They said metal is one foot in the grave. They were saying this 20, 10 years ago. Can't agree with all this apocalyptic twaddle when year after year albums of brilliance continue to emerge. It's just nowadays there's too much music and one needs time and effort to dig up items of value. It's not a dying, rotting genre, even more - a number of bands thought to be long gone came back in recent years. There's Agalloch reunion, 2 new albums by resurrected Austere (their last one bearing the same influences as CH), and then there's Counting hours delivering with such conviction as if the 90's melodoom never went to slumber. It's all a feast for the ears, truly. 'The wishing tomb' is a blast, a bang, almost showing off with its expressiveness. The lyrics paint their downbeat pictures, but the music itself has plenty of bright moments and is hella catchy. “Cathartic” is a good word to describe the album's high points, with 'Timeless ones' being the most prominent example. Another word is “otherworldly”, with melodies leaning more into cosmic imagery. There's less Rapturesque bleakness in the new material, it gained more urgency and punch, and it's good that Counting hours evolved to gain more individuality. The torch that has been successfully passed now burns even brighter. The album is vividly imaginative, but it's firmly kept from running wild, tempered by the collective experience of the scene veterans who know their craft inside and out. Time is an unrelenting force, it grinds you down until one day you don't have the strength to lift your head off the bed anymore, both figuratively and literally. And yet you compose with such inspirited drive as if defiantly mocking Time's clumsy attempts at bringing you to the natural order of things, which is lethargy, exhaustion and, in the end, creative death. Echoing this, Time's force is defeated (or circumvented) in the lyrical themes. The sharp freshness of the album's songs seeps into me and invigorates. It’s an odd way to feel for a doom-and-gloom fan after listening to a thematic record, but this is what 'The wishing tomb' brings to the table. Though the riffage is clearly distinct from, say, the first Rapture album, it still has the same entrancing effect. More so, in Counting hours the strings take on almost a living quality, as if they sing with the vocals, together painting the song-scapes. Also a shout-out to the singer. One of my fave growls on the metal scene, articulate and textured. I feel like Ilpo has the ability to be devastatingly fierce, but in this band his growling has that restrained quality as not to overwhelm the delicate structure of some songs, which is hard to accomplish when you're essentially roaring. And his cleans have the power to put the listener's soul into whatever emotional state he wants to invoke. What a versatile talent. From the praising chorus of reviews and fan comments it's clear plenty of people are hungry for this specific sound and the emotions it transmits, that it isn't an outdated relic of the past, irrelevant in the present. And hardly anyone can do this substyle as impressive as what Counting hours made of it. After 'The will' came out I was afraid it ends up being a one-time thing, but time proved me wrong. I hope the bright present that the band is having right now will carry them to an equally bright future. This is a *thank you* that ended up a bit long-winded. The thing is, because of my country's politics I can't purchase this album (*maybe* Solitude prod. will get the CDs in stock, eventually). And if words are all I can offer in exchange for this audial jewel, then these words shall suffice. *** 4 months later I received a letter that Solitude did get the album in stock. Checked the site again on the next day and the shipment was already bought out. Sold like hot cakes. Bravo! This just shows how much of a hit the guys have created.
Some random click on TH-cam really haunts your thoughts so significantly and deeply. Thank you Counting hours for this great journey of melancholy and meaningless of mankind and some secrets of unborn talks in dark lonely night 🖤
I've been waiting for this album thanks for not disappointing me y'all are always the best🖤 I love Counting Hours so much, i hope i get the opportunity to see you live one day...
Oh my god, i just realized there is a new album after "The Wish". You guys did it AGAIN. There are no words to explain how it feels to listen to this. Amazing album.
![The Vision Bleak - Weird Tales [Full Album Player]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/jfzulgI8ly0/mqdefault.jpg)
They said metal is one foot in the grave. They were saying this 20, 10 years ago. Can't agree with all this apocalyptic twaddle when year after year albums of brilliance continue to emerge. It's just nowadays there's too much music and one needs time and effort to dig up items of value. It's not a dying, rotting genre, even more - a number of bands thought to be long gone came back in recent years. There's Agalloch reunion, 2 new albums by resurrected Austere (their last one bearing the same influences as CH), and then there's Counting hours delivering with such conviction as if the 90's melodoom never went to slumber. It's all a feast for the ears, truly.
'The wishing tomb' is a blast, a bang, almost showing off with its expressiveness. The lyrics paint their downbeat pictures, but the music itself has plenty of bright moments and is hella catchy. “Cathartic” is a good word to describe the album's high points, with 'Timeless ones' being the most prominent example. Another word is “otherworldly”, with melodies leaning more into cosmic imagery. There's less Rapturesque bleakness in the new material, it gained more urgency and punch, and it's good that Counting hours evolved to gain more individuality. The torch that has been successfully passed now burns even brighter. The album is vividly imaginative, but it's firmly kept from running wild, tempered by the collective experience of the scene veterans who know their craft inside and out.
