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• Of Entity and Mind

• Reflection of the I

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Winds is the type of band that makes you have two very distinct feelings. The first feeling is pure joy after discovering a band of this caliber. The second feeling is anger after realizing that only a select few metal fans have even heard of this band.

Winds quietly formed in 1998. The band consist of keyboardist Andy Winter, vocalist Lars Eric Si, drummer Jan Axel von Blomberg (aka Hellhammer), and guitarist Carl August Tidemann. All of the aforementioned band members are also well know in the local Norwegian metal scene performing in bands like Arcturus, Khold and Mayhem. The band released their debut EP, Of Entity and Mind, in 2001. That EP now appears in it’s entirety on the US release of Reflections of the I.

To describe Winds’ sound accurately would be difficult. First off they are very melodic. Hellhammer's drumming is very tasteful and for the most part, rather slow and subdued. Eloquent keyboards and graceful violins adore the album to give it a very classical, semi progressive feel. The vocals take a soft, dark, almost spoken word approach instead of a high, raspy scream or a guttural growl. But for a guitar player like myself, the albums shining point is it’s incredible guitar work. Tidemann’s guitar playing is pretty much all over the map. The guitars swirling arpeggios and sweep picking add beautiful, flowing movement to each song. “Passion’s Quest” features a middle section with Tidemann doing an amazing harmonized guitar run that sounds like something Yngwie J. Malmsteen might do. One of my personal favorite tracks is “Inception Perspective” from the Of Entity and Mind EP. It’s only a minute and a half long, but the weird sounds and the electronic vocal effect for some reason make it sound very fresh to me. Another very big plus here is the fantastic production which is powerful at times, but always clear and refined.

Overall, I’m forced to recommend this to almost anybody that appreciates tasteful, beautiful, and classy melodic metal. Easily one of best performed albums of the year in my humble opinion.

Reviewed by: Craig McCullough

Anyone who won't buy this record is simply crazy. You'll probably say "Yes, that's the usual well played and well produced record.... written just to make some money , nothing more..." well, if you think something
like this you should be reclused: "Reflections Of The I" isn't simply a good album, but a jewel, music for the soul, a journey through the dark hidden places of the human mind which will take you, through the
introspective process, to the real conscience of the I. This band is formed by musicians of a really high level: by Lars Eric Si (vocal of the Khold), by Jan Axel Von Blomberg (aka Hellhammer, someone who needs
no presentation), by Carl August Tidemann (guitarist of Arcturus and Tritonus), by Andy Winter (keyboarder who follow the most classic tradition) and by the four violinists of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. In the journey you'll start, with listening to this album, you'll find yourself on the magical paths of the spirit, on the magical plots created by guitars and violins, which lightly touch the mystical threads of your memory giving you the immortality of passion, the ones that only music can wake. Lars's performance is astonishing: he goes
from the growl death-oriented to the sensual and very delicate clean vocals, Andy creates very vibrating, dreaming and celestial atmospheres and, for the rest, it is purely art (and you could not expect anything
less than it from Hellhammer and Tidemann). No stupid virtuosi or superficial and pointless baroque; you'll find prog, classic, dark, atmospheric, shadows of a dark concept that will be transformed in a solar creature, far away from the cheapness of the human condition. 11 tracks and 39 minutes of geniality, filled up with a huge emotions, revealing themselves in the lyrics. "Realisation", "Passion's Quest" and "Remnants Of Beauty" are the masterpieces and the symbols of all I've told you , but also the other songs shine with their own light. Nothing more, just let the poetry and the art of this record talk directly to you; My words would only close a creature that wants to fly free from every constriction, as the bird flying away from the flames.

'Totally incredible'

Winds, what can I say, an incredible band. Hearing their debut EP 'Of Entity and Mind' (which is added to the end of this CD), only recently, I was truly impressed by the mixture of atmospheric instrumentation and
the incredible vocals of Lars Eric Si, while the Arcturus-like guitars by Carl August Tidemann brought strange sensations to me.

'Reflections Of The I' is truly an emotional piece of musical art, created by what has for a while now been hailed as a super band. Lars Eric Si (ex-Thorns) has a clean voice that reminds me of Mark Lanegan
(Screaming Trees), without the southern accent, instead a strong but still very personal voice. As the title suggests, Winds are very personal, I can't imagine listening to this with others, the music is a deep internal experience.

The drum work is taken care of by Hellhammer (Mayhem, Arcturus, Kovenant), but you'd hardly notice it as the band never picks up any overly incredible speed. Not that this is required as the lush piano work of Andy Winter breathes throughout the album in a living resonance, a relaxed but vibrant pace.

If you would like more technical detail on the bands sound, check out Aaron's review of the debut, because I honestly feel quite lost for words at the majesty of the styles, from strange jazzy to the incorporation of a string section, Winds set out to overwhelm and do so instantly. The music is fantastic, with the exquisite duality of 'Passions Quest' and 'Reasons Desire', to the excellent tracks of the debut, this is a worthy purchase in a world of samey sounding bands. No pretentiousness or gimmickry, just powerful classically inspired metal, with an attention to atmosphere and emotion.

Winds are so damn good that I've listened to this CD at least once a day since I got it a month ago.

The intro is very classically derived, featuring violins and pianos, then all the sudden- BOOM!!! The song bursts into this incredible double bass (so obviously Hellhammer) and low spoken word over the best riffing
I've heard in weeks. The rest of the disc has just about the same feel to it. The violin and piano are not just "session" but seem to be a new addition to the bands sound. Lars' vocals haven't changed since "Of
Entity and Mind", but have only gotten stronger.

"Of Divine Nature" is so damn perfect, these guitar solos and choppy riffs all come together so well. Definitely the best song these guys have done to date. These lyrics make your suicidal thoughts seem like a mere daydream.

The entire album carries on in this way. There is no way you can get sick of it. I hear something new each time. If you like Garm of Arcturus/Ulver, In The Woods, Opeth, or are at all a Hellhammer fan, you really do need this. (Wren)

Overall Rating: 10

Wow! Utterly stunning. In order to show how incredible I thought this album is I went to their labels website to download an mp3. (www.theendrecords.com: Go here if you wish to Download the same mp3) Well I downloaded the mp3 and two minutes into the song I couldn't take it anymore I had to have this album. So I shut down my system and went down to the music store and bought it that day. Let me tell you this is one of the most incredible album's I've ever heard. This is quite possibly going to end up being my choice for best album of 2002 because I don't see anyone coming close to topping this incredible masterpiece. This is the band that Carl August Tidemann joined after he left Arcturus, so now all the superb solos found on Arcturus can now be found here. However, he's changed his guitar tone slightly so it's a little different, but that doesn't take away from the incredible solo technique used on the album. This album has an even more classical feel to it than the newer Arcturus album, however I don't think it's as classical as Arcturus' "La Masquerade Infernal." I just wanted to point out the overall superiority of the guitar work found on this album and how
stunned I was when I heard this album.(Saingrath)

Overall Rating: 10 (This rating doesn't even begin to show how incredible the album is)

