BERSERK „“Return Of The Ancient Laws””

BERSERK „“Return Of The Ancient Laws”” - okładka
Music: Folk/Black Metal
Website: http://www.berserkhorde.com
Country: Spain
Cool songs: Forest in Souls in the Wolf’s Land, La Tene’s Sons



There are many BERSERKS but there is only one Spanish BERSERK, a band formed at the beginning of 1998 by Forjstorm, LordMonk, Frozen Wind and Gog (very sophisticated nicks). Obitus joined the group later, in November 1998. ‘Return of the Ancient Laws’ was their first demo album, recorded in 1999, originally containing four tracks. In 2004 Adipocere Records re-released the album, enriching it with four compositions from live performances. And so the demo became a kind of full-length release.

This quite inconvenient long play release is an interesting mixture of an early folk, black metal and very audible pagan influences. First of all, the compositions sound more or less the same, as for a demo material… nothing special. Even a normal situation. So it is even hard to understand the Adipocere intention of re-reissuing this album, which was a weak start. Maybe they counted on sentiments or some similar stuff. The compositions are quite dull, but when ‘La Tene’s Sons’ reach the ears, everything changes. Thanks to this composition the whole material starts to resemble the great BATHORY. This fantastic acoustic interlude simply pulverizes with its beauty. What is more, the compositions, despite of sounding more or less the same, are quite developed, each of them contains several mood and motifs changes, plus many speedy accelerations. Especially in the first part of the album, which is the original studio-recorded material. The second half, live performance stuff is more coherent, convincing and melodic, because it was recorded years after the release of the demo. But they lack the original rawness. Concentrating on the content and music, it is just sheer and brutal power, which is not enough to affect the listener… I almost fell asleep while listening…

BERSERK recorded an average album and Adipocere did a bad, bad thing by re-releasing it. If they had not had the idea for music, they could have released the best of or something like that. Today, when listening to BERSERK recent works, this one is at the very end, and does not even have a sentimental value. It has nothing much to offer.

note: 5/10

Tracklist

1. The Wind Marks Us Its Celtiberian Law
2. Forest of Souls in the Wolf's Land
3. The Great Celtiberia
4. La Tene's Sons
5. Cries of Blood and Hate (Live)
6. Astapa´s Ashes (Live)
7. Gaze at the Sky (Live)
8. Lost Wisdom (Burzum Cover – Live)

Total playing time 40:07

Line-up

Gog – vocals
Forjstorm – guitars
LordMonk – bass
Frozen Wind – drums
Obitus – synthesizers

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