A new Waerloga release is always something to cherish and they almost never let you down. This time the album is called "Two Worlds" and is a 2CD Jewel Case release with two different debuting projects taking on one release each. Waerloga Records hired the very famous illustrator John Howe (famous for working as leading artist in Peter Jackson´s Lord of the Rings trilogy) who made a great cover which spans to the back of the jewel case too.

Without a doubt, both releases are built on and around strings - instruments that has become representative of Hollywood soundtracks. James Newton Howard comes to mind while listening to both Anabasis and Gargrim the Liar. I put "Two Worlds" into the same category as "Glory," "Legends of the Fall," and "The Last Samurai".

The production values of both these artists are very high. They sound a little bit alike at times but Anabasis is more classical oriented film music and Gargrim the Liar are a bit more varied. The sound of Anabasis is clear and beautiful but not near the depth of Gargrim the Liar which mix and master is top notch! The melodies on both albums are very good and I have favorite tracks on both albums.

The artwork is beautiful but a bit light to my eyes. No doubt though that John Howe is a true master!

The prospect of being able to write a score for a film filled with epic, bloodbaths, lovable, rough, good-guys and twisted, detestable villains, would make any composer lick their musical chops. When I listen to Anabasis it sounds like he should dare to go a little bit more all out, but hell this guy (Henrik Summanen) is talented! Very cinematic to say the least and the darkness of the fantasy genre is ever present.

These are very promising debut releases of both Gargrim the Liar and Anabasis. The 2CD idea is not bad but a bit brave.
Gargrim the Liar come across as the one with the best sound, mixing and master and Anabasis the one with the best action and adventure spirit.

Very enjoyable dark fantasy cinematic music in the veins of Erdenstern and Arcana.

Barrow Wights offers listeners a chance to experience the epic first four years of the world of Za Frûmi.

In a visually immersive, specifically designed BOOK (25 pages, A6) the beautiful CD lay like a treasure in the end of it. For you who read other reviews by me you already know I love Za Frûmi as a band and as artists. They are among the best in the genre of dark ambient and fantasy music. I don´t need to repeat that in this review and bore you with endless praise.

This stunning Za Frûmi sampler is released by new Portugal based label (very promising!) Tom Bombadill´s Collectors and is limited to 1000 numbered copies. The disc covers songs from the debut album "Za Shum Ushatar Uglakh" (not my old favorite song but what the hell!) and the second album called "Tach - chapter 2" from the "Za Frûmi saga". Also songs from "Legends act 1", "Legends act 2 - Vampires" and two interesting unreleased songs made during the first four years in the bands 8 year history.

The world of the supernatural has been well represented by Za Frûmi´s wildly imaginative work. To incorporate it with the work of Tolkien and use parts of the Za Frûmi stories to dive into the Barrow Wights is just pure genius.

When you step back and appreciate "Barrow Wights" as a whole, you recognize that Za Frûmi and Tom Bombadill´s Collectors have provided everything that you could ever want in a sampler.

It has a magical element of fantasy in its instrumentation; it has loyal and memorable themes for every aspect of the story, and it builds up to one hell of a tumultuously satisfying climax. In its vast complexity of layers, themes, orchestration and as a collector’s item this album is a magical jewel. A must for the fans and people who want to get to own tracks that are now sold out.

I am a proud owner of the album!
It´s a great gift too. But... I am keeping my copy myself.

The first thing that strikes one when hearing this album is how at home Za Frûmi is with the music. There is a palpable affinity with the rhythmic complexities, an ease with the difficult shifts of mood and tempo. The Vocals are very intimidating and sometimes (such as on "The Cult of Helzichor") beautiful. The music is harsh but not all the tracks. Some are complex and filled with extraordinary sound effects and intriguing music techniques.

The mood is constant and the always present dark fantasy feel is as good as it gets at times. I really enjoy the tracks that break off from the obvious apocalyptic sound like for an example with "The Cult of Mortalis". That´s when you hear the depth of Za Frûmi!

"Legends act 2 - Vampires" was all about the vampire and all what those stand for. The music this time out is much more aggressive...and more engaging. In comparison to the former albums in the series the music on "Cults" features a darker, more intense, and more fully developed "personality"... as well a greater number of action/suspense pieces. Apocalyptic moods, murderous sects of blood are what this album is all about!

"Legends act 3 - Cults" descends sometimes from the duo's usual nether atmospheres into a realm of tribal percussion and chant, casting a comprehensive net over various world music traditions. The tribal drums and the various interesting world music instruments used (as it seems it´s most of all not electronic instruments) are great.

One of the best surprises of the albums is the previous mentioned song "The cult of Helzichor" as it completely changes the style but yet feels true and not at all wrong. Very good.

Low male choir, deep percussion erupting with rambunctious brass and horns are present in many tracks. The album is more than action and tension as some of the tracks are creating "worlds" with the help of sounds, moods, chanting and invocations which Za Frûmi is so incredibly good at doing.

This is a must for all of you into dark ambient and all you who like world music bands such as Dead Can Dance.

It took almost four years between "Legends act 2 - Vampires" and "Legends act 3 - Cults". "Legends act 4 - Orders" is released on the same day as act 3 and it gives you even more in depth and varied music. Both albums are creating a smorgasbord of a total (11 on each) 22 delicious songs and the ones on this album impress me even more than on act 3 and that says a lot as I loved that album.

