"A blessing in Disguise" is Green Carnation's third album, two years after "Light of day, day of darkness", a one-track concept album. This time, the band returns to a more classical format. Guitarist Tchort, the band's mastermind, let the other members of the band participate in the composition of the tracks, a novelty that influences the band's music, giving a melancholic result, in a style that combines the melodic with the progressive.
The album opens with a very Rock and straightforward track, 'Crushed to dust', but the journey begins with the second piece. 'Lullaby in winter', which starts as a ballad before taking a very seventies and atmospheric turn reinforced by the Hammond organ, is simply magnificent.
The instrumental parts are supported by the vocals of Kjetil Nordhus who excels in his role and conveys the emotions of the music perfectly. The last track of the album, 'Rain', also develops these very particular atmospheres.
Listening to this album, you can feel several inspirations. Sometimes one thinks of Opeth or Anathema or even Paradise Lost or Uriah Heep. But the band knows how to go beyond these influences to create its own universe. One can only admire such musical virtuosity. The guitar parts are sumptuous and the arrangements very fine and rich. Added to this already more than honourable result are the orchestral parts that make Green Carnation one of the bands of 2003 not to be missed under any pretext.