Some time ago, I reviewed Cistvaen's first full-length album and gave it a very high 96% rating, because of its atmosphere, instrumental quality, and even a subtle catchiness. I still come back to this record quite frequently. After listening to "At Light's Demise" for another time, I wondered what Cistvaen had done before.
The style of the band is recognisable from the very beginning, as well as the atmosphere. Comparing this record to the later full-length, the atmosphere here is more mystical, maybe more referring to nature, and in "At Light's Demise" it is more depressing and introspective. There are atmospheric moments in every song, and what stands out is the bass guitar. This is quite refreshing for black metal as a whole, because there were examples when this instrument was not even included. Here, the bass guitar can be heard throughout the whole album. My personal favorite quieter moment was in "The Voice of an Old God"; it gave me goosebumps. Moments in other songs are also of good quality. The good thing was that they weren't predictable at all, which made the album gripping.
The songs don't become boring or repetitive at all, even though each one of them lasts more than 9 minutes. In the ten-and-a-half-minute-long "Waiting", the melody constantly shifts, and numerous surprises await the listener, which I won't point out, not to spoil. The only thing I can say is that there's never a dull moment. The melodies in this album are sometimes very fast, such as in the second part of "The Voice of an Old God", or sometimes slower, for instance in the middle of "Under the Silent Meadow Skies". The EP showcases entrancing, textured guitar work that perfectly complements the ethereal atmosphere. However, comparing this album to its successor, I believe it lacks the catchiness a little bit. Don't misunderstand me, all songs are good, but compared to "Cessation of Hope" or "The Epitaph" from the full-length, they don't quite reach the same level. Nevertheless, as it is Cistvaen's first release, they still deliver three well-crafted songs that many bands would be proud to include on their debut.
Guy Taylor, the vocalist (and lyricist as well), has an incredible talent for changing shrieks to growls in a very short time. This dynamic vocal approach has become something of a signature for Cistvaen, setting them apart in the atmospheric black metal scene. I must say that I enjoyed the vocal performance as much as in their full-length, because it was by no means boring to listen to them. As for drums, the last instrument I haven't written about yet, they drive the album pretty well. Ed Wilcox doesn't deliver a performance that will be written in any drummer's manual, nonetheless, the drums are quite sophisticated.
All things considered, "Under the Silent Meadow Skies" is a very good EP, but doesn't stand a chance of being better than its successor. Despite that, you can still find some awesome atmospheric moments, great bass work, and drift through these Meadow Skies, and perhaps even hear the voice of an Old God. Without waiting. /source
released October 1, 2021