Reviews

 Review by: Metal-Experience (Netherlands)                                          m t

 ALVHEIM - I Et Fjort Fortid- 2009 (Gardarika Musikk)                                        Rating  70/100 .

December 2009

Reviewer: koos van Marle

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Alvheim is een Russische viking/black metal band volgens mijn wel ingelichte bron metal-archives en deze EP is de eerste uitgave sinds de oprichting van de band in 2005. Viking metal vind ik nog steeds een lastig genre om te definieren, daarom zal ik het in deze review vooral hebben over black metal.

Want dat bevat deze plaat volgens mij toch het meeste. Ouwerwetse black, die wat terugpakt op midtempo zo nu en dan, en door de gebruikte samples aan het begin van de nummers en zo nu en dan tussendoor krijg je misschien wel het ‘viking’ gevoel. Samples van onweer, hoorns en meer van dat soort typische viking ongein doel ik dan op. Qua thematiek zal het er ook wel dicht tegenaan liggen, zoals titels als “I et Fjort Fortid” en “Til Valhallen” al doen vermoeden. Mijn kennis van de Noorse taal gaat echter niet zover om ook maar iets eruit te kunnen halen, gezien niet alleen de titels maar ook de teksten in het Noors geschreven zijn. Genoeg over vikingen en Noren, op naar de muziek. Is dat dan ook Noors hoor ik je denken? Ja, best wel eigenlijk. Overwegend up-tempo gespeelde black metal met een drumcomputer, aangezien Alvheim slechts bestaat uit de heer Alvar zelf en je niet alle instrumenten kan beheersen toch? En dat doet hij eigenlijk geen eens onaardig. Ok, het is niet de nieuwste topper in het genre, maar de plaat wekt bij mij geen irritatie op, ondanks de productie van kwaliteit-achter-het-kippenhok-van-Ghaal. Het kabbelt allemaal lekker door, af en toe een breakje, de vocalen zijn okay, en in mijn ogen klinkt het niet alsof het allemaal direct gekopieerd is van de Scandinavische voorbeelden. Toegegeven het beste nummer is dan een Darkthrone cover, maar ook dat mag de pret niet drukken, aangezien het er niet met kop en schouders bovenuit steekt. Liefhebbers van ouderwetse black met een melodieuse inslag zouden deze EP zeker een kans moeten geven. In 25 minuten trekken de 5 nummers zo aan je voorbij en dat is eigenlijk wel een compliment in dit geval. In dit subhoekje wordt namelijk ook genoeg bagger uitgebracht en daar behoort deze plaat zeker niet toe. Enige puntje van kritiek is het verborgen instrumentaaltje van ongeveer 1,5 minuut aan het einde van deze plaat. Tsja, dat had beter in Sotsji achter kunnen blijven. (koos van Marle)

Metal-Experiience Alvheim review

 Review by: NOIZZ Webzine (in Spanish)                                                     t  

 ALVHEIM - I Et Fjort Fortid- 2009 (Gardarika Musikk)                                    Rating  6,75/10 .

In Spanish:

NoizzWebzine Alvheim review

Metal Rules Alvheim review

on Saturday 18 April 2009

by Bato

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Raven Throne is yet another fine and pagan black metal band on Gardarika Musikk. As far as I’m informed this is one of a few metal bands from Belarus. All of the songs are sung in their native Russian and with Russian letters, so I guess some will find it even more interesting and mystique.

The music on this very special CD is relying on traditions of the best northern bands such as Darkthrone and Immortal and with slightly touches of Primordialand Graveland, as it contains elements of both Celtic melody and Slavic story telling. It is much about ancient history, old winters, hopeless situation and desolation. In other words; it is the voice of the past reaching through darkness.

