FURTHEST SHORE

The furthest shore... That is what Captain James Cook called the Australia he discovered. That is what Ursula Le Guin titled the final novel in her Earthsea saga. "The furthest shore" — the outermost point, the limit, ultima thule... In musical terms, FURTHEST SHORE is a unique Finnish collective whose ranks have at various times included many of today's scene stars: Tuomas Holopainen (NIGHTWISH), Tapio Wilska (FINNTROLL), and Teemu Kautonen (DARKWOODS MY BETROTHED). That said, FURTHEST SHORE can hardly be called a band in the full sense of the word — it is, for the most part, a virtual project confined within studio walls. As stated in the booklet: "An epic canvas dedicated to the genius of Quorthon and BATHORY." And indeed, the "chronicles" captured on this CD gleam here and there with patches cut, as if from old garments, from the Scandinavian grandeur of "Hammerheart," "Twilight Of The Gods," and other works by the founding father of Viking metal. At the same time, the keyboard parts stubbornly steer the "starry" drakkar toward a folk harbor, from whose slipways the proud FALKENBACH once launched. Unfortunately, this self-proclaimed "epic canvas" does not exactly shine with variety, though there are some rather interesting moves — take, for example, the chorus in "The Seven Arrive." The Finns did not treat us to a thick booklet either — just two pages adorned with elaborate Viking ornamentation: hooks, dragons, and assorted curlicues. The lyrics, alas, were left overboard. A pity, since judging by the title, the album is a concept work...