Falkenbach Germany

"The tracks on this album may be divided into two categories: folk metal and black metal, and it seems like the overall source of inspiration is Bathory - the legend of viking metal.

The tracks in the first category, some examples of which are "...Where His Ravens Fly...", the instrumental "Tanfana", and "Runes Shall You Know", are dominated by the folk music influence. The vocals are clean and melancholic, and all melody is folk-derived. Moreover, these track include folk instrumentation (some is keyboard-based), which performs most melodies such that the classic rock instrumentation becomes more of a background to the folk melodies. In some cases, though, the guitar is allowed to play a lead melody.

The black metal tracks are still very much under the influence of folk music, but here the vocals are snarled or growled in the typical black metal fashion, and the electric guitar is moved to the foreground. Some examples are "Time Between Dog and Wold" and "In Flames". I should reiterate that even these tracks are still anchored in folk metal, and they are kept in the same 3/4 midtempo as the other tracks, and they are melodic with no brutality or aggression to them at all.

In terns of atmosphere, this album is quite good. The viking folk nature of the music and the nature of both lead and vocal melodies contribute a very melancholic and dark atmosphere to the album, and it certainly is worth listening to several times because of the atmosphere. However, I do think that all the tracks on this album tend to become monotonous and, characterized by repetition, some are even on the verge of becoming boring.

Then again, repetition is considered a quality according to traditional black metal standards, and it is possible that the use of repetition is a deliberate import from the black metal genre, in which case, I am sure that black metal fans with enjoy and appreciate the monotony of this album. I do think, though, that "Tiurida" will appeal more to folk metal fans than to black metal fans.

(review originally posted on metalmusicarchives.com)"