Meschera - Песни вечных ветров 9/10
Russia’s Meschera have returned with their third release in as many years and the eagerly awaited follow up to Zhatva. Песни вечных ветров (Songs of the Eternal Winds) is a bold adventurous step forward that further defines their epic, dark atmospheric Black metal.
And epic it is! Alexandra Sidorova’s vocals truly shine with a more commanding performance that reflects the bands growth and confidence. The rthyms and Dynamics are so much stronger and arrangements are instantly memorable thanks to some excellent guitar work and real growth in Meschera’s ability to combine the folk arrangement into modern black metal to create a unified song that breathes with its own individual life and passion reflecting the tales sung in their native language. The dichotomy of warmth and urgency is reflected by the cold brittleness and aggression. Песни вечных ветров reflects heartbreak and anger. There is majesty to Лепестками костров that is undeniable, Колыбельная леса burns brightly and Сквозь снег и мглу is filled with a subtle beauty that builds to a rousing crescendo and some brilliant vocal work.
Authentic, passionate and haunting Meschera have perfectly encapsulated the traditions of their homeland and incorporated it into modern extreme music. Песни вечных ветров reflects their growth and the sheer power that has turned their pagan folk black metal into something more epic and unique. Dripping in atmosphere and earthen creativity Meschera have created a vital, moving deeply affecting piece of traditional yet modern art that is captivating and highly recommended.
Gravvård- Minnesord 8.5/10
Minnesord is the unification Grìshâ - Instruments / Vocals / Lyrics (KARV) and Vindur – Instruments (MORKVIND) two artists who revel in the art of creating extreme music. Gravvård (memorial stone is Swedish) paints an uncompromising picture on the inevitability and the finality of death that cares little for background or belief.
From the opening of Vid terminalen, the gentle piano is a foreshadowing of the spoken word, that leads into Nådens år, a cold brittle journey of extreme black metal. This is pure raw extremity, that is cold unforgiving and uncompromising. It reflects the inevitability that awaits every soul on earth destroying the beautiful lie that is life yet it is as intricate and as intense as one’s own personal experience. It is fury and mourning tempered by moments of beauty and memory. There is an element of loss reflect in its gentler moments that is matched by the intense and incredible dense atmospheric music that follows, Grìshâ’s vocals are pained and honest, fir and passion against the rapid tremolos and chaotic percussion. The rapid fire of Elegi från ett Enskilt Kapell shines brightly against the darkness its rapid percussion a reflection that black metal did truly evolve from real metal and in turn twisted it into a malevolent new form that is vital, visceral and always relevant. Sjögrav is more harrowing atmosphere and an ever evolving riff that transcend the longer it grows and develops. The silence is brief and showcases the many talents of Vindur and the high speed blasts beats against slow melody
Haunting, brutally honest and true to its very nature, tracks like The Harrow linger long in the subconscious. Minnesord reflects light in its darkness and the dichotomy of burning brightly against a forever extinguished flame. It is with great hope that Gravvård is a project that continues, Minnesord bears the excellence of new beginnings.
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