Well, it’s another year, and that means another rich and diverse musical offering from Norway’s GREEN CARNATION. While the last 2 albums found them moving from swelling metal epics to hook-heavy rock songs, “Acoustic Verses” looks to sweep the listener away in warm waves of acoustic melancholy. Normally, an acoustic album denotes a certain back-to-basics, stripped down approach to the tunes. But the lavish arrangements present on this disc seem to suggest their most elaborate work to date. Bandleader Tchort deserves high marks for opening up the songwriting duties to the rest of the band for these recent releases, as it seems to be pushing GREEN CARNATION to stratospheric musical heights. Tracks like “Alone” and the 15+ minute epic “9-29-045” simply soar with lush string orchestration and simple, haunting verses that suggest Waters-era FLOYD in full bloom and QUEENSRYCHE at their most serene. Kenneth Silden's stirring, elegant piano passages in "Childs Play Part 3" are some of the most enigmatic I've heard since the early 70s Wakeman material.

Sure, these guys are maybe a little too serious. I tend to crave some of the zaniness that 70s TULL or FLOYD would occasionally use to lighten things up. You won't find them goofing off and opening up shows with "Fool For Your Stockings". But serious is the way to go for many prog and metal fans these days. So if you're a fan of heavy music with substance and spectacular musicianship (and perhaps tired of the trendy female vocals or OPETH's growlies) then pick this up post haste.

- Marchman

OFFICIAL SITE: www.greencarnation.no

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