WAERLOGA RELEASES

WAER014
Full length CD, 11 Tracks

Act 4 in the instrumental Legends series. This album is inspired by the Orders in the world of Za Frûmi. An outstanding album released the same day as Legends act 3 - Cults with esoteric, deep, mysterious traditions, higly cinematic, dark, magical and breathtaking fantasy music.
This album redifines and reinvent the genre of dark ambient and fantasy music. A very good competitor to Legends act 3 - Cults for the title of albums of the year.
A True Masterpiece!

Tracklist
1. Ordo Intedob
2. Ordo Inano
3. Ordo Ber´geliaz
4. Ordo Defelgratio Inano Arcturus
5. Ordo Vortokh
6. Ordo Botta Secreta
7. Ordo Custos Ari
8. Ordo Nindyn Vel´uss Noamuth
9. Ordo Asomir
10. Ordo Templi Sulfurium Draconis
11. Ordo Koum Janoh´te

Reviews of Legends Act 4 - Orders (click highlighted text for full review)

"This is the best Za Frûmi album I've heard so far - and it kicks the crap out of a lot of movie soundtracks. 10/10"
- Ray Thompson - Sci-fi Online / Graveyard

"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. 5/5"
- Ivan Racheck - Chain D.L.K.

"It really is very hard to find criticisms for this album, as it is one of the very best of the entire decade!... This legendary act 4 is a glorious amalgam of beautiful dark orchestral themes, good choral work, delicate/sublime solos, unobtrusively effective mixing techniques, which comes together to form a wicked combination of mystery, horror, wisdom, magic and elegance. I give my first ever 1000/1000 to Legends act 4 - Orders! 1000/1000"
- David Purdie - Musical Zone Japan

"Fantasy Dark Epic Music at its most! Simon Kolle and Simon Heath have outrun themselves with the last two fresh materials, two albums released in 2 different CDs, wrapped in a digipack format and released at once, just fitted for collections. 0,93/1"
- Kogaionon Underground Music Magazine

"The third track, 'Ordo Ber´Geliaz' takes a very unexpected turn towards some jazzy area, with very nice chanting vocals. Relaxing and one of the true highlights on the disc."
- Markus Eriksson - The Shadows Commence

"The brilliant vocals are constantly changing, and the soundscape pushes the mix to its limits. Legends act 4 - Orders is one of Za Frûmi´s better, if not (to many) the best, album. 19/20"
- Irma - Spirit of Metal

"To have a film score which works magnificently in the context of the film is what every film composer strives for, but to have it work as standalone album as well is simply icing on the cake. That could be said about both albums (Cults & Orders). They are not film scores but certainly sound like it. These albums are far too good to remain locked away in a darkened vault somewhere in the so called underground, gathering dust and losing quality, when they could be enjoyed and appreciated by thousands of people into dark soundtrack music for the work of genius that they are. Maybe I have gone a little too overboard with the superlatives here, but I find myself unable to contain myself and refrain from shouting from the rooftops about the incredible quality of Za Frûmi."
- Alexander Garrett - Row Magazine

"Surprising is the jazzy atmosphere in the track ‘Ordo Ber’Geliaz’. The highlight is created with the majestic track ‘Ordo Nindyn Vel’Uss Noamuth’ and by the vocals in the track ‘Ordo Koum Janoh’Te’."
- TekNoir - Gothtronic

"Still again it’s a dark music full of tense and drama, captured by a pathos sometimes unmatched and with an exquisite Fantasy matrix. For a duo that keeps giving us splendid pages of dreaming musical art, by whose tunes you can let go of your mind towards less oppressing scenarios than the rarely encouraging reality of our times."
- Roberto Alessandro Filippozzi - Dark Room Magazine

"Both (Legends act 3&4) are convincing releases in that they comprise what their composers setout to realize - a sensorial tale through which the audience travels overvarying soundscapes with the imagined protagonists and are ably structured enough to be two of the foremost compositions in a rather obscure, but emerging, genre of music."
- Michael Cunningham - Rúna, Compulsion, Judas Kiss and the Tolkien Society (Amon Hen)

"These guys are extremely talented and have a great imagination. Immerse yourself in their world, and support these excellent musicians."
- ChAwech - Heathen Harvest

Full Reviews:

Chain D.L.K - by Ivan Racheck:
Grade: 5/5 stars
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.