With "Reflections of the I" norwegian Winds give back to gothic and classical music all what black metal took from them in the last years. Born under the will of the keyboardist Andy Winter (that also took care of the production of the album) Winds debuted in 2000 with the Ep entitled "Of Entity and Mind" that, thanks to the class and reputation of the involved musicians and to the quality of the offered music, immediately conquered the praises of the whole critics, also the most conservative one. Very faraway from all what in the metal panorama can be considered as trendy, Winds are authors of an as sublime as solid mixture of gothic, progressive rock and classical music, where all the elements are diligently weaved so to form an untwineable light tissue, that runs sweetly and charming. From gothic Winds take that soft but thick melancholy that pervades each song in the album, perfectly represented by the warm, yearning and graceful voice by Lars Eric Si, as well as some piano scores (the previous "Of Entity and Mind" could recall sometimes the most ethereal Anathema); from prog rock they pick up the elegance of instrumental scores united to a wise and balanced use of technique, never self centered or flowing into a useless display of quickness and remarked by Tidemann's guitar; from classical music they grabbed the natural majesty of arrangement and scores, thanks to Andy's piano and expecially to the wise use of a real string section, that rumbles with magniloquence and rigor all along the CD, and that represents the widest difference between this album and the debut. All to make up a thick rich mix, never untied or artificially complicated, in which the drumming of the huge Jan Axel Von Blomberg acts as a coagulant: the songs are all rather short and easy listening seemingly, even if just a very careful approach can unveil all those hidden shades that reveal the work in all its splendour. Remarking the best episodes we don't know where to start from: from the curious dissonances of "Clarity" to the intimate softness of "Continuance" piano, from the very nice cymbals work of "Reason's Desire" to the higher guitar austerity of "Passion's Quest", from the deep and touching vocal lines of "Realization" to the light and shades effect of "Remnants of Beauty", till reaching to the instrumentals like "Premonition"...All the CD maintains the emotive tension very high without ever laying down. It can seem strange the project to be formed by big calibers of the black metal scandinavian scene: Jan Axel Von Blomberg is Hellhammer of the mythical
Mayhem, Lars Eric Si is member of Khold, Carl August Tidemann is notorious for his engagement (together with Hellhammer) in Arcturus...But if you think of the variety of solutions the black incorporated in its matrix in the last years, then you'll understand why Andy Winter could not find better cooperators for his project. Last mention for the fantastic artwork by Travis Smith, and for the deep introspective lyrics (and further common point with the black scene). To have.

Winds - 'Reflections of the I' - By M. Lynch
WOW! Amazing, yet symphonic, musical, and classical. Wicked! Ok enough of the one word answers. Most people would think Winds are a Power Metal group, but they certainly aren?t. Well they kind of are and kind of not. The voices are a little Power-Metallish, with a Gothic Metal approach. That’s the turn down of the CD. The voices. I don’t mind Power Metal voices like Iron Maiden or Judas Priest or half a million other bands that sound the same. Yet this band doesn?t do that. These guys are really slow at some points but they speed up a lot during the songs. When the vocals kick in its superbly slow - almost like a snore factor. The first time I heard this I was about ready to fall asleep but then the heavy riffs came in with awesome double bass action with a violin in the background and I was thinking 'This is kind of cool!'. I then listened to most of the CD and WOWZERS! I was amazed. Musically insane! Violins, Keyboards, Heavy Guitars, Fast paced Drumming, its like a day at the beach or something. Its quiet and very calm yet its so fast at points.

What amazes me about these guys is that they are so symphonic, and such a great amount of talent. I am not sure who they are or anything like that as I can’t find their web site anywhere on the net. Well I heard
about these guys from a friend of mine so I downloaded a few of their songs. I then went to my local Music Trader to see if they had any copies of this CD. It's that good. Just think of this. One guitar player in the background playing some pretty heavy riffs. Another guy in the back with drums who can play double bass like the best of them. You got another guy whose on keyboards going pretty fast but you don’t hear him
like you would hear the guitar players or the drumming and then you got a guy on a violin playing his heart out, then you've got one more member whose going NUTS On the guitar. This guy is going crazy with these
solos. That’s the high point if you haven’t noticed.

This CD is a CD that would either put you in a very calm mood or yet put you to sleep, but I certainly don’t, the solos will keep you awake. It's very magical, very symphonic, very memorizing, and it really makes you
think of what these guys are saying in their songs.

Metal Obsessive Grade: 100%

Winds is a Norwegian band featuring Lars Eric Si ( ex Khold , Sensa Enima ) , Carl August Tidemann ( Arcturus ) , Hellhammer ( Mayhem , Covenant ) , and Andy Winter . Reflections Of The I is the bands second release and first album proper , which features the talents of members of Oslo's Philharmonic Orchestra . Musically Winds sit somewhere in the realms of both progressive metal , darkmetal , and classical , with rocky riffs similar to both Symphony X and Covenant , backed by Andy Winter's light sprinklings of synth and some impressive emotive string sections . The music is gentle and reflective , and generally sits a
slow comfortable tempo with the exception of some faster lead sections that flow smoothly with the songs . The vocals of Lars are clean and powerful and sit in a low powermetal range full of emotion and conviction , some guest vocals are also contributed in the form of a deeper narrative voice which adds another dimension to the songs . The drumming talents of Hellhammer need no introduction , and whilst he is quite restrained on this disc , he nevertheless produces a tight flawless performance . Winds' lyrics are fairly introverted and self
exploratory , perfectly fitting the mood presented by the music and the excellent cover art . This is high calibre emotional music that any fan of either darkmetal or powermetal should explore , Winds fill another unknown void of music that needs to be further explored . Highly impressive.

Favourite Tracks - Existence , Of Divine Nature , Passion's Quest
Mark - 9/10

"Reflections Of The I"

Hailing from Norway, this four piece "dark progressive classical metal" band has created a CD which is bound to turn the heads of music lovers across the globe. Words alone cannot describe the music of Winds and a written review can do no justice as opposed to actually experiencing it for yourself. The band lineup consists of drummer Jan Axel von Blomberg (A.K.A. Hellhammer from black metal band Mayhem), progressive metal band Tritonus guitarist Carl August Tidemann, the 2000 Norwegian Grammy Award
winning vocals of Lars Eric Si, classical pianist, producer and lyricist Andy Winters and why not throw in the Oslo Philharmonic string ensemble for good measure. "Reflections of the I" is one of those CD's that gets
better and better with each listen. When I first heard it, I wasn't sure what to make of it but now I find this to be an innovative CD that is seeping with originality and mature musicianship. The production is crystal clear and the songs are well written and arranged. I am also completely amazed by the guitar skills of Carl Tidemann, he could possibly be one of the greatest classical metal guitarists of all time (yes, even greater than Yngwie!) If I had to compare this band to anyone it would be with the late great Believer (Dimensions era). Check these guys out; they are an exceptional band that is bound to make their mark in the music scene.

On April 9th, the music community is in for a rare treat. A melodious effort from the inspired band from Norway, Winds, will find its way into your local metal retail outlet for your listening enjoyment. I am
beside myself with exuberance that an act of immeasurable experience and talent has found themselves on a label that I hold near and dear to my heart - the fastidious The End Records. Not a surprise that this label
would pick up on an outfit so far ahead of its time, Winds nearly blows past us with their immeasurable skill and uncontested level of interest a listener invests in a band this compelling. Many try, but rarely is a band capable of blowing away others in the field with such a style as this band has pulled off. Winds is an obvious force (of nature) to be reckoned with. ..

