Gaoth Anair - Gatherings In the Dark (2004/2012)

New Zealand. Yes, this is one of those reviews where I start it out by cycling my mind around bands I recall being from New Zealand, which is exactly where Sean O'Kane Connolly the mastermind of Gaoth Anair hails from. The cycling continues... and... and... wait, isn't Exiled from Light from New Zealand?

No bother, what's important here is that the kiwi bird is from New Zealand and I can tell you first hand that the kiwi bird is paramount to my childhood. Anyone remember that old arcade game, Kiwi Kraze AKA The NewZealand Story! Yes, the 80's were a strange time to be a kid, especially if you were like me and spending countless hours (and quarters) at the local arcade guiding a kiwi named Tiki through various levels of mazes and mayhem while trying to save my fellow kiwi chick friends and kiwi lover Phee Phee from a ginormous blue seal named, Wally!

... anyway.

As previously mentioned this is the solo project of Sean's, which originally saw release back in '04 through SneeuwStorm Produkties (wah?), which was also around the time the band either folded or went on hiatus. Nearly a decade later the album sees a re-birth through the rather new label, Swampkult Productions - with an alternative cover, re-mastering and I'm assuming a sign that the band is undoubtedly active again. However, before new recordings take shape, let us catch up with the past.

On 'Gatherings In the Dark' Sean takes the listener on an interesting journey through both highly melodious ambient parts intermingled with utterly raw lo-fi black metal compositions. As soon as I heard the synth opening to 'Awoke By the Bloodstone Gate' I couldn't help by ponder the possibilities that I'd heard something similar and when poking my nose around a bit I found that Sean is also responsible for the band Taur Nu Fuin, which... wow, I must have heard at least a decade or more ago through some site like mp3.com... I'd sure like to hear that stuff again.

That aside, the main portion of this album is raw black metal, which is under produced, basically 90's demo-ish in style with something of a vintage Graveland vibe to it, but its not without its charm. The songs often have the melodic synths running alongside, and as expected they tend to carry various sentiments with them ranging from the more haunting Emperor-ish passages to more ethereal and sometimes quite beautiful or melancholy parts. Sean's guitar is sometimes buried beneath his Rob Darken-ish snarls, cymbal crashes, snare hits and the already mentioned synths, though occasionally the guitar does have its moments of brilliance; sometimes appearing by themselves or sneaking out for interesting leads (Fifth Plague & Scratching Over the Face of Black Angel really stand out) or even a good solo, such as the one found in, 'Assault Chariot of Scythes.'

Essentially where the album may fall short for some is the simple fact that the music is abysmally under produced, quiet in its overall volume and rather long at fifty six minutes. However, if you have an affinity for Graveland's earliest output, as that seems to be one of the bigger influences, then I'm quite sure you'll enjoy, 'Gatherings In the Dark.' I can admit though, its not an immediate album and it wont click at first, but a few listens coupled with the right mood and the whole thing really seemed to come together for me.

Now, its time to get the NES emulator out, start the album over and kick the crap out of Wally and save my chicks!