Sci-fi Online / Graveyard - by Ray Thompson:
Grade: 10/10
The Orders of the world are the secret societies with the power behind the thrones in many cities. They have often carefully graded and progressed teachings which are available only to a very selected few, an elite. The teachings lead to hidden and highly unique truths which bring personal benefits beyond the reach and even the understanding of the uninitiated. Secret rituals, oath´s and obligations vary but are always present.
The Orders are esoteric with roots in different mysterious traditions from all over the world. Even though there of course exist military Orders they are set apart from the truly secretive ones with the real knowledge of the dark arts and the complexity of alchemy...
Legend Acts 4: Orders is the new CD release from ritualistic fantasy music producers Simon Kölle and Simon Heath, better known as Za Frûmi. The music on this album explores the Orders of the world of Za Frûmi.
The first track, 'Ordo Intedob', gets the album of to an incredible start and this is something that doesn't let up until the final track has ended. As those familiar with Za Frûmi's work have come to expect, this album contains a variety of musical styles ensuring that there is something for everyone's tastes and for any gaming mood you want to set. 'Ordo Botta Secreta' was probably my favourite track on this album. It has a beautifully haunting choral vocal track. Although, this was the one piece of music where I wished that the sound effects had been a little less obvious. It's not that they're that intrusive, it's just that I'd have preferred to have just heard the choral music. Ordo Botta Secreta is an order of old weapon masters whom left their schools to search the true dark magic in martial arts and fencing.
'Ordo Custos Ari' is rhythmic and mellow and represents another great track, but then to be perfectly honest, there isn't a track on here that isn't head and shoulders above the majority of other albums in a similar vein. Orders has more of a movie soundtrack feel about it than previous Za Frûmi works - something which I, as more of a classical soundtrack fan, found to be much more welcomed.
This is the best Za Frûmi album I've heard so far - and it kicks the crap out of a lot of movie soundtracks.

Musical Zone Japan - by David Purdie:
Grade: 1000/1000
It really is very hard to find criticisms for this album, as it is one of the very best of the entire decade!
Dark orders have been my personal interest since childhood and Za Frûmi make them alive and what they should be about. Listening to this great album you can see inner pictures of people with power meeting in great majestic halls and dim lit secret chambers. I also see masked men and women partake in rituals of all kinds of sorts. All of the rituals, practices and even daily services of these orders are performed in secret. The music reflects this in a masterful way.
I had great expectations of this album and it lived up to my hype. As one would expect for an album predominantly concerning the supernatural, dissonance plays quite a major role. If you enjoy soundtracks to films like Bram Stokers Dracula, The Ninth Gate, The Omen, El Laberinto del Fauno and other dark great ones you will love Legends act 4 - Orders!
The album is somewhat similar Arcana in style and tone, but broader in scope and richer in texture, filled with passion and energy, and containing several moments of great orchestral power and choral majesty. The vocals are so good that I will be surprised if we don´t will hear them soon in some new Hollywood film score! On songs like "Ordo Asomir", "Ordo Ber’geliaz" and "Ordo Koum Janoh te" you hear the greatness of Kolle´s voice.
But the voices are also replacing instruments on a couple of songs and it is made with great care. The sound effects blend in very good and that´s another thing that make Za Frûmi what they are."Legends act 4 - Orders" are filled with a sense of sincere power and reverence that one rarely hears in the genre of dark ambient or even film music. As with "Legends act 3 - Cults" the texts in the booklet are very well written and give another layer of depth to an already deep concept.
The songs are often sophisticated, layered, stylish and creative works of art. The first two songs are dark ambient and set a mood. After that the album really drifts into interesting influences and soundscapes. Every song is mixed to perfection. All sounds and instruments sound even better than "Shrak ishi za migul".
This legendary act 4 is a glorious amalgam of beautiful dark orchestral themes, good choral work, delicate/sublime solos, unobtrusively effective mixing techniques, which comes together to form a wicked combination of mystery, horror, wisdom, magic and elegance.
I give my first ever 1000/1000 to "Legends act 4 - Orders"!

