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Review:
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From Macedonia, the small former Yugoslavian country
who managed to make the supposedly mighty England look like
a bunch of chumps, comes this duo comprising Zarko Atanasov
on all instruments and Marina Atanasova on folky vocals.
Zarko also has also released a couple of albums with his
other project My Darkest Time. Although described as gothic
doom, I find their music more relaxing and moody rather
than dark and depressing with a variety of tempos employed,
if Within Temptation had persevered with their ‘Enter’ sound,
then they may have made an album similar to this. There
are loads of keys and subtle symphonic sounds, lots of changes
of pace, tone and direction within each song, and it is
quite proggish at times. Marina often duets with herself
providing some unusual and sometimes atonal harmonies, and
while Zarko contributes some occasional background whispers,
this is not a growl fest unlike many Enter type albums.
Everything is well recorded and mixed and all the songs
are full of intrigue and unusual twists and turns, faves
include the title track ‘Punish and Reward’ and ‘The Seven
Trumpets’. For those of you in the northern hemisphere suffering
the onset of a punishing winter this is the perfect soundtrack,
while those basking in the sun can reward themselves with
this ideal chillout. Available for your listening pleasure
at www.wipeaway.bigcartel.com and for digital download at
http://store.undark.net/ , their Myspace is http://www.myspace.com/wipeaway
, a rewarding rather than punishing 8.25 out of 10.
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