Metal Bite: (Link to the review)

Album of the month!!!

"The brilliance displayed on "Reflections of the I" is quite outstanding and it is records like this that make me proud to listen to metal and wonder why on earth there is any other genres in the world..."

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 9
Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 10
Production: 10
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Album of the month on www.metalbite.com

Extract form the Metal Observer in Germany

"...we have here a flawless piece of music... with a highly regarded Norwegian symphony backing them, these Metal-stars shine in all areas, including songwriting, with blistering guitar solo's and fantastic drumming and the vocal performance I understand just won the dude from KHOLD a Norwegian Grammy.

So, basically, if you like flawless though provoking, musically stimulating material that does not just floor you with blast beats and brutality, but with intelligence and smarts, this is for you. FLAWLESS"

Score: 9,5/10

'Totally incredible'

Winds, what can I say, an incredible band. Hearing their debut EP 'Of Entity and Mind' (which is added to the end of this CD), only recently, I was truly impressed by the mixture of atmospheric instrumentation and
the incredible vocals of Lars Eric Si, while the Arcturus-like guitars by Carl August Tidemann brought strange sensations to me. 'Reflections Of The I' is truly an emotional piece of musical art, created by what has for a while now been hailed as a super band. Lars Eric Si (ex-Thorns) has a clean voice that reminds me of Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees), without the southern accent, instead a strong but still very personal voice. As the title suggests, Winds are very personal, I can't imagine listening to this with others, the music is a deep internal
experience. The drum work is taken care of by Hellhammer (Mayhem, Arcturus, Kovenant), but you'd hardly notice it as the band never picks up any overly incredible speed. Not that this is required as the lush piano work of Andy Winter breathes throughout the album in a living resonance, a relaxed but vibrant pace. If you would like more technical detail on the bands sound, check out Aaron's review of the debut, because I honestly feel quite lost for words at the majesty of the styles, from strange jazzy to the incorporation of a string section, Winds set out to overwhelm and do so instantly. The music is fantastic, with the exquisite duality of 'Passions Quest' and 'Reasons Desire', to the excellent tracks of the debut, this is a worthy purchase in a world of samey sounding bands. No pretentiousness or gimmickry, just powerful classically inspired metal, with an attention to atmosphere and emotion.

I have said it before and I will say it again; whoever is responsible for making the decisions on whom to sign or get the rights for the North American release at the offices at The End Records needs a sizable raise. Release after release from this label is simply outstanding. You would think that this streak would have to come to an end some time but with the release of Winds' first full length album the streak is alive
and well.

Winds is a band from Norway and with "Reflections of the I" you would expect some areas that could use some work or something that could be changed in order to increase the appeal of the album but this is simply
not the case here. This album is filled with excellent musicianship and songs that are so well written you would think that this is their tenth album and not their first. The musical style is in a genre all its own when you take into consideration everything that is being used to forge the beauty contained on this album. Dark progressive sounding guitars, classical piano, philharmonics, a light touch of synths and a full string section (courtesy of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra) combine to create a listening experience you won't soon forget. The vocals are all clean and there are a few sections where a baritone sounding voice over is used which adds even more dynamics to an album that is already bursting with them. The lead guitar work is also worthy of note on its
own as there are some absolutely shredding leads on this album that will certainly make you sit up and take notice as well as make the guitar players out there start drooling.

Overall another brilliant album offered up by what is becoming one of the best labels out there today and once again another release that is Highly Recommended.

Rating: 5/5

• The Imagery Direction Of Time

The Darkest Hours: (Link to the The Darkest Hours (recommended) or direct link to the review)

95%
One word: Beautiful. Those guys are virtuoso and their writing skills is very high. Top notch quality music for a top notch band! Blend Mozart with Opeth, Dream Theatre and other classical & progressive act and you'll get a little idea on how Winds sound. With amazing violins and cellos mixed up with good prog guitar riff and a beautiful voice, Winds have created a unique sound. Most of the time soft but sometimes groovy, you'll hear melodies you won't forget. Harmonies that fits perfectly with the music and of course, a killer production with a crystal clear sound! You can clearly hear all the different musical instruments and let me tell you that it's very important for a band like Winds. The guitar solos are truely amazing and the execution is definitly perfect! One of my favorite of the album, 'The fireworks of Genesis' is a good exemple of what the band is capable of. Amazing track! Maybe some of you will think that their music is too complex but I have to disagree. Yes, it's very complex but catchy at the same time. The concept behind the lyrics is aweosme. Well written, their philosophical lyrics will catch your attention. To feel the vibe completly, I suggest you to take a look at those lyrics. In the classical prog-metal genre, it's very hard to get a better band than this one. I also love their artwork. This album is ART from the beginning to the end. Do I need to say more? I guess not... Do you a favor by listening to this amazing masterpiece at least one time and you won't regret it!
Patrick

Metal Temple: (Link to the review)

Those Norwegian guys really don’t “know” how to create awful albums! Speaking of Mr. Von Blomberg this time, also known as Hellhamer, whose creativity see no weakening in the past years with albums like the magnificent masterpiece from Arcturus, “The Sham Mirrors”, or the interesting dark industrial album from The Konvenant, “S.E.T.I”. This year he returns with two releases, one being the latest Mayhem album “Chimera”

The second album comes from a band that he is not probably known for participating and that is “The Imaginary Direction Of Time” from Winds. To those unwary of Winds then you are in for a surprise…Good or bad surprise, you ask. Let’s say that you are in for something completely different.

Metal music and therefore hard rock in general is well known for the similarity with classical music. Just think of all the groups that released albums (live or studio ones) accompanied with a symphonic orchestra – Deep Purple, Scorpions, Metallica, Rage are some that I can think of right now-. Winds take the whole classical music-metal blend one big step further. Classical instrument have a major and vital part in every song of “T.I.D.O.T”, just listen to the perfect blend of violins and drums in the “The Final End” or the piano accompanying the guitar riff on the opener, “What Is Beauty?” The feeling that he album fills you upon listening is colorful and majestic, like experiencing your own private sonata, your inner soul’s most humble yet powerful emotion. The slow tempo that flows within the “T.I.D.O.T” really builds up the glorious sound of each and every one of the songs and works as a bridge between the classical and the electrical element. It is scary to think how Winds blended perfectly two absolutely different things into a complete harmony.

Speaking of harmony, I must insist on listening very carefully to the orchestration of “T.I.D.O.T” which is an effort of the whole bands itself. The guitar work of Mr. Carl August Tidemann (ex-Arcturus, Tritonus) is outstanding, along with Mr. Blomberg exquisite percussions and Mr. Eric Si rhythmic guidelines on bass, Winds music really feels like being swirled in whirlwind of notes and endless sounds of lyrical emotions. Mr. Eric Si’s vocals aren’t very easy to get into them because of their strange nature but undeniable they are ideal for Winds sound. Last and not least Mr. Waters piano and keyboard work is the cornerstone of this album, which uses a lot of piano, and less electronic keys, before and after the chorus. Lyrically “T.I.D.O.T” stands on a thin line between real and surreal, talking about time, love and hate, about human decision and fate’s decision, hope and disbelief. Endless meanings from a limitless imaginative band like Winds.

