Meadows End are in their 21st year as a band, that’s a really long time but it does seem they’ve never managed to become a name many knows apart from the diehard melodic death metal fans. One reason for that might be that The Grand Antiquation is only their fourth full-length during all this time, the full-length debut Ode to Quietus was actually released in 2010 meaning it took a long time before they actually released something. Another might be that they simply couldn’t cut it in a genre that got a fierce competition, which I think was the case on the debut. A decent debut as it was that wasn’t good enough to make any ripples on the melodeath ocean. However something happened on The Sufferwell, Meadows End got a stable line-up which has been intact ever since and the vocalist Johan Brandberg now had more experience to boot. The Sufferwell was a big step in the right direction and the band showed they are on the right path here with Sojourn being yet another good release, their best yet even. With The Grand Antiquation I have hopes we will see an even stronger Meadows End that would have made the development from decent, good to now great within a four album span.
First thing first, and I can’t stress this enough, songs in the mother tongue are so powerful! Even more so in this case as I understand the Swedish lyrics. That was something I missed on Sojourn so I’m happy they have added that again to their craft. One think that strikes me early on when listening to The Grand Antiquation. This is the type of metal that makes you happy and pumped up for the weekend ready to take over the world with those catchy riffs and epic choirs, fitting it was released on a Friday right? The symphonic elements take a bigger part on the album than it did on Sojourn, this is more on a epic scale which at times even resemblance power metal a la Blind Guardian. Before it was more adding a touch of synth and piano in the mix much like the bands with the most common influences Omnium Gatherum and Mors Principium Est do, while now I feel like they try to go more towards Fleshgod Apocalypse. Personally I think they’ve overdone it a bit with The Grand Antiquation, it’s too….grand for my taste. There is no denying that tracks like “Devilution” is incredibly catchy though but they are certainly a few steps behind Fleshgod Apocalypse in terms of both triumphant orchestra and riffs.
The differences between The Sufferwell and Sojourn did in the end lead to The Grand Antiquation which is a sort of hybrid between the two. I’m not convinced in their decision on going full symphonic here as it does overwhelm me at times. I much rather have them going in the same direction as “I Stilla Vemod Vandra” where it’s on the down low. However Meadows End keeps taking one step at the time down their road to melodeath glory. While they still have a bit to go before they reach their destination the path they walk is on the right one. Personally I enjoyed Sojourner more as a whole but they tried something different here, which in the long run might be a good choice for future releases as they find their footing on the perfect own melodeath mix. Meadows End stays the course and remains a good band that I still feel are on the brink to something greater. Who knows when, and if, they will truly unlock that potential?
Written by J.B.
Label: Black Lion Records
For fans of: Fleshgod Apocalypse and Mors Principium Est
Release date: March 8th, 2019
Favorite song: I Stilla Vemod Vandra
Score: 3/5 Good
The Metal Gamer 