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MDPR Clients: Moonscape - Entity, Chapter II: Echoes From A Cognitive Dystopia - Reviewed By Streetclip ! Check it out here at this link: http://streetclip.de/2020/11/29/moonscape-entity-chapter-ii-echoes-from-a-cognitive-dystopia/

The supposed one-man project MOONSCAPE has opened the next batch. After 2017 and ´Entity´, ´Entity, Chapter II: Echoes From A Cognitive Dystopia´ followed three years later. The second chapter once again has the character of a rock opera in terms of its execution and the number of guest musicians, only performed simply in progressive melodic death metal with classic heavy metal influences.

In 2020, the Norwegian Håvard Lunde will once again have the main actor of his debut look for support in all corners of his mind. The fight against the inner demons, the inner enemies and the inner voices lead him further into the darkness. While the roles in the first story were limited to the Father , the Man and the Demon , in the second chapter the Father usually only sings about the end of each piece. This time the Demon (played by singer Runar Steen Hansen (FIREFIGHT) from Norway) and the Erratic stand more than the Father (sung by Håvard Lunde himself)(represented by David Åkesson (MOONLIGHT AGONY) during the event), the Shadowself (sung by the Greek Pauli Souka from COLDBOUND), the Angel (represented by Marcela Villarroel (AURA SINIESTRA) from Chile) and the Dreamer (with the Norwegian Drake Chrisdensen (RUINS OF ELYSIUM) in his role) at the center of the action.

The project by guitarist / bassist / keyboardist Håvard Lunde does not make a comparison with EDGE OF SANITY or Dan Swanö, as the small introduction ´A Prelude To Grief´ already confirms the strongly symphonic orientation of MOONSCAPE. The lead guitar performances of the multi-instrumentalist, on the other hand, are always worth mentioning. While the Shadowself presents more of the Death Metal growler, the Demon rather shows his hoarse vocals. The Dreamer shines with clear vocals and a particularly heroic and hymn-like performance, while the Erratic gives the simple metal singer.

After the intro, three compositions over eight, ten and sixteen minutes enchant you with extensive instrumental dexterity and casual solo lead parts on the guitar. Once a saxophone sounds and later organ sounds come out of the speakers, which even drown out the keyboards. In addition to the symphonic elements, the focus is of course on Death Metal spice, a few epic and real metal parts, as well as genuine Prog Rock and Prog Metal included.

(7.5 points)

MOONSCAPE is a melodic death/progressive/power metal oriented project which was formed back in 2015 by Håvard Lunde, based in Gjøvik, Norway. Musical inspirations and influences include bands like EDGE OF SANITY, OPETH, ENTOMBED, AYREON, HELLOWEEN, YES, JETHRO TULL and many more. After many years of trying to find a proper musical direction in which he felt comfortable, he formed MOONSCAPE after rediscovering EDGE OF SANITY’s 1996 classic «Crimson» album, an album that stood out as the ultimate inspiration already in his adolescent years when he first became musically active. The idea of creating music that had low-tuned guitars with good melodies on top was an appealing one, and with added atmospheric and symphonic elements and variations in terms of texture and arrangement, he was better able to reach his goal; to create a large scale composition that his listeners would later on refer to as «a musical journey».

The debut album «Entity» was released on October 2nd 2017, and received great reviews from the underground press, including a very rare 100/100 score from the Italian webzine Insane Voices Labirynth. The album is a concept album that told the story of a protagonist who isolates himself deeper and deeper into his own mind, in an attempt to escape from the real world. He finds shelter in the dark shadows of his own mind, but as a result of his isolation soon he finds himself forced to battle a demon he thought was long forgotten…

«Entity» was released as a digital album as well on a limited jewel case CD edition, pressed in only 330 copies. The vinyl edition was released in July 2018, and was limited to 100 hand numbered copies.

