Just reading the bio on this bands website has made me like them; “We tell stories, tickle your ears and our instruments and get childishly happy when you like our stuff.” Who can really argue with that? This is the German quintet’s second album of folk-metal, who admittedly haven’t known each other that long, but long enough it seems to bond over chugging metal and medieval instruments and come up with their own take on the whole Germanic Folk-Metal sound.
The first track ‘Vogelfrei’ is pretty much a typical folk-metal offering, leading in with an up-tempo fiddle over a solid sounding riff and a sing-a-long chorus. The band does have a few tricks up its sleeve; this is not exactly groundbreaking, though they do the job and hold your attention. ‘Krieger’ is a Teutonic stomping track relying more on the chugging guitar than the folk instruments and despite being a rather good song still feels a little flat. ‘Ingrimm’ has a more overt rock/metal vibe to it that seems quite choppy until you get to the chorus when the track gets kicked up a notch with some nice fist-pumping drumming and chant-able vocals. ‘Todgeweiht’ is a pretty good thrashy sounding track with a strong lead riff garnished with some bagpipes on the chorus - and why not? It makes for a nice little toe tapper.
‘Der Letze Tanz’ really kicks the album into fifth gear - the bagpipes over such a frantic riff going into chugging of the chorus really grabs your attention - it’s definitely the most interesting track on the album. ‘Teufelsweib’ is another killer thrashing guitar riff with plenty of fast drumming… however the folk element feels a little out of place on this track, I can’t help but think that a different instrument would have suited. However, ‘Narrentraum’ is another great folk instrument led track, the heavy chugging riff complimented perfectly by the melodic element from the ancient instruments. ‘Der Stern’ is the album’s ballad - plenty of harmonic guitar sounds and rough German vocals to serenade the listener… but no fiddles, bagpipes or hurdy-gurdies? ‘Sundig Fleisch’ retreads the solid ‘folk-led + chugging guitar + sing-a-long’ formula that has so far made the album worth listening to, this one however does have the most memorable of the albums folk leads though. ‘Rot’ mixes up that formula a little - not by introducing any new elements, but rather just playing with the typical arrangement of the songs and mixing the bass a little higher. ‘Diaboli’ closes the album with yet another decent riff played at head banging speed with a nice bagpipe garnish on the chorus, again nothing too different to what has gone before but an enjoyable track non-the-less.
Overall this isn’t a bad offering - if you like your folk-metal you might want to pick this up. Although there are a few shaky tracks and the fact that it isn’t the most polished or musically adventurous album in the folk pool today; Ingrimm are still a halfway decent band with a good ear for a riff, and a sound that would be very easy to replicate in an energetic live experience.
http://www.ingrimm.com
http://www.myspace.com/rockgrimm
