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All hail the beginning of a new rock genre
with Black Messiah the realms of Pagan Metal have been unearthed with the
band latest release 'Of Myths And Legends'.
The band have gone through many
metamorphosis since their incarnation back in 1992 and with change comes,
well change. The band have changed label and are now signed to AFM
Records in a hope to take this once studio project on to higher plains.
The bands mix of progressive metal with
some folkish elements with the demonic vocals of Zagan bring an
interesting mix the metal genres, hailing the formation of the genre Pagan
Metal.
The album opens up with ‘In Remembrance’
with its atmospheric opening, but this soon give way to the titanic title
track ‘Of Myths And Legends’ and the monstrous vocals of Zagan, who puts
the might of Black Messiah behind him. With the twin guitar
onslaught of Zoran and Meldric together, they conjure up a world of Nordic
Tales of old as you enter Odens domain and the world of Myths And Legends.
The album brings in those folkish elements
mixed with the scything guitars of Zoran and Meldric on the eclectic speed
fest that is ‘Irminsul’.
The atmospheric tones continue with the
mighty ‘Father Of War’, but it’s the gypsy violin of the beer drinking
song ‘Sauflied’ that really show the fusion between metal and traditional
folk, which all go to make this an interesting album to listen to, as you
don’t know just what to expect next.
But track of the album for me is the
majestic ‘ Howl Of The Wolves’, which combines the intense vocals of Zagan
with some of the most atmospheric power metal you will hear this year.
The musicianship of the band, is put out on a pedestal for all to hear on
this one.
The supreme musicianship continues one
with the awe inspiring ‘Erik, Der Rote’ as it takes you on a metal journey
across the fiords to a by-gone age.
It's back to the more traditional folk
tones with the gypsy violin returning for instrumental ‘Loki’s Tanz’, a
track that paves the way to another folk, black metal mix that is ‘Die
Suhne Des Feuerbringers’, another very eclectic mix of styles that this
album is filled with. None more so than with the Cossack dancing
feel of ‘Moskau’.
This very different album comes to a close
on a more traditional metal note with the rampaging ‘The Bestial Hunt Of
The Fenrizwolf’, which rounds of this quite unique insight into the world
of Pagan Metal. |