Winds – The Imaginary Direction of Time is a musical masterpiece for those who respect themselves and got an open mind upon musical experimentation. This album took the term experimentation one step further into achieving the perfect blend of metal and classical music. I’ll finish my review with the lyrics of the song “The Final End”

“As the way of the world unfolds amidst shattered hope….Encircled with no escape from the imaginary death…I withdraw in regret that I didn’t make the choice…When I had the chance to change the way of the world

Into Obscurity: (Link to the review)

Written by danowar:
Do you remember your reaction the first time you heard Arcturus' "La Masquerade Infernale"? "The Imaginary Direction Of Time", while not a carbon copy of the aforementioned avantgarde album, will probably hit you in the same way. Obviously, it's up to you to determine if that reaction will be just shock and disbelief, annoyance, or utter amazement. For me, it was (and is) the latter. "The Imaginary Direction Of Time" is an expansive album. Even calling it metal is a pigeonhole. It's so much more than that. It's beautifully haunting soundscapes, twisting atmospheres and raw emotion through music. The vocals, clean at all times, have such a sincere feeling in them it's hard to not break down and cry. Drummer Jan Axel von Blomberg (aka Hellhammer of Mayhem) is known as one of the scene's best and he shows his versatility here - it's not just constant blast beats like many of his other projects. And the guitarist is simply superb. He is a virtuoso guitar player and a great songwriter, but he doesn't go off the deep end exposing his talent. Instead, he quietly amazes you from note to note with his enchanting melodies and superb songcraft. To pick a song off this album to dissect would be both criminal and ineffective. No single song stands out as being better than the rest - the whole album is great. And each song is completely different while fitting into the Winds' vision.

On a quick glance, "The Imaginary Direction Of Time" is a cross of progressive, classical and metal music. The layers and intricacies of this album are such that you could explore it for ages and still find something new with every listen

Ontario Metal: (Link to the review)

9.5/10 - Very nice, proggy
12 tracks 48:12 Philosophical proggy metal

The first song "What is Beauty" sets the tone for this latest offering from Winds. With virtuoso guitar, precision drumming, nearly strained sung vocals, classical piano and strings, Winds has wandered into brighter, almost more uplifting territory. In addition to this, new, but familiar sounds have been added. In 'Theory of Relativity', Carl August Tidemann's guitar gains a warmth of sound that will be familiar to Pink Floyd fans, while 'Under the Stars' begins to introduce some wonderful vocal harmonising, which is expanded on in 'A Moment for Reflection' (in a way that will perk the ears of fans of old Gandharvas material). Overall, a fine mix of metal and classical piano/ orchestral music.

Chris "Daimon" Wagner

Daredevil Magazine (7/7) : (Link to the review)

This record took a whole lot of listening sessions for me to even begin writing this review. Winds present the listener with a complex sound that can be very hard to swallow, even over the course of several listens. That isn't a bad thing though! In fact, I think this disc is a masterful slab of progressive metal that no one should miss out on. This is a record you put on at night with headphones, when no one can bother you and just listen for all of the details in the sound. There is a heavy classical music element to this album as the band features an entire string ensemble that adds an extra dimension to every song, while beautiful piano passages bring even more melody to each arrangement. In addition to all the classical styling the band bring in the epic power of progressive/power metal with soaring vocals that are powerful and deliver some great harmonies and some truly excellent guitar histrionics. The solos and leads are often pretty complex and really had my jaw hitting the floor in more than one instance. Even the lyrics have a majestic quality to them, providing the listener with many interesting themes to ponder as the songs continually shift in mood. Despite the power that the band hits with, there are so many subtle elements to the sound. The drum performance is really impressive but it's very relaxed in delivery and at times I didn't even notice how well it fit the sound.This is a fantastic work by a band with a forward thinking vision that is second to none. The whole disc flows together as an epic whole and is one of the best progressive metal albums I've heard in quite sometime. So, quit reading already and just check this one out, you will not be disappointed!

[reviewed by Jay (JS)]

Tragenda.net (5/6): (Link to the review)

'Reflections Of The I' has now come and gone and was a success among fans and critics. The question now is if the band can still hold the fans interest with their brand of Avante Garde, Classical Power Metal. All I have to say is that this band is a world class act. You can tell that the guys all worked very hard in creating another work of art. A Mona Lisa for the ears if you will. 'What Is Beauty' can be defined and heard right here. Classical piano provided by Andy combined with string arrangements, Power Metal drumming from the Godly drummer: Jan Axel Von Blomberg (A.K.A. Hellhammer) and class act vocals from Lars make this track a must. Everything is played perfectly and the first rate guitar work from Carl really makes this track shine. Everyone is in sync here and while we are dealing with five talented musicians, no one steps on anyone's toes. They all have their shining moment and continue to work as one cohesive unit. More complex structures invade 'Sounds Like Desolation'. The song sounds a bit sorrowful thanks to the sad string work of destiny and Lars' voice, but thanks to Carl's amazing finger work, the song continues to soar high and even has a bit of an OPETH vibe. Don't worry, they don't mimic them, they just have that 70's atmospheric Prog Rock vibe. The truly amazing thing about this cd is not so much the musicianship, but the fact that they jam everything into each song that is pretty much under five minutes each. Tracks like this that utilize everything including the kitchen sink go on for at least seven minutes a pop. If you listen to the music carefully, you will notice that Jan is very well reserved just like on the previous releases. His drumming is consistent in a mid tempo range, but on occasion goes and kicks it into double bass power metal drive. He doesn't get over technical and brutal like he does with MAYHEM. The real star here is Carl because his guitar playing is remarkable and beautiful. He is full of flash and pizzazz, but does it in a classy way. This is a band for those who want to explore different routes in music. You want to hear what other styles can be crammed into the metal genre and see how they turn out. Everything about this cd is fantastic. If you think you are ready to take that next step into musical euphoria, then I highly suggest this.

Amazon.com (5/5): (Link to the review)

OMG!!, May 2, 2004
Reviewer: donald peckenpaugh from Forestville, Maryland United States

This is my 2nd time listening to this album. 2nd time you say, well I've only had it for about 2 hours!! This album is my first Winds experiece and I am enthralled to say the least! A perfect juxtaposition of classical and neo metal that will bring you to the edge. Lars Eric Si vocals are crisp, clean, sharp and powerfull. Carl August Tidemann guitar? Think Malmasteen without the ego. Jan Axel von Blomberg drums? Sounds like a machine gun with rythem! Not to forget the mastermind behind all of this...the piano player....yup a piano!! Andy Winter. Last but not least, the orchastra which provides the string accompiant.

Amazon.com (5/5): (Link to the review)

Very sophisticated., May 18, 2004
Reviewer: stale_organic_cage (see more about me) from South England.

