The Arcane Insignia – A Violent Whisper (Album Review)

A journey of 20 years finally reached its logical finale.

The progressive, acoustic rock duo the Arcane Insignia, has finally showcased and presented their long-awaited album, A Violent Whisper, which was this close to not even seeing the light. The record is fully led by the multi-instrumentalist Lodrö Nyima and cellist Noah Heau, which combines profoundness and honesty.

The record mixes deep, personal reflections on Lodrö’s 20-year musical journey as a tribute to his late partner, Cynthia. Spanning 10 tracks, the album is equally divided into two halves, whereas one finds itself in a ‘violent’ place and another takes a ‘whisper’ approach. Over the years, the album has undergone several major changes and transformations, evolving from a metal project to hardcore to now combining a genre-breaking musical execution. The reasons this record has finally seen the light are the dramatic moments in Lodrö’s life.

Due to the passing of a partner, the artist finally found the strength and motivation to finish the record. As the artist himself highlights: “Her passing gave me the motivation to bring this vision to its fullest form. It stands both as a dedication to her and a reflection of my legacy as a musician over the past two decades”.

After such a descriptive background, and with no understatement, a tragic event in one’s life, a Violent Whisper is a combination of potent sounds that infuse the silence, and declare one’s presence. 
From the first full listen, I have clearly seen that the album follows a logical step in its progression, sonically fixating on the different aspects of music. Particularly, after the “Pyramid Eyes” album deviates in what seems to be the second part titled “Whisper,” which was followed by “Violence”. While the names are quite accurate in the atmosphere the album evokes, let’s dive deeper into the record part by part.

The album’s first part combines strong elements of metal and alternative rock, giving it an extremely Nordic feel. A slow build in the songs eventually envelops you with haunting violins, creating an immersive and cold experience. The orchestrated significance that is so bright with sporadic bursts of raw energy on tracks like “Vagrant’s Throne” truly captures the feeling of aggression.

Instrumental parts that feel grandiose and monumental bring a significant and melancholic touch to the first part of the tracklist. It is purposeful and intentionally punchy to its core. The way the artist flows between instrumental and emotional value, he executes on the song, truly gives you an unpolished and raw vibe. I can’t even explain how the imperfections from the artist himself in the vocals, combined with so metronomically calculated instrumentals, work so well. However, those touches truly deliver unfiltered sincerity.

It feels berserk. It feels bizarre. Most importantly, it feels revengeful and gritty. Such roughness is produced by the heavy instrumental switch the narrative to an extremely contemplative and thunderous atmosphere. The energized and rapid vocals on the track, like “The Violence Within,” pick up even more when the violins come into play. Overall, the first half feels untamed with uncontrollable violence that feels so powerful and sincere.

But it is the track, “Humo de Vela,” that continues this mysterious Scandinavian tone, but introduces more of the acoustic and classical musical influence. Interestingly, this track was actually composed in 2003 during the album’s various transformations.

In the second part, the emotional side of the artist is bolstered not by rage, but by guilt, melancholy. The chords on the guitars sound as if they are looking for redemption, enhancing the emotional impact of the record. In a similar way to the first part of the record, it follows a slightly nonlinear arrangement. You can’t surely declare where the album is going to go, or what turn it is going to take. However, the only thing you are certain of is that it is going to be authentic.

The dark feelings on those vivid sounds mixed with poetry truly highlights the strengths of this record, overshadowing some of its weaknesses, like an over 1-hour run-time. If in the first disc, The Arcane Insignia was to create fire, rapid and to an extent wild flows in the second, the whispers and maturity come.

The artist perfectly maintains tension from the first second and sustains it throughout the tracks. Whether it is the soft start like in “En Tinta y Sangre ( Líadan), or the heavy and direct “Pyramid Eyes,” in either way, the dynamic and spaciousness of the record is noticeable.

While for me, some of the tracks like “Windmills” or “Humo de Vela” are the clear highlights, and some of the tracks out of the tracklist don’t feel on the same level, the quality is undeniable. Every single instrument is responsible for intention and a particular instrument. It feels potent and definitely cathartic.

The length of the record is also quite a strong thing that hinders the overall emotional outburst. It feels as if the record could have been stronger if it had been shortened, as some of the narrative and tones seem to recur.

Score/Good: Despite those moments of critique and some lowlights, the way this album creates a tension and holds it throughout with a pacing really demonstrates musical experience. It is wailing, loud, and it is direct. This record is here, and right to your face, while being sincere and raw.

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