Leah “Ancient Winter Review”
By Glenn Remsen (Cohost and Producer of the Get Real! Podcast)
Since childhood, one of the aspects of Christmas I have cherished the most is the music of the season. I would often stay up until midnight on Christmas Day to hear the very last Christmas song played on the radio before it was a return to the regular rotation of music. As soon as regular programming returned, a melancholy sentiment would vex my soul.
The songs which both fascinated and moved me most were the ones which captured the otherworldly mystery of the holiday. After all... the true Christmas story is one of an ancient miracle that opened the door for miracles today. As a brain tumor survivor, I can attest to miracles that would not have been possible without the mystery of Christmas.
Today though, that mystery is often obscured by songs that focus on temporal themes about things that will all eventually melt away like winter's snow when the sun reaches its apex. These songs are fun to sing along with and listen to while enjoying a gingerbread cookie (or in my case several) but leave me hungering to hear more about the otherworldly mystery of Christmas.
My hunger for the “magic” of Christmas has been satisfied with a new album, "Ancient Winter" from Leah who is otherwise known as “The Metal Enya." Every track of this album attests to the mystery and miracle of the Christmas holiday!
A Christmas metal album? Yes...you have to understand that "metal" today is much different than the superficial "Glam Metal" of the 80's. Today metal is a safe forum where an artist can freely release what is truly stirring in them and share their views of the universe by using a variety of instruments, genres, styles, and tempos. The genre in and of itself has evolved into something otherworldly.
The style of this album can best be described as "Celtic" with the musical flavors of such great artists as: Loreena McKennitt, Enya, and pianist Michael Harrison. For ardent metal fans, there are even guest compilations with some of the genre's greatest musicians such as Troy Donockley (pipes) from Nightwish and Shir Ran Yinon (viola, violin) from Eluveitie. Wow!!!!
Everything about this album helps to take your eyes off the temporal to see as much of the eternal as possible without it overwhelming frail human senses. The vocals are clear, stunning, and comforting. The instrumentation and arrangements help to convey and support the stirrings of the artist's soul. In fact, instrumental versions of each of these songs would perfectly communicate the heart Leah openly expresses to the world through each track. Think of it though, the hallmark of the most moving Christmas Carols and Hymns that have withstood the test of time is that they are just as powerful without lyrics being sung as they are with the craft of a vocalist.
For instance, in the song, "Upon Your Destiny" the strings start small and then swell into an epic symphony capturing how small steps of faith through slightly open doors lead to even wider open doors and things unimaginable. This song is a reminder that the epic throws of destiny as portrayed by the swelling strings can never be realized if a person doesn't take the small steps even apprehensive steps as portrayed by the single strings.
The song "Light of the World" hearkens back to the ancient roots of Christmas in the Middle East and reminds us that some of the first to visit the Messiah shortly after his birth were men steeped in the spiritual traditions of Babylon. All too often Christmas is viewed. As a “Western Holiday” and the Wise Men who came to him with expensive gifts are inaccurately portrayed as modern adherents to the Sunday School Standards of the American South.
Without question, this album is appropriately titled "Ancient Winter" because it gently nudges the listener to consider ancient truths which today have been either neglected or severely distorted.
Another reason why this album is appropriately titled is that Leah very beautifully pays homage to ancient songs of joy and worship. The track "Gaudete" is the perfect example of this. "Gaudete," which is Ecclesiastical Latin for "rejoice [ye]," was a 16th Century Christmas hymn. Her ethereal take on this ancient treasure puts it in a modern context but does not depart far from the original composition of the 16th Century.
With "Gaudete," Leah clearly demonstrates that the ancient is still relevant. Perhaps we should all consider things we have discarded because they are from the distant past. After all, there is really nothing new under the sun.
Every one of Leah’s albums released since 2012 is a musical treasure. However, this release is a new plateau for her. Everything about it seems to be an abundant overflow of the soul expressed by one who can sing with the tongue of an angel.
To hear a full discussion of this album on the Get Real! Podcast on iTunes or Podbean. To get a copy of this musical gem click here.