Through Shaded Woods by Lunatic Soul

Through Shaded Woods (2020) is the seventh studio album by Lunatic Soul.

Until recently, Mariusz Duda was the frontman of Riverside, before announcing his retirement from the band. This album marks a major change, with a darker folk-progressive, inspired by Scandinavian and Slavic musical traditions. Compared to previous works, it is brighter and more acoustic. It is also the first record on which Duda personally plays all the instruments. The album explores themes such as healing and overcoming pain, and is a milestone in the "Circle of Life and Death".

The saga "The Circle of Life and Death" represents the great project that unites the entire production of Lunatic Soul, a unique story, developed over about 17 years, which tells the path of a solitary individual between the earthly world and the otherworldly. Duda connects each album to a color (black/white for death, blue/red for life). For the last episode he opted for yellow, representing total light, but reinterpreted in the darkness of the eclipse (Unsun). The Logo is the snake biting its tail (ouroboros), which appears complete in the "Death" records and broken in the "Life" records, indicating the precariousness of existence. This saga is often considered a form of personal therapy for Duda, a method to transform pain and depression into a purifying work of art.

Through Shaded Woods represents the ascent from depression and post-mortem limbo, symbolized by the "shady forest", a metaphor for the darkest corners of the mind. Unlike previous works, where the protagonist was trapped in pain, here he faces and overcomes his demons and traumas, coming out transformed. The concept is linked to Wild Nature, with Mariusz Duda abandoning electronics for sounds that recall Slavic and Scandinavian folklore, where nature is a healing and shamanic force. Unlike the static atmospheres of the past, the album is full of movement, with songs that, thanks to pressing rhythms, symbolize the will to live. The "dance" represents the final act of rebellion against darkness: the protagonist no longer flees, but celebrates victory. The album marks a break with Lunatic Soul's "synthetic" past, embracing a "Dark Folk" style.

A sonic difference is clearly perceived. Previous records were full of synthesizers and electronic loops, while here everything is played with real instruments. This is a completely acoustic and "radical" album. Duda played every single instrument, eliminating the digital coldness to achieve a sound that seems to come straight from nature. The album is heavily influenced by Eastern European folklore and Northern rhythms. Acoustic guitars are used percussively, creating a dense and hypnotic soundscape. The style is characterized by tribal percussion and pressing rhythms. Instead of the classic "verse-chorus" structure, many tracks are based on the obsessive repetition of patterns that bring the listener into an almost shamanic trance state. It is a music that invites movement, unlike the melancholic static of the previous chapters.

The Small Bass is often used with distortion to sound like an electric guitar, powering riffs without using traditional electric instruments. Acoustic Guitars are layered to create walls of sound. Percussion, including drums, woodwinds, and natural sounds, give a sense of "rituality."

My version is the KSCOPE1042.

 
The album opens with a ritual and dark folk-ambient piece, "Navvie" which serves as a powerful introduction and sets the pagan tone of the entire work. The hypnotic atmosphere with tribal percussion and a gloomy sound setting. Shamanic atmospheres and a deep bassline complete the picture.

"The Passage" is a dynamic folk-progressive track, with metal influences, it stands out for its complex structure and length. It starts with hypnotic acoustic guitars, and then opens up to heavier rhythms, in the style of Riverside. The alternation between acoustic delicacy and intense electric guitar riffs creates a very evocative atmosphere.

"Through Shaded Woods", the title track, is an example of celtic-dark folk rock, offering dark folk melodies accompanied by a tribal dance rhythm, while maintaining a subtle underlying melancholy. The Celtic inspiration is evident, as is the hypnotic groove and creative use of keyboards.

"Oblivion" is a song defined by Duda as an invitation to shamanic dance, a "danceable" tribal/folk dance. Although perhaps the most accessible song on the album, it maintains a dark atmosphere, characterized by a pressing rhythm. The use of the zither, enveloping synths and hand percussion contribute to creating a hypnotic atmosphere.

"Summoning Dance" is a long progressive/folk ballad with an emotional crescendo and highlights Duda's melodic voice. It evokes rural and mystical atmospheres, thanks to the vocal harmonies and the main vocal melody.

"The Fountain" is the closing track, a romantic ballad with prog/psychedelic influences, offering a more intimate and calm touch, with clear references to Pink Floyd. The excellent use of the piano and the romantic orchestration close the journey through the woods in a delicate and evocative way.

Beautiful album, in my opinion surpassed only by the next one. Excellent, to have in your collection.

My Version

Label: Kscope – kscope1042
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Europe
Release date: Nov 13, 2020

Tracklist

A1        Navvie    4:03
A2        The Passage    8:57
A3        Through Shaded Woods    5:51
B1        Oblivion    5:03
B2        Summoning Dance    9:52
B3        The Fountain    6:04

LineUp

Concept By, Producer, Composed By, Performer, Lyrics By – Mariusz Duda

Listening link on the main streaming platforms at the following links:

Spotify: The full album with the bonus tracks (Vyraj, Hylophobia, Transition II) is available on the official Lunatic Soul page.

Bandcamp: You can listen to and buy the album in high quality on Kscope's Bandcamp profile.

YouTube: The entire album is uploaded as  a single video with tracklist or via the official playlist of the Lunatic Soul - Topic channel.

Note: All links to the musicians’ works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists"