Elyna Kahn
Chaos Magic, the powerful Chilean Symphonic Metal band led by the talented vocalist Caterina Nix, celebrates ten years of music with the release of the moving EP Of Time and Wishes. This work features five of its most recognized songs: Seraphim, Beware of Silent Waters, and Garden of Winter (in acoustic versions), alongside live renditions of Furyborn and The Impossible. It is worth remembering that Chaos Magic’s self-titled debut album, released in 2015, was produced by maestro Timo Tolkki, achieving a modern, top-tier sound.
That being said, Of Time and Wishes moved me deeply and also pleasantly surprised me for several reasons. To begin with, despite its acoustic format, the EP stands out for its outstanding production, on par with the great European Symphonic Metal bands. This creates a deeply emotional listening experience that lingers in both mind and heart. The acoustic versions of Seraphim, Beware of Silent Waters, and Garden of Winter evoked strong reminiscences of Anette Olzon, Within Temptation, post-Tarja Turunen Nightwish, Amaranthe, and Epica. In other words, they took me to “safe,” familiar places that allowed me to connect intensely with these tracks and with the musical identity of Chaos Magic. Meanwhile, the unplugged live versions of Furyborn and The Impossible carried me on a strange, syncretic journey, where Iron Maiden’s boundless energy merges with elegant Folk and Progressive touches, nods to Country, Hard Rock, and even Groove. Each genre flows into the other naturally and seamlessly, creating a singular listening experience.
All of this is enhanced by an avant-garde vocal duet that delights the ear and crowns the EP’s exquisite melodic richness, leaving a beautiful and lasting impression on anyone fortunate enough to encounter it. And speaking of favorites, the acoustic version of Garden of Winter simply tore me apart. The overwhelming melody—driven by a piano that seems to bleed, a Flamenco-tinged guitar, soulful violins, rich orchestration, and velvety yet powerful vocals—creates a canvas that moves me profoundly. It breaks me and, at the same time, heals me. That ability to wound and comfort simultaneously is, without a doubt, one of the essential qualities of any song that embodies the sacred spirit of music.
Lyrically, I wasn’t ready for its depth and intensity. Garden of Winter caught me at a moment of profound inner pain, silent mourning, and symbolic farewells to many dreams. The fierce sadness that overwhelms when you must “let go”—especially when you are autistic and feel everything multiplied by ten thousand—is heartbreakingly portrayed in the image of “being locked inside the frost of all the dreams that died in the cold.” Love, joy, hope, and the desire to live experiences are frozen like fiery flowers covered in ice, unable to bloom—forming a beautiful but tragic winter garden. Discovering this track on the very day my heart was breaking made me take ownership of it as if it were my own. Garden of Winter enveloped and accompanied me in that moment of melancholic beauty, becoming the cathartic cry of my soul on a cold, rainy day.
Long story short, Of Time and Wishes is a journey that presents three acoustic chapters and two unplugged ones, drawn from some of Chaos Magic’s most remarkable gems across its ten-year career. It is also an intimate journey that connects to safe places, cherished memories, and deep emotional resonance. The richness of the arrangements, the intensity of the melodies, and the blend of power and sweetness in the vocals create an auditory experience that stays in the heart long after the last note fades. Ultimately, Of Time and Wishes confirms once again that Chaos Magic captures the sacred essence of music—managing to touch the soul, translate unspoken feelings, sustain us in sadness, and remind us that music is essence and purity, refuge and catharsis, a true companion in every moment of our existence.
Label: Independent
Release date: August 1, 2025
Website: https://www.facebook.com/caterinanix/
Country: Chile
Score: Elyna gave no score, but it sounds positive?
Metal Eclipse Reviews 