Vocals are most of the time creaming and it is powerful supported by successful atmospheric support from the keyboards. This release is very interesting and I can only recommend it to any fan of Pagan & Nordic black metal.

http://www.metal-revolution.com/plugins/content/content.php?content.2143

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

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I'm always amused by bands that identify themselves by Name (country of origin), it is especially great when the name comes from Tolkien. Kurgan doesn't come out of any Tolkien works that I know, but still it was with great surprise that I found they were the only metal band with the name according to Metal-Archives. ...And Green Grasses are Freezing Slowly is their first full length release, a pagan black album, and one of my favorites this year.

It seems to me that if you have a derivative name you should also identify what media you took it from in parenthesis as well. So this band would presumably look like Kurgan (Ukr) (Clancy Brown). Wikipedia tells me that a kurgan is a Russian burial mound and an airport. I don't speak whatever language they do, so I couldn't tell you which is the correct influence.

The songs are short though and rightly so; they don't overstay their welcome, but feature plenty of catchy synth hooks. While not as masterful as say Oath Bound, I've found myself humming a number of these songs. I can't remember if that's bullshit or not for a black metal album.

There's hardly a weak track on the album. Songs like “Rain from Svarga” and “And Filth Has Come of the Earth” are obvious stand outs with the aforementioned synth hooks, but both songs have solid riffs to back it up. The vocals are more on the guttural side of black vocals and the drumming while solid is pretty standard.

Its not an album with a whole lot of meat to it, which is to say it only takes a few listens to digest everything. You'll probably be done with it in a week or two, but I figure there isn't enough time in the day to devote more than that to any one album and this one pays off right up front and manages to stay enjoyable a few months later.

Verdict: Win

original review in Hungarian:

http://www.femforgacs.hu/kritika/1043/Kurgan_I_Zamerzayut_Travy_Zelenye_2008

 Review by: Metalmessage Online Magazine (Germany)                 mm 

 KURGAN ...And Green Grasses Are Freezing Slowly- 2008 (Gardarika)           Rating  8/10.

© Markus Eck (01.07.2008

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Einen morderisch schweren Heidenhammer schwingen diese funf besessenen Ukrainer hier – gegrundet im August 2004, zockten die Beteiligten anfangs noch ziemlich brutalen Pagan Black Metal, welcher mit der Zeit zum Gluck der Horer immer melodischere Auspragungen annahm. Interessant ist neben der wirklich hervorragend und uberlegt gemachten Berserker-Musik des kruden Quintetts auch der Gruppenname an sich: Ein Kurgan beziehungsweise Kurgane sind namlich recht gro?e, aus Erde oder Steinen (nicht selten auch gemischt) aufgeschuttete kegelformige Grabhugel, welche aufgrund ihrer Gro?e oftmals schon weithin sichtbar sind. Derartige spezielle Grabanlagen, mitunter auch als „Tumulus“ bezeichnet, wurden ab der Jungsteinzeit bis in die Zeit der Antike angelegt – an einigen Orten geschah das sogar bis ins Mittelalter hinein. Kurgane sind in Russland und der Ukraine recht haufig vorzufinden. Doch auch hier in Deutschland und anderen westeuropaischen Landern gibt es zahlreiche dieser Hugelgraber. Die gro?eren unter den Kurganen konnten durchaus eine Hohe von uber 20 (!) Metern erreichen.

