Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays
Empyrium · 1999
32 min · 9 tracks · folk metal
A haunting blend of melancholic melodies and atmospheric soundscapes that evoke the spirit of nature and folklore.
Top tracks — play these first
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Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays — The title track encapsulates the album's essence with its lush instrumentation and evocative storytelling, setting a somber yet enchanting tone.
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Dying Brokenhearted — This track combines sorrowful melodies with poignant lyrics, vividly capturing themes of loss and longing, which resonate throughout the album.
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The Shepherd and the Maiden Ghost — This song stands out for its narrative quality, weaving a tale of love and despair that reflects the band's connection to folklore.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong compositions and cohesive themes, marking a significant evolution in Empyrium's sound within folk metal.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a lengthy title track that features layered instrumentation, gradually building from soft melodies to more intense orchestral arrangements.
- Several tracks incorporate spoken word sections interspersed with sung passages, creating a narrative flow that enhances the thematic elements.
- The final track is an extended piece that combines various motifs from earlier songs, providing a sense of closure while maintaining an atmospheric quality.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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8/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- melancholic reflections on nature
- evocative soundscapes for solitude
- haunting melodies for quiet moments
- short immersive listening experience
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat party tracks
- prefer lengthy epic compositions
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1999, Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays was Empyrium's second album, following their debut, A Wintersunset..., and marked a significant evolution in their sound. At this point, the band was solidifying its identity within the folk metal genre, intertwining classical elements with dark, romantic themes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Agalloch· Moonsorrow· Katatonia
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays 5:34
- 2 Dying Brokenhearted 5:38
- 3 The Shepherd and the Maiden Ghost 3:26
- 4 The Sad Song of the Wind 2:56
- 5 Wehmut 3:03
- 6 A Pastoral Theme 1:59
- 7 Abendrot 2:09
- 8 Many Moons Ago... 4:24
- 9 When Shadows Grow Longer 99 3:14
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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