This release is a revelation. Za Frûmi is of the highest artistry. Fully in control of this difficult material, Za Frûmi has the technical equipment to let the music speak without impediment.

It is obvious how passionately the duo are with their music and how much of perfectionist´s they are. With this amazing album, Za Frûmi fully takes the plunge into the heady mix of musical traditions. Calling it"haunting" and "atmospheric" barely scratches even the initial surface of the album's power.

Za Frûmi evokes emotional esoteric and mystical life from nothingness. Deeply rooted in several historical traditions raging from (as far as I guess) Western European middle age, Eastern European folk and even Middle eastern intonations and incantations, Simon Kölle's voice draws the music up from a somber state, giving birth to an almost emotional drama.

The song titles are names of secret Orders in the world of Za Frûmi, a world the band seem to build up more and more which in itself is kind of unique, references to Latin, choirs, and other touches that make the album sound like it was recorded in an immense ancient cathedral. Or maybe in great mystical halls of the orders themselves.

While the elements being drawn on are certainly of an older range, the results owe as much to the technologies of arrangement, mixing, sound effects and production and a consciously cinematic feeling as much as they do antique pasts. Similarly, the feeling is not simply European but worldwide, with Kölle´s glossolalia intentionally reaching beyond easy understanding.

The overall feeling is of an great dark ancient religious service come to life with all kinds of dark soundscapes, strange instruments and some electronic , has stunning results.

If you already know Za Frûmi you must buy this CD. If you don´t know its music, try to imagine the best among fantasy film soundtracks such as LOTR with a varied instrumentation and with even more depth than the soundtracks. With the help of this magnificent album you create the"film" with your imagination.

I go so far to say "Legends act 4 - Orders" is the album of the year 2008 (so far).

This recording gives new hope to the continuance of Za Frûmi´s rich legacy.

This compilation might be the best one ever to be released in the genre of fantasy music not to a movie or game.
The album fits somewhere between the classical Hollywood soundtrack music to dark ambient.

Waerloga Records and Radio Rivendell evolve from their earlier collaboration which resulted in the appreciated first volume in
the series of compilations. The first was all about the new artists (almost at least) and with not as much exclusive material.

On "The Book of War" we got some established names such as Za Frûmi, Ataraxia and Unto Ashes but also some of the artists on
the volume 1. I should mention that some of those latter named are really talented in their own niche if you will.

Honestly, most of the artists on this compilation could do good soundtracks to movies, games or even regular albums.

When it comes to the music Dråm stands out a bit from the grandiose sound of most of the 17 artists.
They represent one niche which is the traditional folk music. Both members of the band are "Official Master Musicians of the Realm",
the finest honor bestowed upon a performer of traditional music in Sweden.
I loved the track even though I would have a hard time listening to a whole album only sounding like that.

Dimitrij Volstoj together with Lost Kingdom also stand out as both their tracks are slow and kind of low. They are both
extremely good and suits perfectly on the album.
Dimitrij is a classical composer and has conducted orchestras in France, Italy, Norway, Austria, Hungary,
the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Russia, Lithuania, Mexico, the United States and Canada.
Lost Kingdom are two guys from Sweden debuting (the same day as this album was released) with very good neo-classical music
released on Waerloga Records.

Sibelian stand out as the only one using metal in the music and also opera.

Erdenstern, Peter Szwach, Anabasis, Gargrim the Liar, Markus Holler, Encryption, Sean Beeson, Sully Koba and A Journey of the Mind all
sounds like more or less high class soundtrack music for a video game or movie.

Za Frûmi and Ataraxia bring some darkness to the table (other too but these two do it best) and also a lot of spirit.

Radio Rivendell and Waerloga Records have approached the project in a new way: they wrote a story of a war
between the dark lord Vojvod Szadrin (with his fearful troops of undead, demons and dark champions) and the heroic captain Angus (with his reiters, knights and infantry).
For this story (which is presented very well in the booklet) they made chapters which they later on named. These names became titles as the 17 artists/bands went into the project.
The artists had the titles to choose from and were only told a bit of the story.
Almost all the artist made new songs for this compilation.
Some songs will later on appear on albums and others will be exclusive for this release.

I love the idea and the way the story unfolds and how it is presented is stunning!
The writing really gets me into the story and the fine artwork and good packaging really make this release feel refreshing!

I am blown away by the brilliance of Gargrim the Liar who possesses the tools and the knowledge of everything in the world
of fantasy music. Za Frûmi is always great and shows it once again so no suprise there.
Erdenstern are strong, Ataraxia great, Markus Holler very cinematic...

I could go on and praise all the artists, producers and people behind this release forever!

This is a gigantic album from an extraordinary new genre called Fantasy music. The collaboration of the leading label and the
leading radio station in the genre is just great!
As always one might argue about a certain track or whatever but this album is not going in 100 directions as many
compilations do even though they are unified by a certain theme. This is more like having 17 acts making one story alive.
It´s a collective work that promise a follow up! I cannot wait for a third volume.

The album is just perfect.

Absolutely essential listening for anyone who loves fantasy. An important new thing has arrived!

Visit http://www.radiorivendell.com/compilations/2 to learn more.