Ja, und ganz hoch oben thronen auch unsere funf Helden hier mit ihrem aktuellen tollen Debutalbum, entsprechend der frostig-majestatischen Grundstimmung des Werkes „...And Green Grasses Are Freezing Slowly” betitelt. Passt perfekt, denn die barbarisch kraftvollen Riffs von Kurgan sind kalter als flussiger Stickstoff. Die brachial, aber prazise aufspielende Horde hat es drauf, definitiv: Sanger Morgan strapaziert seine Stimmbander in mitrei?end rauer Hass-Manier und Bassist Tchernoyar sto?t zuweilen auch ebenso wollustig als auch horbar gut inspiriert ins Pfeifrohr, um die ruhmreichen Taten der Vorvater zu ehren. Damit es auch an der Takt-Front ordentlich kracht, liefern sich die beiden Gitarristen Corax und D’emoni mit Schlagwerker Svetoyar auf „...And Green Grasses Are Freezing Slowly” haufenweise furiose und rasante Rhythmus-Duelle. Ihren antichristlichen Edelstahl kochen die funf Kerle also mit blubberndem Herzblut und gigantischer Leidenschaft: So gehort sich das und davon profitieren die zehn enthaltenen Lied-Brecher auch enorm. Immense Harte und grenzenlose Abscheu gegen moderne Perversionen sind Kurgan jedoch nicht alles, so verbaut der Trupp auf dem Album immer mal wieder eher anmutiges beziehungsweise besinnliches Kolorit. Die kunstlerische Mischung der inbrunstigen Ukrainer kann mich uberzeugen, denn sie wird mit dem Zweck dienlicher Bedacht kreiert. Kurgan, diese uberhaupt sehr ehrlich agierenden Epiker, sind in erster Linie ohnehin versierte und hingebungsvolle Techniker sowie merklich bodenstandige kompositorische Handwerker – ihr Songmaterial buhlt daher uberhaupt nicht mit aufgeblasener Effekthascherei um eure Gunst, sondern wei? allein durch aufrecht zelebrierte Passion und Konnen zu bestechen. Einmal haben Gardarika Records somit ihr Gespur fur anspruchsvolle Klangkunst unter Beweis gestellt. Es ist der erste Juli heute, und es herrscht allerorts Gluthitze – ich aber verspure hier gerade zum x-ten Male eine anhaltende Gansehaut: So derart packend und aufwuhlend eisig ist diese fesselnd gute Scheibe.

http://www.metalmessage.de/Reviews2/kurgan.htm

 Review by: Metal Observer                                                                         n

 FEARLIGHT   (RUS) -Our Legacy-2007 (Gardarika Musikk)                                  Rating  6/10.

May 30, 2008

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Pagan/Folk Metal has been one of my favourites for a long time now and bands from Russia especially have found a spot close to my heart, mostly due to the fact that they incorporate these peculiar melodies that you will not find anywhere else. So when I found out about a new band hailing from St.Petersburg named FEARLIGHT, I was intrigued to say the least, hoping for another gemstone in the eastern Metal scenes.

“Nash Zavet” is the title of their debut album, out via Gardarika Musikk, and it is kind of a two-edged sword for me. The use of the tin whistle and bagpipe lends the Folk element, which does not necessarily mark them as Russian band, while the vocals of Albinoni hold the Russian touch in the melody lines, on the other hand the songs lack some of the fascination that marks so many other bands of this style and country, making the Metal parts seem rather bland in comparison. But maybe I should not make the mistake to try to measure them up against the ARKONAs and BUTTERFLY TEMPLEs...

And when looking at it again, it makes sense to view FEARLIGHT a little differently, as their approach to the genre is somewhat gentler, sometimes more geared towards Rock compared to Metal, even though the harsh voice of Elf that comes into place here and there, might say something different, but at the same time, they kind of seem out of place, as do the two songs with English lyrics (“In the mounting so high it is sultry”), which is somewhat puzzling.

So, when taking the different approach to the review, then “Nash Zavet” is an enjoyable album that suffers just a little from the at times extensive carpeting of the keyboards and the very artificial sounding drums (especially the brass drives me nuts sometimes), but when they bring in the tin whistle and bagpipe, the Russians show their strengths and originality and also their potential, which undoubtedly is there.

In the end I can’t help being somewhat disappointed, as I had hoped for another stroke of genius out of Russia, the end result is an enjoyable album with several flaws, which dampen my spirits one way or the other, resulting in the overall rating, give it a chance, though, if you like these styles, you never know, maybe it’ll manage to connect with you more than with me.

http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=14393  

 Review by: Kogaionon Musik Magazine (Romania)                         mm

 FEARLIGHT  -Our Legacy- 2007 (Gardarika)                                                        Rating  0,97/1.

