Night Castle

Night Castle
Studio album by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Released October 28, 2009
Recorded 2006-2008
Genre Symphonic metal, progressive metal, neoclassical metal
Length 2:01:30
Label Lava
Producer Paul O'Neill, Robert Kinkel
Trans-Siberian Orchestra chronology
The Lost Christmas Eve
(2004)		 Night Castle
(2009)		 Dreams of Fireflies (On a Christmas Night)
(2012)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic -[1]

Night Castle is the fifth rock opera by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra; a double CD that includes a sixty-page booklet illustrated by Greg Hildebrandt,[2] it was released on October 28, 2009, debuting at #5 on the Billboard charts and #1 on the rock music charts. It was certified gold in eight weeks and is currently a platinum album.

Reception

Like in all of Trans-Siberian Orchestra's previous albums, the story in Night Castle is as important as the music. Though both music and story are designed to stand alone, when combined they are far more powerful and emotionally engaging. The progressive rock website Sea of Tranquility called Night Castle "A musical masterpiece that will have you on edge one moment and weeping like a baby the next." [3] The story revolves around a young child on a beach late at night, where she encounters a mysterious but non-threatening stranger. While they build a sandcastle together by the light of a bonfire, he tells her a tale that takes her all around the world and throughout history. "Their most ambitious and adventurous work to date. It runs the gamut from hard rock to classical taking the listener on a journey through history detailing the triumphs and follies of man but is ultimately a story of transformation and love."[4] Metal Kaoz album review said,"From the moment the play button is pressed, the listener is exposed to a wide range of emotions and colors reaching many a delightful climax...The second CD serves a hearty collection of re-arranged tracks that will blow your mind".[5]SoundPress called it compelling, dramatic, diverse, and "although the songs stand on their own merit it is strongly suggested that listeners read the 64 page booklet," [6] As of April, 2013, iTunes customers rated it 4.5 on a scale of 1 to 5, with 346 reviews and the vast majority rating it perfect.[7] Skope Diverse Music Coverage starts their review with, "TSO is recognized as the ultimate touring operatic/theatrical act in music today".[8]

In 2011, Atlantic released the album on vinyl in an eight side (Four disc) set in a special slip box designed to avoid the cracked corners that plague many vinyl box set. The album includes a version of Kim Fowley's Nut Rocker as a tribute to Emerson, Lake & Palmer, who in turn had performed the song as a tribute to Tchaikovsky. Greg Lake from Emerson, Lake & Palmer honored the band by playing bass on the album.[9]

Bonus tracks include the songs "Child of the Night" and "Believe" which, according to the band, are a glimpse into future projects. An additional bonus track, "The Flight of Cassandra", was available exclusively online on Amazon.com, the first time that TSO had done something like this.

Track listing

Disc one

No. Title Length
1. "Night Enchanted"   5:46
2. "Childhood Dreams"   4:25
3. "Sparks"   6:01
4. "The Mountain" (Instrumental) 4:54
5. "Night Castle"   3:57
6. "The Safest Way Into Tomorrow"   4:57
7. "Mozart and Memories" (Instrumental) 5:16
8. "Another Way You Can Die"   3:54
9. "Toccata - Carpimus Noctem" (Instrumental) 4:02
10. "The Lion's Roar" (Instrumental) 4:36
11. "Dreams We Conceive"   5:13
12. "Mother and Son"   0:41
13. "There Was a Life"   9:35
Total length:
 63:10

Disc two

No. Title Length
1. "Moonlight and Madness" (Instrumental) 5:04
2. "Time Floats On"   3:33
3. "Epiphany"   11:00
4. "Bach Lullaby" (Instrumental) 0:50
5. "Father, Son & Holy Ghost"   6:48
6. "Remnants of a Lullaby"   3:10
7. "The Safest Way Into Tomorrow (Reprise)"   1:43
8. "Embers" (Instrumental) 3:53
9. "Child of the Night" (The Flower Duet) 3:29
10. "Believe" (Savatage remake) 6:12
11. "Nutrocker" (Instrumental) 4:07
12. "Carmina Burana"   2:44
13. "Tracers" (Instrumental) 5:47
14. "Requiem" (Live 2010 (European Release Only))  
15. "Toccata - Carpimus Noctem" (Live 2010 (European Release Only))  
Total length:
 58:20

Personnel

Performers

Vocals

Solo:

Backup:

Guide:

Gospel Choir:

Child Choir:

Vietnamese Dialogue:

Instruments

Band:

Strings:

Additional Instruments:

Savatage connections

Some of the songs on Night Castle trace their origins to music written by Savatage, the heavy metal band from which the Trans-Siberian Orchestra evolved.

References

  1. ↑ Allmusic - review
  2. ↑ Night Castle credits
  3. ↑ SeaofTranquility, October 27, 2009
  4. ↑ Heavy Metal Cosmos, October 2009
  5. ↑ MetalKaoz, 08/10/2011
  6. ↑ SoundPress.net,November,2009
  7. ↑ Itunes.apple.com
  8. ↑ Skopemag.com, December 24, 2009
  9. ↑ Night Castle credits

External links

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