Another masterpiece from Winds. I feel somewhat strongly that to say this album is very nearly flawless cannot be contested. Indeed, I believe this to be true.
Compared to "Reflections of the I", "The Imaginary direction of time" is heavier. The focus is stronger on the guitar work of Tidemann, where the solos performed on nearly every song sound virtually impossible to pull off, and are once again aided by the parallel bass drumming of Hellhammer, who has no equal. The bass is louder on this album, which for myself, a bassist, is a definate plus. It sounds particularly prevalent on "Silence in Despair", one of my favourite songs. Si's voice is excellent. The appearance of layered vocals here are particularly impressive. Andy Winter's piano playing is top class which, with the 4-piece string section provides the great classical atmosphere characteristic of Winds.
Perhaps a little less orchestral than its predecessor, "The Imaginary direction of time" is an absolute masterpiece. All but perfect, progressive, dark, professional and a sophisticated piece of metal, for the connoisseur.
My favourite songs on this album are "Theory of relativity", "Visions of perfection" and "Silence in despair". I find the instrumentals "Sounds like desolation" and "Infinity" to be extremely well suited titles, when one listens to the relatively short sparsity of the songs, particularly on the latter.
Wonderful.

Sea of Tranquility (4.5/5): (Link to the review)

Norwegian band Winds’s new CD is progressive metal with a difference – in fact, the “metal” label doesn’t always sit comfortably here. And it is certainly not prog-metal in the accepted Dream Theater mold – this is probably closer to Opeth than to Dream Theater. The overriding mood is dark, bordering on the sonics of the better doom metal acts and borrowing more than a few chord progressions from that genre. But it isn’t doom metal either, and unlike Opeth, there isn’t a grunt to be heard. Imagine melodic but subdued progressive metal, with plenty of acoustic sections. The music is subtle and reasonably technical, but never in the imposing and insistent manner of most modern prog-metal acts. Now add a string section comprising 2 violins, a viola and a cello, which is present in most passages, and with the viola carrying most of the mid-range minor-key melodics. Add several piano pieces – also played in the mid-ranges – with a very classical bent. Now mix in the vocals. It’s all sung clean in mid-ranges, held back in the mix, and a little atonal, in the haunting doom-metal style. Although it is not as morbid as the Tiamat / Katatonia / My Dying Bride sound, the band has said that the music on The Imaginary Direction Of Time, their 3rd album, is their darkest yet most elegant to date. And then – just to remind you that this is rock after all – there are some blistering guitar solos and some pure metal passages. This music never stands still – it is constantly shifting from metal to classical, from acoustic to the full metal set, from moody to sunny and uplifting. Although no song runs longer than five-and-a-bit minutes there are enough recurring themes and revisited lyrical elements to pull the album together into a consolidated body of work. It is interesting to note that keyboard player and songwriter Andy Winter has a deep background in piano, which helps explain the album’s classical orientation. Winter also contributed to the highly acclaimed Subterranean Masquerade: Temporary Psychotic State EP. This record’s title will appeal to sci-fi fans, or to those familiar with the quantum physics on which most modern sci-fi is based; and the lyrics are deep and exploring. Artwork was provided by Californian Travis Smith, who is quickly becoming one of metal’s most successful cover painters. So it’s not quite progressive doom, nor is it progressive rock, and it’s sorta-kinda progressive metal. But whatever the genre – and perhaps there isn’t a label that really fits here – you owe it to yourself to give this album a spin. Listen to the sound samples, and don’t be put off by the dark, brooding sound. This is an album that can be played again and again and you’ll hear something new with each listen.

Reviewer: Duncan Glenday

Smother.net (Editors Pick): (Link to the review)

Formed in ’98, this Norwegian quartet combines classical guitar playing and prog-metal stylings in their third album “The Imaginary Direction of Time”. Quite certainly Winds is for fans of Dream Theatre and epic metal bands that specialize in dazzlingly good guitar work. Lyrically it’s well written and the song structures are painted together like a Da Vinci masterpiece. This being their first release on The End Records, I imagine nothing but upward spirals for Winds who come armed with ridiculously talented musicians.

Beauty and Pain: (Link to the review) Sitelink

Ah this has been a good week for music for me . Now i even have the new Winds Cd's in my hands. This is what Opeth is to the clueless Prog metal fans of the world think. Winds simple put are one of the most grandiose and majestic Prog / Avantgarde Rock bands to ever place music of this sorry planet called earth. I you like stuff like Devil Doll and the genius of MR Doctor then this is a must have no matter what you do. The flowing guitar and bass lines with some of the best experimental Classical piano I've hear in a good long time by Andy Winter.The vocals are what I have always hope from great progressive rock, commanding and powerful with out being over the top. The man just knows how to sing. Hellhammer again with all Winds Cds just plays the drums with a passion he doesn't in other projects like Mayhem etc. He never over plays here is want makes me most happy. he accents the music to a glorious tee. Carl August Tidemann with mix of acoustic and electric guitars just touches my soul again. I know a lot of people are going to hate this Cd but not to these ear's. Its a much need change to all the similar sludge that the metal and rock world throw at us as original or innovative. Fans of Yes, Early Genesis and even Dream Theater . If you haven't hear this band you need to so you no longer miss out of this very special project. Wind's also have an amazing website at http://www.winds.ws/ check it out.

[reviewed by Clint]

Metal Reviews (91 / 100 - Album of the month) : (Link to the review)

AThis can be one of the easiest reviews I have ever written. All I have to say is, check out my review of the 2002 album Reflections of the I (link below), multiply the complexity and eclectic nature of the music several fold, and, voila, the review for The Imaginary Direction of Time writes itself. However, if I do that, you would dismiss me as a serious reviewer, and I can only imagine the amount of hate-mail I will get for limiting the review to this one paragraph.

So, instead, I am faced with one of the most difficult reviews, because, after all, how does one describe Beauty. I had attempted it once before reviewing Reflections of the I, and now I have to do it again. Although, it seems that I am not alone trying to define the subject, as the band itself tries to answer the question judging from the opening song’s title What Is Beauty.

Winds have remained true to their vision. Just like Reflection of the I the current album is a perfect fusion of classically inspired piano playing, progressive rhythms, philharmonic strings and guitar mastery that is awe-inspiring. Throw in on top some deep philosophical lyrics sung in clean, but very original, vocal style and the picture is complete. And, really, the picture could not be less diverse considering the backgrounds and aspirations of the four musicians making up this “superband”. Classically trained Andy Winter on keys and piano lays the foundation for Winds songs, but all other members, vocalist/bassist Lars Eric Si (Khold), guitarist virtuoso Carl August Tidemann (aka Tritonus, formerly with Arcturus) and superdrummer Jan Axel von Blomberg (aka Hellhammer, Arcturus, The Kovenant, Mayhem and what seems like thousand of other projects) contribute as well.

The band also employs the string quartet, and the strings are not to be considered a gimmick or background music for Winds. They are the fifth band member, playing rhythm or soloing throughout the album. To die for cello intro on Theory of Relativity brings out a romantic, almost poetic feeling to the beginning of the song. Such heavy string usage makes the music even more diverse and complex, calling for the listener’s full attention and multiple listens, each one uncovering more and more layers in the songs.

Describing the songs on The Imaginary Direction of Time individually is a futile attempt. None of them have anything close to the “regular” structure, there are really no verses or choruses. Instead, music progresses in unpredictable ways from string intros and piano passages to edgier progressive riffs and long guitar solo runs. Very often instruments unite in these temporary ensembles like piano/guitar/strings on What Is Beauty or piano/strings/vocals/percussion on Visions of Perfections or piano/percussion/vocals on Time Without End. These unions are temporary and fleeting, but when they happen everything is done with such unison and perfection you can’t help but marvel. The listener, however, is never turned off, these musicians occupy your attention constantly, and their music is not being self-indulgent. The unbelievable production also makes everything to be heard in perfect harmony.

