Ithir – An Eye Between Nature And Itself
Artist: Ithir
Title: An Eye Between Nature And Itself
Label: Fiadh Productions
Release date: January 24th, 2025
Country: Ireland
Format reviewed: High-quality digital recording
An Eye Between Nature And Itself By Ithir
“An Eye Between Nature and Itself” is the latest release from the Irish duo, Ithir. This album tells a story of death—of offering oneself to the soil. The soil itself feels like the central character, as the band’s name suggests. The Bard, one of the project’s members, beautifully sets the tone with the opening lines:
“May the earth take my body
And the wind take my soul
May it nourish hungry soil
The rabbit, deer, and mole.”
The “eye” in the album’s title symbolizes the gateway to the soul, representing the deep connection between body, spirit, and nature. The cover art features a dolmen, an ancient stone structure believed to have been used for rituals and burial ceremonies. This imagery reinforces the album’s theme—the sacred bond between humanity and the natural world.
The journey begins with the sound of a bell, marking both a beginning and an end, a call to prayer and ritual. Its resonance soothes the mind and soul, while heavy, expressive guitar riffs paint a dark, immersive atmosphere. “I Gift My Flesh to the Maggots” narrates death itself; a funeral has taken place, the body now buried, sacrificed to the earth, nourishing new life. The Bard solemnly recites:
“I gift my flesh to maggots
And my eyes to hungry crows,
And all of me that lies above
Can feed the wheaten rows.”
The soundscape shifts with “Bound by Roots and Hungry Worms”, evoking the cold, lonely depths of the earth. It plays like the soundtrack to an eerie film—haunting, melancholic, and inevitable. The body is slowly becoming one with the roots, claimed by the underground. A mournful melody echoes, illustrating the moment when flesh succumbs to the hunger of the worms. The Bard’s words capture this transformation:
“Bound by roots and hungry worms,
They feed, I feed no more.
As I return to hallowed ground,
Of stories and of lore.”
Finally, “Eternity Will Pass in Time” opens with ritualistic sounds before the guitars return, mirroring the first track, reminding us that all things come full circle. From dust we are born, and to dust we return, becoming one with the land. The Bard’s final words conclude this poetic cycle:
“Eternity will pass in time,
As I rot into the ground,
But I shall know I fed the land,
In roots I shall be found.”
This album is a haunting blend of dark ambient and dungeon synth—both beautiful and poetic. The soundscape seamlessly intertwines with the evocative poetry of The Bard, enhancing the album’s immersive, ritualistic atmosphere. Every note and passage feels deliberately placed, drawing the listener into a world where sound and verse become one. 8.5 by Pegah
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8.5/10 To Greatness and Glory!
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