April, 2008

ARKONA admirers can experience now a fine replica, as FEARLIGHT is a beautiful Folk Pagan Viking band. Based on traditional blowing instruments and a bombastic keyboard, fully saturated in melody and brightly structured vocal alternations (normal and aggressive masculine voices along with feminine ones), FEARLIGHT offers a remarkable debut, one to be praised. More Epic than ARKONA, full of harmony and Folk scents, the Metal approached by these Russians alternate between heavy and aggressive Metal (with authentic Black Metal fragments) and the upraising Atmospheric dimension, and "Our legacy" breaks any familiar patterns and shows us how through ten tracks solely (a bit short all right) countless musical styles and influences can be presented. One of the most elegant Pagan Metal releases, that's what it is!

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Kogaionon Fearlight review

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© Markus Eck (04.12.2007)

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Als sich die bis heute nicht eindeutig bewiesene Geburt eines wohlbekannten Religionsstifters zum 2005ten Mal jährte, gründeten im fernen Sankt Petersburg einige Vollblut-Heiden diese wirklich famose Musikgruppe. Neunmalkluge Glaubensgelehrte, allerlei mehr oder weniger schrullige Archäologen und nicht wenige geistig entrückte Hobby-Esoteriker streiten sich ja bis heute verbissen darüber, ob sich Milliarden Christen nun irren oder nicht. Dabei könnten allesamt endlich aufhören, sich gegenseitig das Leben schwerer zu machen, als es ist – gibt es doch eindeutig Wichtigeres: Denn mit „Our Legacy” liefern diese fünf enthusiastischen Russenkönner aktuell ihr brillantes Debütalbum ab, und die vorzügliche Klangscheibe weiß mir dauerhaft in gar gigantischem Maße zu gefallen. Herrlich hymnischer Pagan Folk Metal mit bezaubernd verspielten Altertums-Melodien ist das große Pläsier des feinsinnigen Quintetts – und die Truppe bringt sämtliche Bestandteile ihrer Musik auf genussvoll geniale Weise ins künstlerische Kombinat. Mit Zinnflöte und Sackpfeife wird hier frohgemut, ja, teilweise richtiggehend vergnügt zum Feuertanze aufgespielt – und auch ergiebig stimmige Tastentonfolgen dienen Fearlight durchgehend als probates Stilmittel, um authentische Atmosphären zu kreieren. Damit ist der kollektiv hochgradig begabte Fünfer mit spielerischer Leichtigkeit in der glücklichen Lage, vor dem geistigen Auge des geneigten Hörers allerlei historische Gegebenheiten zum Leben zu erwecken. Mit betörend anmutigem Frauen- und kernig-kraftvollem Mannsgesang werden die erdig instrumentierten Kompositionen vorgetragen. Beängstigend eingängig inszenierte Heidenlieder, welche hier trotz aller kreativen Urwüchsigkeit so derart beschwingt mein Herz erfreuen, dass es mir selbst nach dem x-ten Hördurchgang immens schwer fällt, diese wertvolle Silberplatte aus dem Abspielgerät zu nehmen. Liebhaber der russischen Edelkappellen Arkona und Alkonost sowie innigliche Anhänger von Odroerir werden um den Erwerb dieser Pflichtplatte wohl nicht herumkommen, wenn sie ihre Passion für dieses Genre auch nur annähernd ernst meinen. Eine bessere Definition für den Begriff Zeitlosigkeit als „Our Legacy” muss man in diesem stilistischen Bereich wohl sehr lange suchen.
Meisterlich.

http://www.metalmessage.de/Reviews2/fearlight.htm  

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March 28, 2008

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Although I enjoy folk metal bands from all over Europe (and elsewhere), there's something about Russian bands that tends to resonate with me especially deeply. Over the past few years, I have found many great bands from there, beginning with my discovery of Pagan Reign and Arkona. I make it a point to seek out Russian folk metal bands, so I am always pleased to discover a new one. Fearlight came to my attention through a music video on Youtube, and I was immediately taken with their sound and image. I immediately ordered their debut CD, Our Legacy, and, for a few days, I couldn't listen to anything else.