I have said it before that using piano instead of synthesizers makes the Winds music true and organic. Andy Winter is never in your face or over the top with his piano playing. His sound is always reserved and classy, almost strip naked in Visions of Perfection or Moonlight Sonata like in A Moment for Reflection. It is if he is the only musician on stage at times, but when other instruments kick in he is cognizant of letting everyone else be heard as well. A perfect example is him “picking a duel” with guitars on Under the Stars after serene intro and waltz like rhythms.

Carl August Tidemann has almost outdone himself on guitars, and I didn’t think it was possible after Reflections of the I. Guitar fireworks and pirouettes on The Imaginary Direction of Time are one of a kind and need to be heard by everyone who thinks some power metal or neo-classical guitarist can “shred”. His run on What Is Beauty, multitrack apotheosis on Under the Stars, macabre tone on A Moment of Reflection and mid-Eastern distortion on Beyond Fate are just some of the impressive examples.

Jan Axel von Blomberg (Hellhammer) does not go million miles per hour and he does not blast non-stop, but he is just so intricate with his cymbals and touches while rhythmically unshakeable. How about that militaristic march coupled with the strings on The Final End?!

Lars Eric Si’s vocals will not be everyone’s favorite, but he somehow crawls inside your soul and stays there causing joy, doubts and sadness at the same time. There is no “range” or high notes to be reached, mostly soft spoken and tranquil singing of the extremely philosophical lyrics which I am not even going to try and interpret for you.

Winds music is my private symphony. While bands like Therion and Penumbra are bombastic, they need a large choir, big orchestra to feel symphonic, Winds is small-scale, played in a chamber just for you, very philharmonic in nature. It does not strive to be big and pompous, preferring instead to be very personal and modest, but not less complex. Don’t get me wrong, I love both genres; it is just sometimes you want to be alone, with Winds. (What a moniker too!)

If there was one criticism of this album, it is like a rich dessert, you can’t have too much of it in one setting. Multiple listens are definitely required to fully comprehend the grandeur. For example, I played songs 1-6 for a few days, and then songs 6-11 the next few (the last track Infinity is 2 min of silence and a 5 sec piano bleep, so technically there is only 11).

This is my bottom line. I know some people responded to my previous Winds review. For those foaming at the mouth how great the band is – guys, you will be fully rewarded by your wait. This album is just as good. For those who listened to some tracks before and didn’t like it, stay away from this eclectic masterpiece as it is probably over many heads.

Killing Songs : Only because I have to pick What Is Beauty, Visions of Perfection, A Moment for Reflection, The Final End

Alex

Transcending the Mundane : (Link to the review) New

Metal and classical music have had a long relationship going back to the late 60’s when Deep Purple experimented with using a full orchestra and Ritchie Blackmore began playing guitar solos based on scales commonly associated with classical music rather than the blues-based soloing that had been the norm in rock music up to that point. Many of the next generation of metal bands took this further by expanding into complex twin guitar harmonies. Then came Yngwie Malmsteen, who took speed, complexity and classical influences to new levels in metal. And the story goes on and on, through to today’s symphonic black metal bands and power metal bands and prog metal bands, until we come to Winds.

Winds is a band of acclaimed Norwegian musicians, initially formed and led by keyboardist Andy Winter and including in its ranks bassist/vocalist Lars Eric Si, guitarist Carl August Tidemann (known mostly for his work with Arcturus), and Jan Axel von Blomberg (also known as Hellhammer, who has played in more bands than I care to mention here, but is mostly known for Mayhem). They debuted in 2001 with a mini-album Of Entity and Mind and followed it up quickly with 2002’s Reflections of the I. So far, the band is purely a studio project, since the bands members now live in three different countries and are also occupied with many other projects

They claim that Winds is no mere project, but a very important working band, and on their latest release they show it. There isn’t an obvious progression from Reflections of the I – the basic style is the same, but there does seem to be more chemistry and a stronger “band” feeling, with more fleshed-out arrangements and a pretty even distribution of instrumental emphasis. On the first two albums, Andy Winter and his piano playing were the dominant force, here there’s more of an equal four-way contribution.

Now comes the hard part – describing the music. Yes, this is a fusion of progressive rock/metal with classical music. What really sets it apart is that the classical elements are there from the start and are a vital part of the music. This isn’t just rock music with strings thrown on top (or in the background). The string section (two violins, viola, and cello) should be considered full members of the band, as they are fully integrated into the songs. The songs are free-flowing – although they are relatively brief (none over six minutes), they are written as mini-symphonies. There are string intros and interludes, solo piano pieces, progressive metal riffing, and some of the most brilliant, sparkling guitar solos I’ve ever heard. The strings play rhythm or solo throughout the whole album, with the viola being a prime carrier of the mid-range melodies. Some of the greatest moments occur when various instruments come together in perfect unison for brief passages in “What is Beauty”, “Visions of Perfection”, and “Time Without End”. The playing is so organic, the production so clear – everything can be heard in perfect harmony.
The classiness and reserve of these musicians has to be commended. They don’t go over the top. This is isn’t big symphonic bombast that you usually expect from classical/metal combinations. This is more like chamber music – a small ensemble playing for you in a private hall. It’s no less complex, but more private and modest. There’s a soul to this music, sometimes sad, at other times genuinely uplifting, but always searching, striving to make you feel something.

The musicianship of everyone involved is, of course, as near to perfection as you can get. Andy Winter’s piano fills the songs with beautiful arpeggios and the underlying base upon which the rest of the songs are built. Blomberg plays with such restraint you may not notice everything he’s doing without close listening. The personal highlight for me is Tidemann’s guitar playing. His progressive rhythm work is excellent and his many guitar solos are about as close to neoclassical “shred” perfection as you can get. In fact, I’m normally not a big fan of show-off guitarists who don’t play for the song, but Tidemann does, in fact, play for the song, and the words I can find to describe his spiraling, pirouetting runs, which also make great use of tone, don’t seem adequate at all. To give an easily understood comparison, imagine Yngwie Malmsteen with more taste, less ego, and a greater focus on composition. That said, Tidemann does have his own soul and technique and is not just a Malmsteen clone.

The biggest obstacle to getting into this album, beyond its naturally complex nature, is the vocals of Lars Eric Si. At first, I completely disliked them, finding them flat and emotionless. They are completely mid-range clean singing, and it takes quite a few listens to really hear the subtle melodic variations that are there. On many initial listens, the vocals just sort of float by, and are barely noticeable among the rest of the instruments. The addition of some harmonies and a slightly more dynamic approach than their previous albums does improve the vocal performance for this one. Still, it’s an acquired taste. The man can’t be written off as the weak link in the band, however, since he is heavily involved in arranging the strings, and his work there is excellent.

