Guildmaster, The: Gathering Of Souls

Think of The Guildmaster as a smaller version of Samurai Of Prog. What I mean is there are typically less guests and the music is not quite as bombastic and generally carries more ethnic and folk undertones. Of course there are similarities as many of the musicians involved also gig with TSOP, namely Kimmo Pörsti and Marco Bernard and Rafeal Pacha has long been involved with the project.

The band released their debut The Knight and the Ghost in 2020, followed by Liber de Dictis in 2022, and now we have their latest effort titled Gathering Of Souls. If you have read my reviews you may know I have been a big fan of TSOP for years, the quality of the music is always exceptional. With The Guildmaster that high quality has remained, and it continues with this latest offering.

The first track “The Crusade Of Earl Birger� begins with Pacha’s lovely classical guitar and gentle keyboards, the band’s folk prog really stands out. After slowly building, the musicians up the tempo amidst wonderful synth and Pörsti’s stately drumming. Pacha lights a fire with some burning guitar including some monstrous riffage, before the band’s pastoral side takes hold once again. Fine acoustic guitar and piano can be heard on the Celtic influenced instrumental “Where Are You?�. Ethnic instrumentation like recorder, zither and bodhran add lovely organic touches throughout. Soon the band gets into a heavier groove with outstanding intermixing of guitar and keyboards. A gypsy folk sound can be heard on the spry and upbeat “Omnis Saltat Ad Solem� and on “Blood and Oblivion� the album’s longest track at over twelve minutes, begins with serene keyboards and Yogi Lang’s wonderful vocals. The extended time allows the band to stretch out giving the listener complex acoustic guitar, huge keyboards and synths, and a great groove driven expertly by Pörsti and Bernard.

This album is so finely crafted, so utterly professional, including Ed Unitsky’s wonderful artwork, one cannot help but appreciate all of the musicians involved. And yes, Gathering Of Souls is in a word…excellent.

A Seacrest Oy release.

Track Listing:
1. The Crusade Of Earl Birger (5:49)
2. Where Are You? (10:29)
3. Omnis Saltat Ad Solem (5:55)
4. Blood And Oblivion (12:39)
5. Lo Prometido Es Dueda (7:11)
6. Mary The Jewess (10:49)
7. Luonto Puhuu (5:46)
8. Sea And Sky (5:36)

Added: October 19th 2025
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band on YouTube
Hits: 646
Language: english

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