DJ Records
Release : 2005

Tracklist “Tabula Rasa” :
Tabula Rasa
The Balck mass
A Bleeding Century
Submerging Dreams
C.R.Y.
Forlorn… till Dawn
An Exhaustion
The Unfinished Ceremony

Before the release of their forthcoming album “Pitch Black” this is the review of “Tabula Rasa” of the Turkish group Episode 13. The style of the group is a rather worked black metal as is the cover and the booklet accompany the album. All through the tracks the keyboards are present and give melodies which spin around and sometimes the songs have oriental influences as in « Forlorn …Till Dawn », one of the most beautiful song of this album. The vocals are well varied, black metal vocals of course but also clear vocals passages even declamations. The guitar is very often distorted.
« Tabula Rasa » begins with rather atmospheric a keyboards/piano intro but the black metal of Episode 13 arrives then in powerf and in rapidity… and we then have a break at piano and keyboards at more than 5 minute. The track is constructed in such a manner that we could thing that the group is doing progressive black metal !
« A Bleeding Century » begins with a keyboards and drums intro before Ozan’s voice comes. The tracks are relatively long except the last one « The Unfinished Ceremony » a little more than 2 minute and are relatively worked with sometimes complexes even progressive structures as I have already said it before. All being dark even aggressive and depressive, I find these tracks relatively epic.
I admit having appreciated this album and the group seems having a huge creativity potential and gives us a much worked album in its compositions on the music, the rhythmic, the guitars riffs, the keyboards melodic and the vocals levels. Sometimes the keyboards and the guitars are playing in harmony like in « Submerging Dreams » for example and it is successful.
« The Unfinished Ceremony » ends the album, with keyboards and violins, superb outro all in emotion and sadness.
I did not know the group before this review and I admit waiting with impatience « Pitch Black » because it is the black metal that I appreciate (even if it is not my predilection metal…) because it is worked and varied.
I recommend it to you.

Line up :
Ozan Akyol (chant) (vocals)
Murat Senturk (guitare) (guitars)
Meric Ersecgen (basse) (bass)
Can Gurses (batterie) (drums)

Contacts :
www.episode-13.com
www.myspace.com/episode13