Viking metal / Black Metal / Pagan Folk
Track Listing:
01
Fimbulvet - Helias Bann
02
Hromovlad - Slavia
03
Tumulus - Kochevonov
04
Dark Forest - Journey To Ever-Eternal Skies
05
Tiwaz - The Battlelore
06
Dyrathor - Im Auge Des Sturms
07
Xerión - No Pazo Derruido Da Existencia
08
Adorned Brood - Sons Of The Damned
09
Waylander - As Deities Clash
10
Natan - Volkskracht
11
Andras - Miasma Track
12
Obscurity - Nach Asgard Wir Reiten
13
Vinternatt - De Zwarte Mis
The first thing that strike out about this release is the colourful cover which is very attractive for the eye, it portrays the never resting ever almighty Thor about to crush some Goblin skulls, the artist behind this is no other but the famous Ed Repka, famous for inventing the mascot of Megadeth and classic illustrator of famous 80s covers such as “Leprosy” from Death, “Game over” from Nuclear assault and many others that are now considered classics. The CD compilation comes in a beautifully crafted DVD case and inside there’s an A5” 16 pages booklet full of beautiful naturist pictures displaying marvellous woods, lakes reflecting the amber tone of Autumn leaves, rivers transporting the icy blood from snow peaked mountains and plains upholstered with leafy hoist in full colour and most magnificent vivacity. Also there is a picture presenting each band formation in old style like portraits.
This entire visual snack is truly appealing and seducing for entrance, an aspect that I have always considered overly important more over consider the magnificence from nature and the relevance this aspect has for a true heathen heart. Additionally there is something definitively energetic about this work, something that goes way into superstition or perhaps new age beliefs! but it certainly spreads some kind of irradiation coming from its case telling something like “Catch me!, Listen to me!” and indeed it was the very first release that called my attention when I checked my assigned set of CDs to review for this issue, that’s not a coincidence! There is a lot of dedication and strength put into this small but energetically charged set and that doesn’t come unnoticed for someone who cares about details. The release is limited to 2000 copies and presents 13 bands from different countries, most come from Germany, but there is also, Belgians, Russians, Brazilians, Canadians, Irish and Spaniards, all of them sharing a common sentiment, the love for the land and nature, the veneration for the old spirits and traditions from our ancestors and a certain dedication to the protections from this values through their arts, this is something that deserves all my respect considering the disinterest and apathy that governs as an evil spirit the souls from our desecrated world. Praise for them, and joy for us, let the blessings from this creation serves as guarantee to revive the dormant spirits that resides in humanity and awake for their dark dream of self annihilation!
Some bands are definitively amateurish and clearly portrays the immense effort to adequate their skills and to create attractive combos to seduce the listener, I dismiss that aspect by large, even if some of them may eventually lack the technique to acquire such prime goal. All because what we got in here is passion and a decided stance for pure realization, this is ultimately important! What they lack in technique or in sonority they achieve in stamina and dedication, the spirit of their work transcends and really touches you and in the end you understand the real message behind these young spirits, a message that is way beyond metal as a genre or an aesthetic, in reality, this compilation stands as a solidified union for a single idea, for a way of feeling and for a perception over the ultimate important figure, that is life and its mysterious vicinity with nature.
Musically, or technically speaking there is a set of bands that impressed me both in their level of creativity, experimentalism, folklore inductions and strength. But as said before, all of them truly share the same contour and a musical versatility that results really entertaining as a whole. Hromovlad from Slovakia impressed me with its festivity like folky induction over a very fierce set of Viking metal/Black metal arrangements. The shattered voice steps above the heavily rhythmic riffs while the flute melody dances around like Pan in the woods. The drums are raw but full of amplitude which adds the work a special sonority, vast and energetic and the guitar set interestingly plays with a dwell of rhythic riffs armored on Black metalish combos but with a decided pace of Viking metal. Tumulus from Russia presents a shamanic like voice with an exponential range, very sentimental and powerful, while the guitar set switch from Power metal chords to exquisite harmonies and the keyboards create valleys of pastoral grace. Dark forest from Canada takes a more decidedly stand for Viking metal with the resonance of battle and thunderous drum blasts. The track is mostly instrumental and very atmospheric, with passages for almighty chorus lines and a wide cadence that results ominous and incandescent, bringing memories from Bathory “Hammer’s heart” with its mid to low paced rhythms, full of power and mountain like dimension.
Next is the warrior like stance from the Irish quartet Waylander that mixes elegant heavy metal power riffs over a tapestry of beautiful folk melodies, very moving track that affords a surprise in the middle of the track with a rhythmic change that opens for a valley of folk acoustics displayed by Spanish guitar at charge of the mid paced rhythm, the sweet flute dedicated to the melody and a drum that follows the guitar play and then the fury from heavy metal riffs comes again to elevate the listener in the never ending blue sky. Natan from Beligium follows a similar principle with this band but instead takes Black metal as its banner for adding strength and shield and then submerges the listener in a very soothing and mystic folk passage where a nostalgic violin and a cello comprises an inspired levelling. Then they fuse together the harmonies from the folk style and the amplitude from the tremolo riff to form a whole piece of epic proportion and almighty exaltation. Andras from Germany steps in the proud appeal of bands such as Primordial and Borknagar at once with a heavy influx of orchestral background, a very strong set of riffs and tenor voice that results interestingly contrasted in the wall of majestic orchestral power set by the guitars and the keyboards. It is a very harmonious track but at the same time clearly dedicated to preserve the strength amidst the arpeggios. The more interesting part is the choral hum at the end set as some sort of atmospheric curtain to embrace the rasping voice of the lead vocal, resulting in stood finale.
In the end we have a very solid compilation made of cheerful love and heartfelt valour, consolidating a true brotherhood of pagans united for a single goal through metal music. The release is both aesthetically and musically appealing and attractive, full of an evident will and determination that doesn’t let the listener untouched by its grace, revealing into him sentiments of strength and union or the necessity of the defence for what resides in the frontiers from our hearts. Diverse forms take hold in here, from more Black metal kicks to muscular Viking metal passing through Power metal-Heavy metal combos that perfectly combines in their reunion. Cheers for all our pagan brothers in all corners of the planet and salut for this grand compilation offered by Metal message, truly delivering a heartfelt sensation and musical exemplars of young heathenism.
