Wuthering Heights (band): Difference between revisions

'''Wuthering Heights''' is a [[Heavy Metal]] band from Denmark with what critics describe as a unique sound that comes from blending [[Power Metal]] and [[Folk Metal]] styles, something only two other bands<ref>Falconer and Elvenking</ref> are known to do. Furthermore, Wuthering Heights was first to blend the two styles when it formed in 1989 under the name Angelica. This has caused them to be labeled under [[Progressive Metal]] due to the experimental nature of combining these two subgenres as well. They went through a number of other names as well before ariving at their current one, and a number of different band members as well. Their first demo was released under the name [[The Lord of the Rings|Minas Tirith]] in 1992, it was called ''Tales From The Woods''. At this time the band consisted of Erik Ravn, Morten Birch, Kenneth Saandvig, and Martin Røpcke with one former member, John Sønder. They released a second demo under the name Vergelmir in 1995, by which time Jannik B. Larsen, Troels Liebgott, Tim Christensen, and Tim Mogensen had joined the band and everyone but Erik Ravn and Kenneth Saandvid had left. It wasn't until their third demo in 1999 titled ''Within'' that they got picked up by Locomotive Music under their current name. Their second album called ''To Travel For Evermore'' was released in 2002. In 2004 they released their third album ''Far From The Maddening Crowd''. Their fourth album ''Shadow Cabinet'' was released in 2006, and their fifth album ''Salt'' was released in 2010. Their current label has also changed to Scarlet Records. Erik Ravn also composes most of the band's songs<ref>The exceptions are Sorrow In Memoriam, Dreamwalker, Battle of The Seasons, A Sinner's Confession, and their cover of Shadow of The Gypsy</ref> in addition to being the only member of the band with it since its inception.

 

The subject matter of power and folk metal mesh well together. The band further draws from the predecessors to [[Power Metal]]; [[Speed Metal]] and early [[Heavy Metal]]. Wuthering Heights took the fast pace and complex riffs from this and blended in the traditional instruments seen in [[Folk Metal]] to create an even more complex sound. In their vocal style they pronounce the lyrics clearly, in the higher registers of typical [[Heavy Metal]] ranges. This combined with their lack of swearing in their lyrics is what is refered to as "clean lyrics" and is common to [[Power Metal]], but even here the added [[Folk Metal]] influences create a different sound from what would be typical of a [[Power Metal]] band.

 

=== Within ===

1) ''Enter The Cave'', 2) ''Hunter In The Dark'', 3) ''Too Great Thy Gift'', 4) ''Sorrow In Memoriam'', 5) ''Dreamwalker'', 6) ''The Bird'', 7) ''The Wanderer's Farewell''

 

 

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* [[Age Progression Song]]: A Sinner's Confession.

* [[Animal Motifs]]: Birds mostly. Especially notable in ''The Raven'', but eagles and other birds also appear in a few other songs.

* [[New Sound Album]]: Many considered [[Darker and Edgier|The Shadow Cabinet]] to be this.

* [[No Export for You]]: On the various bonus tracks in certain countries, except they are all exports.

* [[The Power of Hate]]: "Even if I'm only holding on by sheer spite itself" - I Shall Not Yield

* [[Pragmatic Villainy]]: Carpe Noctem - Sieze the Night