fablelore - Chapters

fablelore

Chapters
self-released; 2019

​3.9 out of 5

By Jamie Funk

When I heard the name fablelore I was hoping that it was going to sound a little like the world of warcraft, lord of the rings and fantasy. The band comprised of Thillman Benham (cello), Waylon K. Smith (keys/vocals), Eli August (guitar/vocals) and Dave Benham (flutes/percussion) released Chapters. That is certainly the case and I would say the flutes and cello add a lot to the factor as well as the lyrics which are in the realm of fantasy as well.

The EP starts with “Wastelands of Time.” There is some beautiful guitar picking and a whimsical flute quickly comes into the mix that really adds to the feel they are going for. Once the cello comes on board as well I did start to feel like I was in a fantasy novel. He sings about spells and even uses the word “thine.”

I really didn’t know what a whippoorwill was at first but figured out it was a bird. “The Whippoorwill” felt like part of our hero's journey perhaps encountering a majestic creatures. On top of the cello and flute they now add distorted guitar and rolling toms which give the sense you are going into battle.

On “The Valley” I was picturing landscapes perhaps a little like the intro to Game of Thrones. It’s thematic, grand and quite serene. The vocals are fairly sparse here with them showing up in the first half. That being said the lyrics revolve around themes of magic and spells.

They close strong with “Fools Fire” which is more of a battle chant. The percussion is a focal point and as the song progresses it certainly goes into epic territory.

​To state the obvious, I think this music will resonate most with fans of fantasy. There is just no hiding the influence from the genre. The music is original sounding and they have a niche. I was impressed and will be waiting for the next chapter in their story.

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