Empyrium Weiland [Digipack CD]

The crown jewel… “Weiland”, the majestic fourth full-length album by German duo Empyrium, stands as the definitive culmination of the transformation initiated on their previous work and, without a doubt, one of the finest romantic dark folk albums ever recorded, immersing the listener fully into a purely acoustic universe, deeply introspective and steeped in naturalistic mysticism, a work conceived almost as a conceptual piece, divided into three chapters, Heidestimmung, Waldpoesie and Wassergeister, which reinforce its narrative and evocative character.

Far removed from the transition still perceptible on “Where at Night the Wood Grouse Plays”, the duo here develops a language fully rooted in neofolk, supported by acoustic guitars, piano and a rich instrumentation that includes strings, flutes and orchestral arrangements, shaping an organic, slow-paced and deeply emotional sound. With lyrics entirely in German and an atmosphere that moves between the pastoral and the melancholic, “Weiland” stands as a mature and cohesive work, the perfect closing chapter to one of the most singular periods within the European dark folk landscape.