Kogaionon - Underground Music Magazine:
Rating: 0.93/1
Fantasy Dark Epic Music at its most! Simon Kolle and Simon Heath have outrun themselves with the last two fresh materials, two albums released in 2 different CDs, wrapped in a digipack format and released at once, just fitted for collections. More Epic than the previous two ones, more bombastic and symphonic than every other album in this dimension, ZA FRUMI presents 22 new tracks, focused on a dominating soundtrack dimension, and also on a sum of abstract elements, hard to comprehend without an adjacent visualisation.
I cannot spot great differences between the two albums, and so I’ve decided to make one review for both of them.
I guess it’s important to mention that the two guys activate within this scene for long years, and the bands in which they perform are familiar to the fans of the genre: ABNOCTO, Atrium Carceri, Musterion, Morteneck, Dorf Unit, Knaprika, Sojobo, Alvskugga, Volstoj or Krusseldorf. That’s a journey within distinct realms, a change in musical orientation, another form to perceive the music.
Excellent!

The Shadows Commence - by Markus Eriksson:
This is one of two new ZA FRUMI album this summer, both are works in the bands Legends series. As usual, we are both offered some very interesting music, and the booklet educates us about the world of ZA FRUMI. This time, we get an insight into the secret societies, the Orders, where only a selected few are welcome to expand their minds and wisdom. Quite interesting really, I’m pretty into these kinds of societies even in our human world, so yes, the thematic really fits me.
Also, the music is a pleasant surprise. The first two tracks are rather standard, what to expect from this band; ethnic rhythms and mysterious, MORTIIS-esque ambient soundscapes. The third track, ”Ordo Ber´Geliaz” takes a very unexpected turn towards some jazzy area, with very nice chanting vocals. Relaxing and one of the true highlights on the disc. Furthermore, the following track is also providing some interesting moments (the beat and the flute is excellent!), not to forget the mysterious ”Ordo Vortokh”, a track that can place you in a very desolate state of mind, though not in the unpleasant way.
One thing that is bothering me, or maybe it’s just a trifle, is that the CD’s in the Legends series are often referred to as instrumental.
I find this strange since one of the main parts of ZA FRUMI’s music are the mighty choirs. And also, on this album, there are plenty singing parts as well, why not take the outro song as an example? Thing is, that I really fancy the vocals that are brought to us in not only an unusual language, but also with a very special singing technique.
Oh well, guess I’ve had my saying on this release now. I can sum things up a little if you don’t have time to read the whole review, or if you find it hard to understand for some reason.
”Orders” is a deep, mysterious trip into the very most secret societies of the world. Interesting reading in the booklet, and mainly hits in the track list. Some slow / dull moments but also twice as many unexpected ones makes this record well over average. Don’t forget to check out the sister album, ”Cults”!

Spirit of Metal - by Irma S. Mandel:
Grade: 19/20
With "Legends act 4 - Orders" Za Frûmi make a giant leap forward. Combining great atmosphere with excellent, plenty of melodies and dark sounds.
Seems like an odd combination but it work and it sound really good.
The album is less aggressive than usual, more sombre and moody. Very dark and all about the Orders in the fantasy world Za Frûmi keep on building up with all thier albums. The stronger melodic lines and the more deeply-layered textures show influences from their work with their solo projects and Abnocto. Not in even one song though does they sound like thier other projects. The overall arch of the recording makes it a satisifying listen, more so than many of Za Frûmi´s early albums. The brilliant vocals are constantly changing, and the soundscape pushes the mix to its limits.
"Legends act 4 - Orders" is one of Za Frûmi´s better, if not (to many) the best, albums. It isn’t as surprising or groundbreaking as "Cults", but it’s mature, passionate and endlessly atmospheric. "Orders" is probably as good as anything Za Frûmi has done, and that’s saying something.

