Published: November 2014

Massive release from the camp of “Hypnotic Dirge Records”. I was a little surprised, but it turned out that Stroszek is a calm acoustic solo project of Claudio Alcara, guitarist of Italian Black Metal band Frostmoon Eclipse. It seems like the heart and soul of an angry Black Metal-head shows itself from a completely different perspective.

Despite “Wild Years of Remorse and Failures” being a compilation album, I now hear this project for the first time, so I’d like to mention that there are a few sold-out albums, one mini-CD and a few new tracks included here. To those who, like me, hear Stroszek for the first time, in short: these are acoustic compositions interweaving Darkwave, Neo-Folk and Acoustic Rock genres. Though the acoustic instruments are dominant, sometimes fused guitars are also heard. In general, to me it sounds like a mix between Anathema, Of the Wand and the Moon, early Flowing Tears and Withered Flowers and Empyrium. There’s no Metal in the music, but general atmosphere, the Neo-Folk foundation certainly bears resemblance to these bands. The whispering vocals remind me of the magic of Empyrium. However, while I can compare it to many bands I like, of all 26 songs on this CD I found only two that leave some impression and that I remember after listening. Yes, the discs (it’s a double CD release) are pleasant to listen to, but they lack some amazing impressions. Calm, slow songs, built on acoustic guitar, wouldn’t be fit to sing by a campfire or with friends. However, on a calm and quiet evening while enjoying solitude they would probably make quite good company.