Album Review: PuzzleWood – Gates of Loki

By Greg Dixon on January 28, 2018

This is my first dose of PuzzleWood’s debut album Gates of Loki, but sometimes one dose is all it takes to become a junkie. This is an example of one of those times.

Upon listening to the second song on the album, “Remember My Bame” which follows after the intro aptly titled “Intro (Gates of Loki),” I knew that there is something exceptional about this Russian art rock trio. They are comparable with their quality sound that combines alternative and artsy progressive rock with plethora of ethnic motives.

On Gates of Loki, PuzzleWood has mastered the art of transcendence as they intoxicate the listener with the deep, dark beauty of their music. The soothing vocals are complimented by remarkably graceful musicianship. Everything is in order here. It is difficult to single out a particular favorite as all the tracks flow easily into one another. The songs all have the same general pace, including “Come Back Home,” which comes across as more depressing than aggressive.

The music of PuzzleWood is far from being mundane. You do not just listen to it; you feel it. You will then notice the multi-faceted splendor, the spiritual essence of both light and dark. You should allow yourself to sink into each song as in tranquil waters and experience the sense of rapture that each has to offer.

Entrancing and at times even melancholic, this is a softer and slower rock album that is not something I could listen to everyday. It requires the listener being in the right mood. However, if you are indeed in that right mood, than this can carry you a million miles away on a mesmerizing dreamscape ocean, while escalating your consciousness into otherworld dimensions.

So, close your eyes leave your cares behind and lose yourself on this musical journey with PuzzleWood and Gates of Loki.

Tracklist:

1. Intro (Gates of Loki) 03:39
2. Remember My Name 04:29
3. Obsessed 05:36
4. Come Back Home 03:18
5. Tyrant Who Fall In Love 05:44
6. Твой Дом (Your House) 05:28
7. To The Void 05:57
8. Hollow 06:51
9. Jerusaelem 07:20
10. Road Will Lead 06:46

Line-up:

* Tony Legatov – electric guitars, acoustic guitars, vocals
* Nikita Lipatov – bass, keyboards, synthesizers, backing vocals
* Eugen Semenov – drums

With:

* Kirill Rossolimo – percussion
* Dmitry Ignatov – bouzuki (track 7)
* Basem Al-Ashkar – arabic oud (track 10), violin (track 9)
* Olga Scotland – flute (track 3)
* Anastasia Lipatova – backing vocals

Links:

Bandcamp

Website

Facebook