Row Magazine - by Alexander Garrett:
Grade: 95%
Swedish composers Simon Heath and Simon Kölle create fantasy music under the strange name of Za Frûmi. They have sort of flown under the radar a bit and I admit that I had not heard of them before listening to their last two albums which were released the very same day. Released on the label known as Waerloga Records which sometimes team up with the internet radio station Radio Rivendell.
Even though the two albums (Legends act 3: Cults and Legends act 4: orders) are different from each other I review them as one. I really cannot recommend these two albums enough. Not only do they have a multitude of beautiful melodies, each performed superbly, and some shockingly violent dissonance, its importance within the growing scene itself is immeasurable.
To have a film score which works magnificently in the context of the film is what every film composer strives for, but to have it work as standalone album as well is simply icing on the cake. That could be said about both albums. They are not film scores but certainly sound like it.
These albums are far too good to remain locked away in a darkened vault somewhere in the so called underground, gathering dust and losing quality, when they could be enjoyed and appreciated by thousands of people into dark soundtrack music for the work of genius that they are.
Maybe I have gone a little too overboard with the superlatives here, but I find myself unable to contain myself and refrain from shouting from the rooftops about the incredible quality of Za Frûmi.
The albums have lots of acoustic chamber music and folk instruments orchestrations, interesting to Dead Can Dance lovers as well as film music enthusiasts and those into pure dark ambient. They also have ancient or medieval feel to them.
The vocal capabilities of Simon Kölle are greatly showcased, a stunning voice soaring above any accompanying strings and ritualistic drums. Za Frûmi´s direction and arrangements are more than impressive, they are enigmatic.
I have a strong feeling that both Cults and Orders will feature highly in my personal best-of-2008 lists at the end of the year.

Gothtronic - by TekNoir:
Grade: 8,5/10
Alongside the Legends Act 3 – Cults, also the 4th part in the Legends series gets released. This part deals with secretive orders that have the actual power behind the throne in many cities throughout the world of Za Frumi. The orders are esoteric in character and rooted in various mystic traditions from all over the world. The orders form an elite that are in possession of ultimate truths not available to the uninitiated.
On this work the percussive element and the vocals are an important part too. The atmosphere however is more sacral and the orchestration is more neo-classical in character than on Act 3. It perfectly fits the atmosphere of the theme of secret orders. Think the music of Ab Nocto or Arcana to get an impression in which direction you have to search for this time in regard to the music of Za Frumi. Surprising is the jazzy atmosphere in the track ‘Ordo Ber’Geliaz’. The highlight is created with the majestic track ‘Ordo Nindyn Vel’Uss Noamuth’ and by the vocals in the track‘Ordo Koum Janoh’Te’. Just like the third part this one could well serve as soundtrack, but in itself it also perfectly serves as a mature piece of music. It is a very thorough and mysterious work, that has a more somber and mystic character and sphere than the lively third part.
Not quite as ingenious as the third Cults part but anyway a very good atmospheric neo-classical work.

Dark Room Magazine - by Roberto Alessandro Filippozzi:
Grade 8/10
Translated to English by Marco Vergari. Read the original article in Italian here.

In the fourth part of the ”Legends” Series, distributed in a luxuos digipack as with the third part (”Cults”), the Swedish duo composed by Simon Kölle and Simon Heath tells us about the Orders. Secret societies who operate behind the thrones of power, who pass on knowledge through rites of initiation, dark pacts and alchemy. Compared to the previous part, this “Orders” is based on a still very dark sound, But a lot less
threatening one as well and specially more soft and intriguing. Like a slow, editative, initiative travel towards the research of illumination and wisdom. Several tracks springs out with a strong, martial taste, still without the typical features of martial (No battle drums etc.)
Between always inciting choir parts (The Medusa Choir plays here a more important role than in “Cults”) Neoclassical passages between piano and strings, Great samples who capture greatly specific atmospheres, sweet melodies and dazzling flutes. An ideal travel towards ancient natural paths searching for symbols, places, energies and wisdom. An inner travel that runs like a river, absolutely fluid in all the eleven episodes of the disc. Its indispensable living these songs in a complete and whole way. With the various tracks that reveal complementary to each other in painting the picture created by the Swedish duo’s minds. Minds able to give their best in parts like the dark opening of “Ordo Intedob” (Solemnly heavy and dense with pathos) The wonderful “Ordo Ber’Geliaz” (With a fascinating character) “Ordo Nindyn Vel Uss’ Noamuth” (Divided by strings and pompous percussions of great effect.) And the eastern “Ordo Asomir”. Still again it’s a dark music full of tense and drama, captured by a pathos sometimes unmatched and with an exquisite Fantasy matrix. For a duo that keeps giving us splendid pages of dreaming musical art, by whose tunes you can let go of your mind towards less oppressing scenarios than the rarely encouraging reality of our times.