Like many folk metal bands from Russia, Fearlight is a bit of a mystery to me. Their website doesn't seem to be up anymore, and there is very little information about them online. According to their label, they began in 2005 as a doom metal band, but not much else in the way of band information is given, except that they took their time completing Our Legacy due to their wanting the production and arrangements to be perfect. I was able to listen to their 2005 demo and was surprised at how their style changed between the demo and their debut album. Their early sound is very much rooted in gothic metal, and though a few elements of their sound have survived (the use of both female and male vocals), it might as well be an entirely different band.

Fearlight is a five-piece band from Saint Petersburg, Russia. There are two vocalists in the band, "Elf" (a male, and also the band's guitarist) and "Albinoni" (a female, and the band's keyboardist). Neither of them have particularly strong voices, but they sound fine on this album, especially when singing together. I wouldn't say that they harmonize (this isn't Odroerir); rather they seem to mostly sing in unison. They both have soft voices, which gives the music a bit more of a gentle, folky sound than most bands that call themselves folk metal. Elf also utilizes a harsh vocal style, but very rarely. The band also includes a bassist ("Sin K River") and a drummer ("Makmillan Arfist"), as well as a tin whistle- and bagpipe-player ("Scald").

Our Legacy somewhat alternates between slower, ballad-like songs, and faster ones. Many of the songs (like track 8, "Три девы" or "Three Wise Maids") sound very much like folk songs at their base, rather than metal songs with folk instruments added to the mix. The bagpipes and tin whistles are beautifully intertwined with the traditional metal instruments, and folk melodies (as well as elements of classical music) are all over this album. Those who accuse folk metal of being inauthentic in its relation to folk music should give this CD a listen.

Another feature of Our Legacy is the sheer addictiveness of this album. When I received it, I listened to it for a few hours in the evening, and then throughout the entire next day at work. This is one of those albums that, once I reach the end, I want to go back and listen to the beginning again. It doesn't hurt that the first actual song on the album (after the Intro), "Лес" or "The Wood," features a beautiful chorus that I love to hear again and again. And the fourth song, the title track, is one of those songs I could listen to on repeat all day. Fortunately, the rest of the album maintains a high level of quality, with nothing I would consider "filler." At 36 minutes, it's a brisk listen, but an immensely enjoyable and satisfying one. The one minor criticism I could make is that two of the songs use English lyrics, and they don't make any sense to me. What exactly does the line "Vanishing is me, like a mad in fears" mean? Fortunately, the broken English was not noticeable to me when listening to the album, but I hope that in the future they stick to the Russian lyrics.

The album finishes with an outro that features music by the great composer Modest Moussorgsky and some folk poetry. When it's all done, inevitably I begin at track 1 again and am never tempted to skip any of the tracks on my next listen. I've had the CD for a few weeks now and it continues to delight me, though I have listened to it dozens of times. Therefore, it is very easy for me to recommend it to fans of true folk metal. Fearlight may not be a well-known name in Russian folk metal yet (in comparison to Alkonost, Butterfly Temple, or Arkona), but after an album like this, they deserve to get a lot more recognition than they have gotten so far. Hopefully Gardarika Musikk will get the CD out there so that more people can hear it. Tracking it down on this side of the Atlantic is practically impossible. Fortunately the good folks at Dark Symphonies got in a few copies, though they sold out quickly.

I will do my small part to help spread the word about Fearlight by typing "BUY THIS!" and posting this review on my humble blog that nobody reads.

© Xyl