There is also a uniformity to the songs – it helps to view this as one cohesive work rather than a collection of songs, as there is a sameness to the approach for each song, which I think is intentional.
The lyrics should be mentioned, as they are extremely quotable. Written by Andy Winter, there’s a definite philosophical slant to the lyrics. The circular nature of time, fate, quantum physics, the meaning of life – I think they’re all in there but I wouldn’t want to take it upon myself to describe them all, as I think they’re better left to interpretation. But even beyond their meanings, there’s a poetry to them that is impressive even when the meanings are simple: “We reach toward the untouchable/Streams of endless light surrounding our embrace/But those flames burned cold long ago/Left are only remnants of time and space” or “It is only when the darkest hour approaches that our true nature is exposed” or “Each moment ahead is completely in the dark/We know nothing of what’s to come and fragments of memory is our only gift/I take a step further into the night, having remembered, but still I remain/The source of this design is unknown, yet walking in circles seems to have meaning somehow”. I could go on and on, but just get the CD already and hear them for yourself. This is a great album – not for everybody, but for those with patience and any interest in the calmer, more peaceful side of progressive metal.

Reviewed by: Dave Smith

1340 Magazine : (Link to the review) New

This is Winds third album and their second record label. After creating two albums with Avantgarde Music they have moved on to The End Records for The Imaginary Direction of Time. They offer the music industry an interesting blend of classical and progressive music.

Winds set the mood of the album by opening with a string quartet playing and a somber poem recited over top. When the poem is finished they kick it into high gear with guitar shredding by Carl August Tidemann. They offer heavy guitars with Andy Winter playing classical styled keys over top and Jon Axel Von Blomberg staying in the background with his talented sticks. Blomberg uses varying rhythms with symbols and snares with a steady double bass to keep the listener on edge. Tidemann remains consistant on the frets with intense riffs that are similar to Dream Theater’s John Pettrucci. The vocals contain dark lyrics that give the songs and eerie aura. Lars Eric Si has a voice that sounds very similar to Serj Tankian of System of a Down. They use more harmonies then SOD and it his voice is more refined than Tankian’s but they are pretty a close match. They are unpredictable because they add a strong classical angle onto prog and it makes for an interesting combination. They are reminiscent of Trans-siberian Orchestra except the sound they offer is really different. They both have classical music incorporated into their music but Winds is more dedicated to the classical sound and letting it show through and blend as TSO ‘adapts’ classical to prog.

I found Winds to be a great listen. Anyone who enjoys classical music and progressive rock will love this. I recommend this album to anyone looking for a good album with a unique sound.

Key song: Silence in Despair
Reviewed by: Ben Black

The Temple of metal : (Link to the review) New

The melancholic progressive metalers return after a two years silence with their third album titled “The Imaginary Direction Of Time” (sic). Now I don’t know if you are aware of the quality of this band but I am pretty sure that more prog fans must turn their attention towards these Norwegian dudes!

Honestly speaking for me the gold days of progressive metal are long time passed by. Not that there are no new good bands, on the contrary. But still the scene is flooded with countless clone acts (some of them good I have to admit, but the majority sucks big time) while there’s no point in the horizon promising a new day.

Winds are not the messiahs of progressive metal. Yet their music is so distinct and uncompromising that they deserve our respect. Their trademark is the use of classic instruments, most of the time above the typical metal ones, giving to their music an enchanting almost “dream state” flow. This characteristic alongside the distinct singing of Lars Eric Si gives the band a superb advantage.

For me Winds is a team of musicians that play exactly the music they like without following trends. They have won my respect long time ago. Maybe its time for you to find them out!

Michael Dalakos

Metal Reign : (Link to the review) New

Winds is a very unique band with a talent that will no doubt impress any musician or music lover. Every musician has mastered what they do in this band and nobody goes over the top. Everything is nicely composed out and is presented as an ensemble, melted together as one. The band has only two full length releases and still is expanding even though they could stay at this level and be complete.
A very rare type of metal which I guess could be classified as Progressive Classical Metal. Winds blend together a string ensemble and piano with traditional metal elements. A band that could be considered easy listening, but they are technical enough to keep the music enthusiast on edge, craving for the bands next release. The album is very similar to the bands last, and first full length release, Reflections of The I. The Imaginary Direction of Time still presents a few new things.
The vocals have improved just a tad, but not that much. The vocalist (Lars Eric Si) screams in the opening song which he hasn’t done before and isn’t heard anywhere else on the album but it works well with the song. The guitar work of Carl August Tidemann is what attracted me to this band. His solos consist of amazing speed that often is accompanied by arpeggio sweeps. The solos are very technical and go well with the rest of the performance.

The pianos have become a bit more abstract and off the wall. The previous album showed some basics, but still very technical piano work. This time the pianist, Andy Winter (who also serves as lead songwriter and band founder) digs a little deeper into his mind and pulls out some truly original piano pieces and puts together some very well arranged compositions.
One song that sticks out the most is the second to last track, Silence in Despair. The closing minute of the song is spectacular. A haunting acoustic guitar is accompanied by the singer, and then the singer does a very catchy vocal piece after which you simply have to hear to appreciate how creative it is. Afterwards a solo that mimics what the singer was just doing plays and the song finishes itself off with a nice piano piece.
Every band member has expanded ever so slightly on this release and has given a memorable album that can easily be presented to any one person. The album has a very good amount of “pick up and play” value and shouldn’t be missed by anyone. The only improvement this band can do is up the rhythm guitars. The rhythms are fitting, but seeing as how technical everything else is, maybe the guitars could take it up a notch. However, the addition of some acoustic pieces is something to look forward to and wasn’t explored as much on the last album.

Topping off the line up is Jan Axel Van Bloomberg on the drums. Otherwise known as Hellhammer and played in bands such as Mayhem and The Kovenant.
The Imaginary Direction of Time is going to be a classic album that should be appreciated by any musician in some way. The album is catchy, full of talent, and the album just really is too good to be true.

This is my pick for album of the year thus far and I can’t picture anything topping it.

Grand Rock (8,5/10) : (Link to the review) New

Winds is a unique case. It is a band that no one can predict how far it can reach. I was totally surprised by its debut album and I have spoken for them with the best of words. So, after almost two years Winds is back with a new release that shows the way to desperately lonely paths of human mind! There is nothing obvious here… except the atmosphere that the album exhales which reminds their debut. From classical calm parts, to dark moody atmospheres, and from heavy rhythms to paranoid black epic melodies. Well what do you think? Do you dare to enter their world? The album is not an easy-listening one with hit songs and nice catchy melodies. You’d better forget about that. “The Imaginary Direction Of Time” is a very “weird” album which needs many hearings and to be totally focused when listening to it. The production is just excellent… and can easily drag you to the path of Winds. On the other hand the music of this album balances between classic, heavy, rock, gothic, and atmospheric tunes. This is what I call an excellent combination of all those different kinds of music. Do not try to compare it with anything else. There are not many bands that can combine so successfully all those music kinds. Once again the band hired some musicians on violin, viola and cello in order to create a more appropriate and realistic atmosphere for the needs of the album. Music can be so complex and so simple at the same time! It is needles to refer to each member’s capabilities separately cause you all know them and I have also done it in their debut review. The guys have grown not only as musicians but also as songwriters during the period from their debut album. You can understand it, if you listen to the album at least ten times! I cannot really separate one song from the album as “The Imaginary Direction Of Time” has been made in order to be listened at once and with no interruptions! Just push the “play” button and let Winds take care of everything else! This is not an album for musicians only but especially for those who love music in general and they like to spend many hours listening to an album. I have listened to the album so many times and still can’t find which are those elements that make me wanna listen to it again and again and again. Every time that I listen to it seems like I’m discovering new elements on its music. I cannot say if this album is a must for every one of you, but I can only say that if you are bold enough and you truly love music then buy it! Winds is not like other bands… Winds is the art of music itself!

