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Harvist > A Gleam in the Night > Reviews
Harvist - A Gleam in the Night

HARVIST "A Gleam in the Night" - 99%

calhoun, December 9th, 2006

Beginning with a lions roar, a genuine precursor of what’s to come, Harvist’s debut cd is a truly a defining moment in black metal . One of the truly genuine moments when the American black metal scene finally divided itself from the traditional death metal influenced sounds of early seminal bands like Profanatica and progressed to the cold grim sounds of the Norwegian northland’s.
Now remixed and reissued, this underground classic finds Dusk, the Varg Vikernes of American black metal, returning and quietly improving on his late 90’s masterwork. The remix is strikingly apparent in the re-release’s vocal crispness and the power and clarity of sound. Dusk’s vocals are more savage and biting while on the original they came off as flat and buried in the mix. The drum propulsion on this cd title track is greatly increased, while the music remains dark and emotional and packed with moving ambient moments. Galloping rhythm’s meet dynamic and emotional guitar riffs creating something we call originality. Harvist sound like very few other black metal bands yet still display strong influences .This cd is filled with diversity, often repetitive yet always evocative and never boring, “A Gleam In The Night” is truly a masterwork.

A Gleam in the Night - 90%

Supernaut, August 3rd, 2006

Harvist's first full length album is a powerhouse of USBM. Raw, dark, and suicidal, the songs on Gleam represent an interesting mix of harsh Black Metal and more somber moments. Gleam is noteworthy for its raw production, a style which Dusk moved away from on his following two releases.

The title track starts the album off on an incredibly high note and is arguably the heaviest track. On Hidden Ponds represents a departure from this style, showcasing a more prodding, slow sound. Phantom Feelings represents another high point, with a very melodic opening followed by an incredibly catchy tune. Upon Brazen Wings is then the highlight of the album, opening with a peaceful piano section followed by a very complex Black Metal song which foreshadows the direction the band moved towards in later releases.

The one real complaint I have with the album is that some of the later songs tend to blend together slightly. A lot of the riffs begin to feel reused as the album goes on. This slight flaw manifests itself in the rougher parts of the album, though, and is completely absent during the more melodic sections. This shortcoming is only very minor, though, and detracts only slightly from this Black Metal masterpiece.