of themselves, creating what will be the first album that they have their own unique voice on.

Primordial has always been a good band, but now they’re great. They’ve taken important steps forward from their previous material to make their music better. Before “Spirit the Earth Aflame”, Primordial’s music was damaged by the mediocre production quality. It didn’t serve the music justice because it didn’t hold the clarity that was necessary for Primordial’s blend of electric and acoustic guitar, as well as the bands use of some very bombastic drumming. On “Spirit the Earth Aflame” the production has the necessary clarity to serve Primordial’s music more accurately. Prior to “Spirit the Earth Aflame”, Primordial had a difficult time writing songs that flowed properly. They never quite became whole, and could very well become boring and lose the listener before the end of the song. On “Spirit the Earth Aflame” Primordial has again made the necessary changes. Now the songs move along gracefully, building themselves up and breaking down, introduction new sections that immediately make connections with the rest of the song. The improvements have been made and they’re entirely noticeable.

Primordial layer their songs with many details, ranging from underlying guitar tones to keyboard melodies. The layering does everything from making a simple chord progression more interesting to building the sections up, or even to grabbing the listener’s attention to the fine detail. Atmosphere makes its appearance known as immediately as it can, from the second the album begins to fade in from your speakers until it fades out. Primordial create a sound that is along the lines of “Hammerheart” era Bathory in terms of atmosphere: extremely ostentatious and epic, yet not to pretentious for its own good. Further down Primordial’s music you’ll find that vocalist A.A. Nemtheanga creates quite a line of diversity in his performance. From his nearly spoken vocal passages, to black metal shrieks, to his grandiose singing, all of it fits the music extremely well and never comes across as tasteless. To complete everything, the band puts as much of their heart into their music as they do with their Irish heritage. Their music is on a very personal level and you feel that when you listen to Primordial.

Bottom Line: Primordial has now found out how to utilize their ability to make well thought out, excellently composed songs that offer an amazing atmosphere as well as great musicianship, all on a very personal and unique level. Check this one out.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 8
Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.2 out of 10

Review by JD on February 24, 2012.

Unique is a term that is usually used too often and wrongly in many situations by some writers I know. Truthfully that includes me... to the point that I try and not use it as much as I have. Then I was sent the album "Running Out Of Daylight" by Chicago’s Doom peddlers The Living Fields. I have found the musical equivalent of that term 'unique'.

Starting out as a Progressive sort of Doom Metal, this four piece has pushed the walls of metal releasing the second full album on an unsuspecting public. Shades of Symphonic styled Black Metal invade as well as some explosive Viking Metal, artistic Folk Metal and even a small bit of an Ambient Doom feel as well. They effectively use so many different instruments in making the right aura for the music. Pianos, violins and violas are just some of the varied instruments that are use to make the album showcasing a band full of talent.

From the haunting Ambient Doom crush and guttural vocals of the sombre track named 'Perseverance' to the more up-tempo and nasty Viking styled riffing of 'Glacial Movements' The Living Fields show that you can combine acrid heaviness, masterful artistry and lilting and cruelly haunting anger into one... and come out with an album that is hard to define and yet intrigues. Musicians will love the album, while listeners will warm to it.

The album will never appeal to all, but it will make some rethink what Doom Metal really is and perhaps expand it. The band may sound like a odd bastardized collaboration of such bands like My Dying Bride, Cradle Of Filth melding their sounds with shadings of Cirith Ungol and Therion but the originality that The Living Fields have certainly makes them the perfect term of ‘unique’.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:9.5
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8
Originality: 9
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.8 out of 10