Ever since the release of «Entity», Lunde kept writing a follow-up album, which was released on November 23rd 2020. «Entity, Chapter II: Echoes from a Cognitive Dystopia» continued the concept where the debut left off, and marks the conclusion of the story. Whereas «Entity» was fairly atmospheric and melodic death/prog oriented, «Chapter II» has a slightly more direct expression. Still it retains the progressive orientation, with more symphonic elements and higher in tempo and intensity, qualities that are often typical to the power metal genre.

The album was released digitally and on a limited 6 panel digipack CD, pressed in 200 copies only. A vinyl edition is scheduled for release in March 2020, also limited to 100 handnumbered copies only.

In addition to the two physical albums, Moonscape’s discography also counts two singles, an anniversary reissue (Name Your Price on BandCamp) and an EP, all released during 2020.

MOONSCAPE’s discography includes the following releases:

Entity
– full length album (October 2017)
The Throes of Desperation
– digital single (January 2020)
Entity
– digital reissue to commemorate the 5 year anniversary of MOONSCAPE’s formation (February 2020)
Here With You – acoustic single (May 2020)
Resurgence E.P.
– digital E.P. released as a teaser to the new album, including two cover songs (September 2020)
Entity, Chapter II: Echoes from a Cognitive Dystopia
– full length album (November 2020)

All of MOONSCAPE’s releases are available on all major streaming services, and physical products can be purchased at moonscape.bandcamp.com.

MOONSCAPE’s music is solely written, composed, arranged, recorded and produced by Lunde himself, but features a rich variety of guests on both vocals and lead instruments. Lunde Plays bass, lead and rhythm guitars, keyboards, programming and lead and backing vocals.

GUEST PERFORMANCES:

Entity:
Jim Brunaud (The Gaemeth Project) – lead vocals
Matthew Brown (Arkhane) – lead vocals
Kent Are Sommerseth (ex- Unspoken, Varulv) – lead vocals
David Russell – piano
Leviathan (ex- Unspoken, Abyss Below, Kvesta) – lead guitars
Andreas Jonsson (ex- Spiral Architect) – lead guitars
Diego Palma (Lord Divine) – keyboards
Simen Ådnøy Ellingsen (Shamblemaths) – Acoustic and clean lead guitars
Jon Hunt – keyboards
John Kiernan – lead guitars
Alex Campbell (Seek Irony) – lead guitars
Noah Watts - lead guitars
Sean Winter – tenor saxophone
Justin Hombach (AeoS) – lead guitars

Entity, Chapter II: Echoes from a Cognitive Dystopia:
Pauli Souka (Coldbound) – lead vocals
Runar Steen Hansen (Firefight) – lead vocals
Drake Chrisdensen (Ruins of Elysium) – lead and backing vocals
David Åkesson (Qantice, Vivaldi Metal Project etc) – lead and backing vocals
Marcela Villarroel – lead vocals
Andreas Jonsson (ex- Spiral Architect) – lead guitars
Cezar Popescu (Days of Confusion) – lead guitars
Bret Barnes – saxophone
Linus Abrahamson (Guthrie Govan, PelleK, Andromeda, The Codex etc) – lead guitars
Aaron Minich (Nekrogoblikon) – keyboards
Eirik Dischler (Shamblemaths session member) – organ
Alexandra Laya (Qantice) – violin
David Russell – piano
Leviathan (ex- Unspoken, Abyss Below, Kvesta) – lead guitars
Rafael Agostino (Armored Dawn) – keyboards
John Kiernan – lead guitars
Mark Anthony K. (Projekt Gemineye) – lead guitars
Diego Palma (Lord Divine) – keyboards

LINKS:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2FD6PltivXbzITBq1L2MzR?si=nNiGjusZTbSk_W8SpoxD-w 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCevXN2-eQ1mVRKbwouNJZRw 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moonscapenorway/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moonscapenorway/

Merch: https://teechip.com/resurgence-entity2

BandCamp: https://moonscape.bandcamp.com/