Hiemis – La Chose (Album – Gradual Hate Records)
Genre/Influences: Cinematic, Neo-Classic, Dark-Ambient.
Format: Digital, CD.
Background/Info: Spanish artist Juan Carlos Toledo aka Hiemis released “La Chose” nearly one year ago now. This is the second work released by Gradual Hate Records.
Content: “La Chose” (‘the thing’ in English) features 15 songs. Hiemis clearly walks on a more explicit Cinematic path than ever before. Piano and violin sounds are mainly coming through, but are mixed with darker atmospheres creating an abyssal sensation.
+ + + : “La Chose” is an interesting- and successful mix between delicate Cinematic music and a darker approach of Ambient music. There’s a perfect harmony between the different ingredients while the production has been accomplished with delicacy and subtle sound arrangements. “Knight Of The East” is a song I recommend for its strong visual appeal.
– – – : The album is missing a true climax.
Conclusion: Hiemis achieved an intimate piece of music creating an imaginary bridge between Dark-Ambient, Cinematic and Neo-Classical music.
Best songs: “Knight Of The East”, “Invisible World”, “The Magic Circle”.
Rate: 7.
Listen to “La Chose”:
Artist: www.facebook.com/hiemisband
Label: https://gh-records.com / www.facebook.com/GH-Records-Label-101239592011698
About Hiemis
Hiemis is the dark-ambient project of Spanish musician Juan Carlos Toledo, started in 2018. He previously ran the darkfolk project Silent Love Of Death, which released “The Poet’s Senses” on Palace Of Worms in 2004 and “Donde Habite El Olvido” on GH Records in 2011.
The project has alternated between two labels since its debut. Gradual Hate Records released “Nachtstücke” in 2018 and the cassette album “Thule” in 2019, while the North American label Noctivagant issued “Hyperborea” in 2019 and “Radix” in 2020.
“La Chose” appeared on Gradual Hate Records in 2021 as a limited CD accompanied by a book in Spanish and English. Noctivagant released “Zothique” later the same year, and the project continued with “Yggdrasil” (2022), “Malleus Maleficarum” (2023) and “Nephilim” (2024).
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I have been working for over 30 years with Side-line as the main reviewer. My taste is eclectic, uncoventional and I prefer to look for the pearls, even if the bands are completely unknown, thus staying loyal to the Side-Line philosophy of nurturing new talents.