Rúna, Compulsion, Judas Kiss and the Tolkien Society (Amon Hen) - by Michael Cunningham:
Note:This review are in some of the magazines togheter with the review of Cults. The text have been published in all 4 magazines and might be published further.

Za Frûmi Legends Act 4 - Orders again follows the sequence of its predecessor by containing eleven tracks, this time each representative of an'Order'. With the music and field-recordings employed on this CD there is adeeply Chthonian world of hidden
lore and treachery evoked. Sounds such as dripping water and cavernous tmospheres slowly build at the beginning ofeach track before giving rise to the music which is performed on a number of instruments such as keyboard, wind, string or percussion which stir up terrible vistas. What Za Frûmi prove themselves capable of through these two releases is that they can imbue a cinematic like quality to their work as there is a sense of movement and characterization within each track that establishes the missing element - that of 'seeing' and that is the aspect contributed by the listener. Legends Act 4 has even found itself featured inan Italian historical art documentary and fans of previous 'Legends'releases include such luminaries as Ennio Morricone, John Malkovich andOliver Stone - underling the cinematic vein evinced through both these CD's. Both are convincing releases in that they comprise what their composers setout to realize - a sensorial tale through which the audience travels overvarying soundscapes with the imagined protagonists and are ably structured enough to be two of the foremost compositions in a rather obscure, but emerging, genre of music.

Heathen Harvest - by ChAwech:
Orders are the other side of the same coin they share with Cults. It is no surprise that this album was released simultaneously with the Cults album. But where the Cults are more primitive and even barbaric sometimes, the Orders are more sophisticated. Members of these Orders are the men behind the curtain, the puppetmasters of the leaders, the ones with the actual power. These are the elite of the land, mystical and esoteric groups with slight differences among them. Some orders are military, but the most secretive are highly skilled in alchemy.
The tracks on Orders are more gentle than the ones on Cults, true to the atmosphere these two should have. The Cults are harsher, more tribal.
The Orders instead focus more on beautiful melodies to dwell in. Percussion is used sometimes, but more sophisticated and used to aid the melodies, rather than be the main factor in the music. Choirs, such as in Ordo Inano (onani reversed, but I'm unsure if that's intentional) and Ordo Botta Secreta are absolutely beautiful, and they show that tracks with vocals are usually more enjoyable than ones without.
It's not only choirs, but also sole vocalists, such as in Ordo Ber'Geliaz, which also incorporates what sounds like a trumpet/saxophone variant, giving it a jazzy feeling.
The music of the Orders in the world of Za Frûmi is different from that of the Cults, but it's certainly as enjoyable. Where the music of the Cults is more focused on rhythm, the music of the Orders is more melody-oriented. These two albums, while pretty close to one another, can not be easily compared. They are rather different, but again so close to eachother that you should not have the one without the other. It is truly a twin album, each born from slightly different ideas and angles.
Orders is, like Cults, a must have for everyone familiar with Za Frûmi. These two albums are the result of two years of hard work and perfectionism. These guys are extremely talented and have a great imagination. Immerse yourself in their world, and support these excellent musicians. Hear some of what this album has to offer on last.fm; www.last.fm/music/Za+Frûmi/Legends+act+4+4+Orders. Do note that it's not just the music, but also the booklet and artwork. As usual with Za Frûmi, the artwork is very well done, fitting the atmosphere of the music perfectly. The booklet offers some insight in the different Orders.