Album Review: Cosmic Umpire

Album Review: Cosmic Umpire - Ithaqua (2020)

- June 01, 2020

Photo Credit: Cosmic Umpire

Cosmic Umpire - Ithaqua

Release: May 09, 2020

Label: selfrelease

Format: Digital

Length: 47:26

Genre: Post Rock / Progressive Metal

Origin: Southern Black Forest, Germany

"Ithaqua" is the sixth album by Southern German one-person band Cosmic Umpire. I am almost completely unaware of the universe which was created by H.P. Lovecraft, but I could research that "Ithaqua" is the name of a giant or titan who lives in the Arctic regions. The Arctic theme is omnipresent on Cosmic Umpire's new release as the songs 'Ramberg, NO' and 'Whale over Flakstad' are named after places in the cold North.

Music-wise solo artist Daniel Schindler also puts a lot of emphasis on expressing ice cold soundscapes. While the synthesizers float like icy winds or frosty streams below the surface of the ocean, the versatile rhythms and harsh riffing appear like giant icebergs or abandoned ships in the Arctic Sea. The lead guitar exists above these frozen entities and leads the audience through the frostbitten landscape. From time to time the leads may also appear like sunrays gleaming over the cold surface.

Listening to Cosmic Umpire's new album feels like accompanying the Arctic creature Ithaqua on one of their strolls through fog and blizzards. Just close your eyes, turn up the volume and enjoy the ride through beautful vast areas where the ocean is frozen and hardly any other creature can be spotted.

"Ithaqua" is a highly meditative output. Via intense Post Rock and additives by Prog Metal, Cosmic Umpire makes their audience easily lose track of time and space.

The theme is somewhat comparable to Noorvik's "Omission" but it is a lot more metallic in sound. A great release for calm hours or for moments when you need to cool down.

Cosmic Umpire Online:

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