Just like on their previous album 'Age of Darkness' (2005), Spain's Mistweaver bravely mix various genres of metal music together. Therefore, they aren't for everybody. Many find them too broad-minded, or then ignoble for a particular genre. If you're constricted in your musical tastes, Mistweaver might offer simply too much. But when they offer dark, raw stuff alongside beautiful and melodic stuff, it is even tougher for some to get.
'Tales from the Grave' surprises with its melodiousness. This time around the band have, or rather guitarist/vocalist Raúl "Weaver" Puente Tobalina has, taken a lot of influences from power metal. However, the power metal influence is still dark, not jolly. Extreme metal styles, such as death metal, black metal and thrash metal, play a big part in the band's sonic landscapes. Another style is folk metal, which is heard on 'Another Endless Night'. There is no song with one special style only, but every song is more like a mishmash of many, many things. The general problem is easy to point out: While there are a lot of great bits, there is a lot of crap in the songs. Maybe Raúl "Weaver" should've let other guys to interfere with his compositions. This battle between good bits and bad bits goes on throughout the whole album, in every single song. Add loud, oversized synths, and so overflowing cannot be controlled any more. It's just too big sometimes. Surely, there's a lot to be found in the songs and the album itself, but it needs many spins. But I believe 'Tales from the Grave' also award a listener if given time. However, it would have been far more accessible, if worse parts were cut off, and the album lasted for 45 minutes or so.
The album was recorded by Andy LaRocque at his Sonic Train Studios in Sweden. The methods vary, depending of a style or atmosphere of a song. The production is surely filled, but also breathes. But those oversized synths, which at times sound a tad too toy-ish, too... They just steal too much of attention. The album's atmospheric cover painting is another goodie from Michael Schindler of Dragon Design.
If you're keen of hearing something like a mixture between Cradle Of Filth, Witchery and Moonspell, 'Tales from the Grave' could be a tasty platter for you. But beware of pompous songs.
Rating: 6½ (out of 10) ratings explained
Reviewed by Lane
06/21/2010 20:41