Music: Black/Folk/Viking/Pagan Metal
Website: http://www.metalmessage.de
Country: International
Cool songs: Everything!
For the fourth time Metal Message hit our stores and not only them, but mainly metal maniacs all around the world. The fantastic idea of releasing underground (as the management says) bands under one banner is truly magnificent and noble. Thanks to such possibility the groups pearls can be found in the homes of thousands of metal maniacs who worship them on their private pagan altars. The dust from the fourth edition has not fallen yet and we hear that the fifth is planned to strike us at the end of this year… thats cool!
The bands which took part in this undertaking were the children of the old goddess Europe and they come from different parts of her bosom. There is no majority, the proportions are diligently chosen. There is place for everyone and it is audible from the very beginning. Just to start with a blasty riffs of Norways GJENFERDSEL or Estonian THARAPHITA, or take a turn in the middle with THEUDHO! Those elements simply pulverize with their power, they smite us with the hands of pagan gods. To be more precise, the music is also dosed inperfect proportions. Black fans will find interesting parts in Svik or GALARs Hugin Og Munin or FOLKEARTHs The Riding…. It is audible that the international line up of the latter has overcome many changes which resulted with a slight development of style. The music became more savage but still it has the true pagan value. The enthusiasts of good old heavy tune will appreciate THARAPHITHA. One of the most interesting representation in this compilation has the United Kingdom. The fantastic and very chary FOREFATHER and OAKENSHIELD create a grim atmosphere of old pagan Britain… you just want to sing: And did those feet in ancient times…. Their compositions are perfect examples of creating a very intelligent and complex music with limited means. Everything sounds so old-school! And have a taste of FOREFATHERs solo… it reminds one of the good-old MARILLIONs ones (Three Boats Down from the Candy). And if you like the true pagan sound you will be blown away by SLARTIBARTFASS and GALAR. The great vision and way of expression leads to one thought – masterpiece. Folk metal maniacs will definitely love IRMINSULs Vinterskald – this composition is truly folk, with fantastic melodic lines, cool motifs and that astonishing folk atmosphere. For metal heads interested in more doom-like sound there is ALKONOST, a Russian atmospheric metal with fantastic vocals by Alena. The Russian proposition is one of the most interesting parts of the whole compilation. But the most fantastic and outrageous composition is left for the very end: SIROCCOs Forsaken Shores is a good example of a fusion of genres, where we have elements of heavy metal and cool folk elements! This song kicks ass and tears into pieces. Great timing, fantastic pacing, tremendous atmosphere and spellbinding solo. What more can one want? Well… more from Metal Message!
As for drawbacks… as the MM info says, the realisation is based on an underground root. And sometimes that underground sound is a bit too much audible. Especially at the beginning… when the sounds of GJENFERDSEL or THARAPHITA can blow your head into pieces (when you adjust the volume level to 20) and OAKENSHIELDs sound will be barely audible. It is not a huge drawback, but can annoy sometimes. The level of sound is not adjusted correctly. But all in all the whole is just marvellous and I want more. More black, more pagan, more folk and more brutal! Will you do it for me? Will you do it for all those metal thirsty fans? I bet you will!
note: 9.5/10
Tracklist
1. GJENFERDSEL (Norway) – Svik
2. FOREFATHER (UK) – Engla Tocyme
3. THARAPHITA (Estonia) – Lidsetel Sunkjatel Radadel
4. GALAR (Norway) – Hugin Og Munin
5. OAKENSHIELD (UK) – Ginnunngagap
6. IRMINSUL (Sweden) – Vinterskald
7. SLECHTVALK (Netherlands) – On the Eve of Battle
8. FOLKEARTH (International) – The Riding of the Queen Boudiccea
9. THEUDHO (Belgium) – The Journey to Lyngvi
10. ALKONOST (Russia) – Darkness
11. SLARTIBARTFASS (Germany) – St. Cuthbert
12. SKYFORGER (Latvia) – A Crested Bird Sings
13. SIROCCO (Ireland) – Forsaken Shores
Total playing time 72:40
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