Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Green Carnation - The Quiet Offering - 2005 - The End Records

Track Listing1. The Quiet Offspring 2. Between The Gentle Small & The Standing Tall 3. Just When You Think It's Safe 4. A Place For Me 5. The Everlasting Moment 6. Purple Door, Pitch Black 7. Childsplay Part I 8. Dead but Dreaming 9. Pile Of Doubt 10. When I Was You 11. Childsplay Part II

Man, it's tough when a band releases a successful and critically acclaimed album like Green Carnation did with "Light of Day, Day of Darkness". It seems like nine times out of ten they're always compared to it with every future release. With a doomy and downbeat atmosphere with hints of progressive rock, the album is comprised of one sixty minute song, but it never tires the listener out. Without a doubt, I can honestly say that it was one of the best albums of 2001. With their next release "A Blessing In Disguise", Green Carnation has gone into a more upbeat direction, but with a more pronounced progressive flair (and very bizarre album cover for a metal band) which received varied responses from the metal world upon its release.

"The Quiet Offering" seems to follow in the same direction as the previous album with Green Carnation's own form of gloom-prog metal. Listening to this album, I'm reminded of a more progressive minded version of Sentenced with deeper vocals (and less songs about suicide!). Also, this album frequently reminds me of "Angel Rat" era Voivod, with unique heavy rock/metal guitars while throwing cool atmospheric textures that easily grabs the listener and doesn't let go.

But unlike the previous albums, "The Quiet Offering" has more of a cohesive group effort feel to it and not just one person. But still the main force behind the songwriting is founding member Tchort (Blood Red Throne, Carpathian Forest, & ex-Emperor bassist) and his ability to craft songs that seamlessly flow perfectly together. Versatility is easily one of the greatest assets on this album, as with the Voivod like charge in the song "To the Gentle Small and the Standing Tall" to an almost a cappella like beginning "A Place For Me" to the Pink Floyd inspired "When I Was You", to even the Twin Peaks sounding "Child's Play, Pt. 2" without missing a beat.

While most progressive metal singers just want to rape the singing style of Geoff Tate or James LaBrie nonstop, it makes it rather easy to notice the staggering performance by vocalist Kjetil Nordhus. It's rare these days for metal bands to have a vocalist with some actual singing chops without straining and will come across with some real personality; so listening to Nordhus' voice is a real treat to the ears. Right now, I can say he is easily becoming one of my favorite vocalists to come out in the last ten years.

While I really do say that I really do enjoy "The Quiet Offering", however it does feel like that it's just a continuation of the previous album. By no means is the material sub par, it's an excellent album across the board, but it feels like it just falls a hair short of hitting their full potential. This is a good thing, because it's great to see a band get better on every release!
7/10




--Pandemonium_55 06.20.05