Art Gates Records, 2022
Music: Troll Metal / Folk Black Metal
Website:
https://aktarum.com/
https://www.facebook.com/aktarum
Duration: 55:00 (12 tracks)
Country: Belgium
Belgian Trolls grouped in 2005 in Wavre to announce their existence to the world, shout their history or tell epic stories. And so they already have several minor materials and two full albums to their credit. They fought many times. And together they stood shoulder to shoulder on the front lines with KORPIKLAANI, ELUVEITIE and other warriors. Of course, how could their Metal sound other than troll-like? The lyrics also apply to everything related to Trolls, which is also stated in most songs tittles and albums titles. That is why they describe their Metal as – Troll Metal.
Undeniably, these Belgian troll-avengers are preparing the third attack – “Trollvengers”. This time, thanks to the Spanish allies from Art Gates Records, to attack with full force on March 18, 2022!
“Trollvengers” has very rich weapons. The weapons are not only guitars, drums and (widely spreading) vocals, but also very exposed keys (with very rich sounds – for example string instruments, various pipes, flutes, accordion).
The basis of combat strategies are Symphonic Folk Metal patents (oscillating around folk and military or court and classical melodies of Western Europe), sometimes similar to KORPIKLAANI or FINTROLL atmosphere. But with a very strong influences of Black Metal, only the epic and symphonic, and some might also define – commercial (a’la DIMMU BORGIR), full of vocal dialogues. In addition, Power Metal motifs, lofty melodies and vocals (male-female, also choral), for example in the style of RHAPSAODY, as well as Melodic Death Metal accents or even Doom Metal accents, are clearly marked. However, slow temops are rare. Vigor and impetuosity dominate.
The music, apart from Metal weight, i.e. powerful riffs, aggressive licks, warlike drums, emphatic solos, deep growls and troll squawks (a bit grotesque), contains a lot of melodies – guitar, keyboard and vocal, very epic, full of pathos and sublime, even idyllic and festive, but also very emotional, catchy, energetic, dynamic, stimulating to action and full of nostalgia or melancholy.
There is always something going on in this music, as if in the heat of a fight. Musical themes (Metal, Folk and Symphonic) overlap and interpenetrate. Following auditions reveal new musical topics that may have escaped earlier.
AKTARUM showed that Folk Metal is also ambitious arrangements, even progressive!
Tracklist:
1. A Tale of Trolls
2. The Blood of Trolls
3. In the Name of Trolls
4. TrollVengers
5. Of Trolls and Men
6. The Trolls and the Dwarves
7. Troll Zeppelin
8. The Misty Mountain Troll
9. To ValhaTroll
10. Troll Wrath
11. Pirates VS Trolls
12. A Troll Farewell
Line-up:
Trollaklass – guitars & vocals
Trollaflem – bass & vocals
Trollhammer – drums
Trollbard – guitars & vocals
Trollhour – keyboards
Rate: 9.0/10
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