Review on doom-metal.com::
" This new one-man band hailing from Romania differs from the usual insane spirit of Black Doom in that it takes a more meditative approach. This soul is free from any torments and would rather elaborate philosophical reflections on existence than destroy it with sordid impulses. Playing Black Doom while putting aside its nasty connotations at the same time: that's the primordial originality of Avant Soliloque's self-produced first full-length.
Composed and performed solely by Cristi Lincu, 'Imagery in Ochre Lures' sets up a complex alchemy, the ingredients of which are taken
from symphonic Black Metal (in the vein of Emperor on their 'Anthems…' and 'Prometheus…' masterpieces) and melodic
Doom Metal (in particular, the use of violin reminds me of the first era of My Dying Bride). The result sounds quite weird, personal and far from a simple Black on Doom copy/paste (or Doom on Black, as you like). What holds the whole process together are the omnipresent neoclassical orchestrations. I have mentioned Emperor; I can also mention Thou Shalt Suffer, with its neoclassical opus 'Somnium', as Cristi Lincu seems to share the same taste for baroque music as Ihsahn. This is particularly obvious on the long central interlude 'Eidetic', very inspired by Bach and his Sonatas for Piano and Violin. Among other instruments, theorbo and viola da gamba highlight the music, especially on the overture 'Abydos' and on the track 'The Moon Amidst Megaliths'. This brings sense, and a real conceptual consistency to the songwriting.
Each of the eight tracks shows quite a complex structure, with many contrasts and counterpoints, puzzling the listener's mind but without losing him in an inextricable web. Some recurrent themes provide strong landmarks during the inner trip. Sometimes rallentando and sometimes accelerando, harmonic scales explore the history of humanity, its achievements as well as its doubts, and goes back to the roots of Creation, represented by natural samples in "An Atom of this Adornment". They paint some strange chromatic figures gathered in variable geometries which evoke past and future, the vastness of the universe and the smallness of the atom. The rich instrumentation makes you completely forget there are no vocal parts. Indeed, Avant Soliloque is a totally instrumental project; neither vocals nor lyrics come to disturb the abstract tapestry elaborated by Lincu"
(
doom-metal.com/reviews.php?album=2397)
released January 14, 2013
Total running time 49:32
All music by Cristian L.
Cover art by L.L. (oil on canvas)