Athenaeum Of Sin Reviews

A UK-based Black Metal solo artist, released his seventh studio album, “The Skirl of the Tyne,” on August 28th, 2023. Inspired by history & folktales of the Northeast and is reminiscent of Tangerine Dream, Wodensthrone, Old Corpse Road, and Wolves in the Throne Room. The album was released under Dwarrowdelf Records.

The First Three Sins of The Skirl of the Tyne

Let’s start by discussing the first three sins of Dinenthal and his album, The Skirl of the Tyne.

The Fourth Sin: Overall Discussion: Immersing the Listener in a Visual Representation of History and Folktales

Upon pressing the play button, the listener is promptly introduced to the delightful opening track entitled A Northumbrian Skirl. The melody commences with the sweet sound of chirping birds and a pristine Scottish-folkish instrumental performance, drawing the listener in with its captivating and inviting sound.

As one continues their journey with the second piece, Deadwater Fell, and the remaining eleven pieces, “Dinenthal” takes his music to new heights and complexity with The Skirl of the Tyne. In a remarkable fusion of traditional borders music and black metal sound, “Dinenthal” contributions to the album are noteworthy. The production, sound, songwriting, composition, devilmanship, vocals, and instrumental work are all executed precisely, resulting in a rare and forbidden fruit of truly admirable art.

The album The Skirl of the Tyne has a distinguishing theme that centres on the River Tyne’s origins and path towards the sea. “The North Tyne rises from Deadwater Fell near the Scottish Border, and the South Tyne rises on Alston Moor in Cumbria. They finally merge at Warden Rock to form the River Tyne. Along the banks of this historic river whispered legends of mighty giants, witchcraft, curses, and even the mythical Wild Hunt. In more modern times, great machines burrowed deep into the ground to extract the high-grade coal to fuel great northern industry and to feed the south with winter fuel. As the years passed, the cranes fell silent on the docks, and the machines ceased digging in the dark places, but the songs and the legends live on in the poems and songs of the north” [Dinenthal]

The piece exhibits extraordinary musical proficiency, particularly in the guitar work. The use of technical skills is remarkable, with complex and innovative passages that showcase the musician’s virtuosity. The tremolo picking is skillfully executed, producing a distinctive and captivating sound that adds to the piece’s overall quality.

The riffs are clean and a forbidden fruit of art -yet haunting, while the fret-board solos are breathtaking, leaving a lasting impression on the listener.

The haunting, otherworldly quality of the ghostly shrieks in the musical piece and the precise and intricate rhythmic patterns of the drums and guitar work create a rich and immersive atmosphere that immerses the listener. Adding the keys to the composition provides an additional layer of complexity and emotional depth to each piece, adding to the overall richness of the musical experience.

What stands out is incorporating a range of instruments, adding a fresh and thrilling dimension to the composition. The Scottish and Northumbrian Small pipes, hurdy-gurdy, accordion, fiddles, and birds chirping in the background used on some tracks blend seamlessly with the guitars, resulting in a rich and intricate soundscape.

Dinenthal is an artist who creates black metal/musical art and is known for his exceptional ability to break the mould and explore new territories in his craft/music. The music results from relentless experimentation, pushing the boundaries of what is considered conventional and venturing into the unknown. Dinenthal‘s albums showcase their artistic versatility and innovation, with each track featuring a unique blend of sounds and styles that cannot be easily categorized.

Dinenthal has consistently impressed with his last two releases, but Howling Orbit Around the Sun stood out. Despite this, The Skirl of the Tyne surpasses his previous complex works, showcasing his musical prowess and pushing boundaries. The intricacy of the composition is a testament to Dinenthal‘s talent, making it a must-listen for any fan/non-fan of his work.

The album comes to an end with the last song, Threnody of Windlestone. We want to give a shoutout to Paul for letting us review his album, The Skirl of the Tyne. Now, we’re going to wrap it up by talking about the final three sins and concluding the review.

The Last Three Sins

Let’s discuss the last three sins, our thoughts on Dinenthal and his album, The Skirl of the Tyne.

The Fifth Sin, The Memorabilia: Is that for us, Dinenthal‘s style of black metal distinguishes itself from typical black metal, attracting those who may not typically enjoy the genre. His music combines atmospheric and extreme folk/Celtic influences, featuring black metal-style vocals and lyrics that draw inspiration from the myth and history of the northeast. As someone with a fiery passion for metal, I am particularly drawn to Dinenthal‘s music due to its unique blend of influences and the rich concepts it explores.

After revisiting Dinenthal‘s earlier works, such as his 2020 release The Wayfarer, The Skirl of the Tyne shows a significant improvement. With each release, ‘Paul’ is getting better and learning new things as he goes.

The Sixth Sin, The Artwork:

Accompanying the music is a vivid depiction of Tyne-Mouth Castle and Priority, showcasing the stunning architectural beauty of the castle and the priory ruins. The artwork adds to the overall musical experience by immersing the listener in the visual representation of the historical site, connecting them to the music, concept, and lyrics on a deeper level. The elegant portrayal of the castle and priory in the artwork creates a sense of awe and wonder, contributing to a more profound appreciation of the music’s historical significance.

The Seventh Sin, Disrelish:

Nothing to disrelish within the musical spectrum of Dinenthal, and his album The Skirl of the Tyne.

This concludes the Dinenthal, The Skirl of the Tyne Review.