When I've took this CD and read lineup this Finnish band, I've thought that this is one of the newest bands sounding like Nightwish clone. This impression was fortified by art cover with tied girl on front of, and by vague pictures inside the booklet. Fortunately I was dismissed. The sound appeared far from frivolity of band mentioned above. Silentium was be able to create atmosphere of total doomish feelings grounded on the northern feelings.
Undistinguished vocals and beautiful background filled with twilight organ sound give make this record very unusual for listenig. Sometimes music line falls from Doom roaming out of this world to core Death sound that reminds me beginng of My Dying Bride's career. But for attempt to explane in whole the sence evacuated from the music, one need to add in sound a little bit of Summmonnig's ambient mixed with the total vaguety of vocals varied from chorus to Death hoarseness.
"Altum" is worth to be in CD collection, but I find only one bad thing durinig listening this album. From time to time there a strange guitar sound taken from the NWOBHM years is appeared. Due to its presence I can't estimate "Altum" with the hight grade. But the absence of lucrative modern commercial stuff, like f/x samples, drumm-machine, etc. allow Silentium to be worth to be appreciated by many person in the Metal World. As to me to be concerned with this record, I like it, the music has a beauty of the North.

October, 2001
Review by Vetrarnott