AETHER REALM · Tarot | CREAMY WHITE 2LP

Creamy white double vinyl in gatefold cover.

Background information about 'Tarot'

There are albums that simply refuse to be ignored, and Tarot by Aether Realm is exactly that kind of beast. The North Carolina quartet's 2017 sophomore effort remains the record that catapulted these melodic death metal heroes into the metalverse, and this expanded edition only strengthens its claim. Clocking in at over 70 minutes across twelve tracks, the album now adds the standalone single The Magician as a bonus, making this the definitive version of an already towering work.

What makes Tarot so captivating is how effortlessly the band weaves together seemingly opposite worlds. Producer Kile Odell gave the record a massive auditory overhaul, and the results speak for themselves. The Fool opens modestly before cascading into black metal-meets-southern-fried riff fury, setting the tone for a journey that never lets up. The title track leans into the cinematic melding of symphonic elements, thrashy rhythms and mind-boggling guitar leads that fans have come to worship. King of Cups brings in Alestorm's Christopher Bowes for a folk metal anthem that's pure joy, while Death echoes with metallic balladry and The Devil drips with sinister orchestration. The nearly 20-minute closer The Sun, The Moon, The Star is a heroic finale that proves it's possible to fuse southern Americana-metal with European symphonic grandeur without breaking a sweat. This is the album every band wishes they could write by their second go-round.

For fans of:
Ensiferum, Wintersun, Amon Amarth, Kalmah, Insomnium

Other Versions

DIGIPAK CD · 12,99 €

Track listing

LP 1:
A1. The Fool
A2. Tarot
A3. The Tower
A4. King of Cups (feat. Chris Bowes)
B5. Death
B6. The Chariot
B7. The Devil

LP 2:
C8. The Emperor
C9. Strength
C10. Temperance
D11. The Sun, the Moon, the Star
D12. The Magician (Bonus Track)

Manufacturer: Napalm Records Handels GmbH, Hammerplatz 2, 8790 Eisenerz, Austria , Contact: napalmrecords.com