T.A

Metal Realm (8,5/10) : (Link to the review) New

I guess there's no other way for this review to start: I'm amazed! Winds have created a simply enchanting work which will just not let you stop listening to it. The band has achieved a totally characteristic sound (take Arcturus with less extremity, Opeth, add great strings, lots of imagination, talent and progressive inspiration and here you have Winds!) with absolutely fantastic performances by some of the best musicians you could find out there. Things are really bright in here: Jan Axel von Blomberg is (not surprisingly of course!) the ultimate guarrantee behind the drums, Tidemann takes every song into another dimension (be it space psychedelia, progressive aggressiveness or oriental passion) with his artistic inspiration and the strings and piano are simply fantastic! In a few words, this album balances between the worlds of reality and fantasy. From a lyrical and emotional point of view, the band avoids the cliche of being disgusted by the world, the light. Instead, they are charmed by the world's beauty - and when they move closer to the light, they're let down and turned away. They're dissapointed by the inability to participate in the beauty. They feel small in the vastness of the universe. Needless in all its glorious existance. "What Is Beauty", "Theory Of Relativity", "Visions Of Perfection", "The Fireworks Of Genesis", "Under The Stars": beauty. If one could express this in words, he would ruin it. Go get this album and give it the time it takes: it's not going to let you down!

Menelaos Megariotis, May 2004

The Salt Lake Tribune (Grade: A) : (Link to the review) New

Forget the traditional sound of rock. Throw it right out the window. Winds has created an album unlike any other. Like sound, invisible to the eye, the wind is unseen but felt, and this band has created a hurricane. Strings, piano, breathtaking guitar work, heartfelt vocals and stellar drum work from Jan Axel Von Blomberg (aka Hellhammer of Mayhem fame) blend into an astounding display of musicianship. This is the group's third and most accomplished album. Every note has a purpose; songs are so intricately composed you could call it a symphony of rock.

-- Bryer Wharton

Zware Metalen : (Link to the review) The review is originally in dutch, we got it translated. New

Yes, finally it is here! The long expected successor of Reflections Of The I that came out in 2002 from the band Winds. The Imaginary Direction Of Time is the name of this masterpiece and those who known its predecessor know that this can only be of very good quality! Where Reflections Of The I stops, The Imaginary Direction Of Time continues and becomes the music that Winds makes like nobody else, only better, more melancholic, more fantastic and more melodious. And they do it breathtakingly well. There are almost no words for it.

Guitarist Carl August Tidemann puts on an amazing guitar game. This time the old-Arcturus-man takes credit for all the guitars on this record. With lovely riffs, tremendous solos and psychedelic passages, he releases himself on the totally dumbfounded listener. Jan Axel Von Blomberg (better known of Arcturus and Mayhem) takes on the drum work in beautiful manner for this record. Andy winter, "founding father" of the band, wrote the most spun out arrangements, beautiful texts and plays the stars of the heavens on his grave piano. Joined here by the extremely strong vocals and cello/violin arrangements of Lars Eric Si, former bassist in Khold, and you have a disc of magisterial quality that everyone who misses it does gives my metal heart a blow. What a beauty this CD is.

Ok, first, for those not familiar with the world, Winds is hot a description of the music. Well, how else will you describe this metal... perhaps as "Classical Dream Metal", if I may consider creating a new genre, yet it lands well within that neighborhood. Imagine for your self, beautiful classical music, perhaps a piano/cello sonata of sorts, and completely integrated into it, memorable metal riffs, dizziness-waking guitar solos and melodious clean vocals, then can you perhaps image the form of music that Winds dishes up. Highlights on this disk include for instance "Visions Of Perfection", where a lovely psychedelic guitar run takes you to completely unprecedented heights. Visions or Perfection?? The title of the song speaks for itself. The song "Silence In Despair" is almost doom metal-like and has something in the vein of Anathema at the time of Alternative 4.

Yes men, this is real a breathtaking and beautiful disk that may not be missed by anyone’s collection. Chill Out metal for the late hours, or for that moment when you want to listen to a CD of absolute high-minded expertise. Everyone must buy this!!

Daredevil Magazine (7 "headbangers" of 7 possible) : (Link to the review) New

This record took a whole lot of listening sessions for me to even begin writing this review. Winds present the listener with a complex sound that can be very hard to swallow, even over the course of several listens. That isn't a bad thing though! In fact, I think this disc is a masterful slab of progressive metal that no one should miss out on. This is a record you put on at night with headphones, when no one can bother you and just listen for all of the details in the sound. There is a heavy classical music element to this album as the band features an entire string ensemble that adds an extra dimension to every song, while beautiful piano passages bring even more melody to each arrangement. In addition to all the classical styling the band bring in the epic power of progressive/power metal with soaring vocals that are powerful and deliver some great harmonies and some truly excellent guitar histrionics. The solos and leads are often pretty complex and really had my jaw hitting the floor in more than one instance. Even the lyrics have a majestic quality to them, providing the listener with many interesting themes to ponder as the songs continually shift in mood. Despite the power that the band hits with, there are so many subtle elements to the sound. The drum performance is really impressive but it's very relaxed in delivery and at times I didn't even notice how well it fit the sound.This is a fantastic work by a band with a forward thinking vision that is second to none. The whole disc flows together as an epic whole and is one of the best progressive metal albums I've heard in quite sometime. So, quit reading already and just check this one out, you will not be disappointed!

JS

Rating: 7 headbangers of 7 possible

Silent Scream (8 points) : (Link to the review. Choose english and reload the link) New

The chromatic development of the artwork (always work of Travis Smith’s hands) practically gives us back the negative of the frontcover of “Reflections of the I” but little has changed in the music of Winds, actually. After a debut EP entrusted to more gothic and shadowy atmospheres, the norwegian superband driven by the keyboardist Andy Winter decidedly moved towards more symphonic lands. Incredible but true, instead of flattening along the widely tested sounds by the power/heavy scene of the latest years, Winds succeed to build a personal identity merging very different ingredients together, though remaining in overt neoclassical fields. The whole platter moves in the name of musical refinement: though owning a refined technique rarely the musicians let themselves go into mere virtuosity exhibitions, according to the example of the best english prog bands to which they tend to resemble also for the innate poetic essence. But the general plant remains solidly metallic, both in the use of the rhythmic guitar and in the usual recurring to the double bass drums, that together with the continuous careful cymbals work resounds among the soft atmospheres of the album like a graceful elephant dancing on crystal glasses without breaking them into slivers. Guide line of the album is the ethereal voice of Lars Eric Si that literally floats over the complex instrumental patterns, greatly interpreting not easy melodic lines, constantly evolving, that only a careful listening can reveal in all of their precarious but awesome equilibrium. True pearl in Winds sound structure is the classical soul of Andy Winter’s piano and of the strings section (two violins, a viola and a cello) which, at least once, are not only the excuse of a neoclassical attitude but rather main foundations of the songs. Single fault of the album is a certain expressive coldness, fruit of an evident artistic self-complacency, that sometimes prevents the band to exploit the great born ideas to the end. But already this way, it’s an album to listen to at any cost.

Fulvio Adile