DVAR - Fayah!

Hailing from Russia with both feet into the occult Dvar is one of the most interesting and peculiar bands you will meet in a long while. Claiming to not even make the music themselves and being the mere channelers of a creature called Dvar, they sing all their lyrics in the angelic spirit language called Enochian.

The music on this record is what has been described by some as Lightwave, and it surely isn't Darkwave like some of the former albums. I guess the creature Dvar has changed its mood.

One of the most fascinating things about Dvar is the vocals. They would best be likened to ravens shrieking or some creature from another dimension. No matter what they are they are well done and fit the music perfectly.

The melodies are happy, strange and delightfully different. Production on the record is great and there are definitely great musicians behind this project. Their identities they have kept hidden to add to the mystery around the band, which in turn has led to many absurd rumours ranging from them being the secret side-project of Michael Jackson to being mental patients allowed to record music inside their institution. If these are mental patients they have some very talented musicians helping them - that much I do know.

While I must admit that after doing some research and listening to older songs of the band, I find the new Lightwave tendency to be less interesting than the dark twisted old style, there are some really good songs on this album too. If you like this brighter, happier sound, combined with the highly peculiar vocals, this album will delight you.

Should the band be compared to any other, which is a very difficult task, Sopor Aeternus is one of the few that comes to mind. The vocals of both bands have the same difficulty of definition, and both are equally unique and in some ways similar. Both bands have also utilized a medieval sound which is prominent on this album.

If you hear this album first and then write it off as being too bright and Lightwave, I recommend you first listen to albums such as 'Piirrah' before you make up your mind - that is where I feel that band's best work comes out and it is oozing with the occult and deep dark Russian forests. Jun 16 2011