Sleep at the Edge of the Earth Review

Band	Wilderun
Album	Sleep at the Edge of the Earth
Type	Album (Studio full-length)
Released	April 7, 2015
Genres	Symphonic Folk Metal
Length	54:07
Ranked	#56 for 2015 , #2,260 all-time

Reviewer :  Ascheler         Rating :  100 / 100

Wilderun has strong mastery in mixing soft and death vocals. Their instrumentals always sound professional and nuanced, with a good balance of energetic and mellow instrumentals. For lyrics, Wilderun writes with a style that blends abstract poetry with a technical literature style.

Though sometimes obscure, the intention of the lyrics are carried most prominently by the swings in instrumentals and vocals! This makes for a very enjoyable listening experience, where the listener is free to interpret the music on a personal level, and then listen again in a few months or years and see what has changed... I've found more often than not, I will have a different perspective on the life, which will give me a new different perspective on the songs. I find this ambiguity to be one of Wilderun's greatest strengths. There is also an intended meaning in most of their songs and albums, which can be discerned with a few listens (especially if you read along with the lyrics). I have found the most success by reflecting on them like literature, then also reflecting on them like poetry. By doing both and seeing what the similarities and differences are, you can discern their meaning. Obviously, this is the case for a lot of music, but Wilderun always feels obscure enough to make you work for it. I find this to be rewarding, and a good mental and emotional exercise (a welcome opposite to slop from social media)

Sleep at the Edge of the Earth is the album where Wilderun shines excellently in the points mentioned above. It has some of the most dramatic swings in energy in their whole discography, and very strong 'soft' sections! Several tracks are great to listen to on their own, but the album truly shines when heard in its entirety.

If you've got an hour to spare, give this album a listen, maybe read along with lyrics! It is poetic and emotional, carefully crafted with strong elements. If you've listened before, consider giving it another listen and seeing what you notice. If you listen carefully, you might just notice something about yourself ;)