Time is an unrelenting force, it grinds you down until one day you don't have the strength to lift your head off the bed anymore, both figuratively and literally. And yet you compose with such inspirited drive as if defiantly mocking Time's clumsy attempts at bringing you to the natural order of things, which is lethargy, exhaustion and, in the end, creative death. Echoing this, Time's force is defeated (or circumvented) in the lyrical themes. The sharp freshness of the album's songs seeps into me and invigorates. It’s an odd way to feel for a doom-and-gloom fan after listening to a thematic record, but this is what 'The wishing tomb' brings to the table. Though the riffage is clearly distinct from, say, the first Rapture album, it still has the same entrancing effect. More so, in Counting hours the strings take on almost a living quality, as if they sing with the vocals, together painting the song-scapes.
Also a shout-out to the singer. One of my fave growls on the metal scene, articulate and textured. I feel like Ilpo has the ability to be devastatingly fierce, but in this band his growling has that restrained quality as not to overwhelm the delicate structure of some songs, which is hard to accomplish when you're essentially roaring. And his cleans have the power to put the listener's soul into whatever emotional state he wants to invoke. What a versatile talent.
From the praising chorus of reviews and fan comments it's clear plenty of people are hungry for this specific sound and the emotions it transmits, that it isn't an outdated relic of the past, irrelevant in the present. And hardly anyone can do this substyle as impressive as what Counting hours made of it. After 'The will' came out I was afraid it ends up being a one-time thing, but time proved me wrong. I hope the bright present that the band is having right now will carry them to an equally bright future.
This is a *thank you* that ended up a bit long-winded. The thing is, because of my country's politics I can't purchase this album (*maybe* Solitude prod. will get the CDs in stock, eventually). And if words are all I can offer in exchange for this audial jewel, then these words shall suffice.
***
4 months later I received a letter that Solitude did get the album in stock. Checked the site again on the next day and the shipment was already bought out. Sold like hot cakes. Bravo! This just shows how much of a hit the guys have created.
Best find of 2024 until now.I am so obsessed with away I flow
Unexpected beautiful surprise 🤘🤘
Better late than never! Amazing record!
Some random click on TH-cam really haunts your thoughts so significantly and deeply. Thank you Counting hours for this great journey of melancholy and meaningless of mankind and some secrets of unborn talks in dark lonely night 🖤
this album took me by surprise and I can’t get enough of it!!
Amazing! Cheers from México city.
fantastic album! love it!
Mesmerized! I swear I cried... my favorite album of the year!
This is what my soul needs, thank you!
Swedish melo death, 90s. You sound like, very 👍 very entertaining and enjoyably while the vocals im lovingly
Oh yes, had alot of inspiration from ’90s stylish playing and atmosphere!
I've been waiting for this album thanks for not disappointing me y'all are always the best🖤
I love Counting Hours so much, i hope i get the opportunity to see you live one day...
Fantastic record guys, hope to see you live again soon
There will be 2 shows here in Finland this year for now. We’ll confirm these hopefully next week.
I hear influences from early Katatonia and Finnish Rapture. And this is very welcome thing! ❤
Nailed it right 👌🏻
Yes definitely Katatonia! Sounds great, love this album!
Spectacular album, wonderful voice
This is a gem, thanks counting hours. :)
Read the review on Angrymetalguy earlier today, and had to hear this.
Making my Rough Day better :)
Great songs all is AWESOME!!! GREETS FROM MEXICO!!!!
Great album. 🔥
great
My Album of the Month! ❤
Simplemente impresionante, de seguro de los mejores discos del 2024. Es una banda que merece màs reconocimiento.
Qell done guys, a magical second album.
Oh my god, i just realized there is a new album after "The Wish". You guys did it AGAIN. There are no words to explain how it feels to listen to this. Amazing album.
Masterpiece
yooooi
th-cam.com/video/nkn6NpcZZP4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=sPQscOIKE37QIe-f
Yesss🤘🏻
This is pretty good stuff.
Epic 🖤🖤🖤
Yeah ❤
Muito bom!
Killer album! Reminds me the band Paradise Lost at its best moments..
Im hearing Katatonia or something that way! This is one of my favourite albums from 2024!
🤘🏼
Oh my.
💥🤘💥🤘💥🤘
🤘💕
❤👍🤘
🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤🤘🤘🤘🤘
👍
Reminds me a little bit of Rapture.
🖤
🤘🤘🤘