This disc turned up with a note reminding me that I had reviewed the band when they played the Unicorn three years ago in support to Waylander. Indeed I had and I went in search of more info remembering I had fairly liked the tribe from Carmarthen who had also on the night shared band members with other support group Annwn. That was the last I had heard from them and one can only wonder what they have been up to since then and why it has taken so long to release this, their debut four track CD?
Playing this the first time, another thing that I was struck with was the familiarity of opening track ‘Sleeping Giant.’ Did they play it that night and has it been sleeping ever since? Well if so it’s a formidable song to have been so memorable and with its call to arms, gung-ho chorus compelling us to “rise, rise” it only takes one brief listen to be firmly entrenched on your memory. This is a pagan anthem from this somewhat folk etched pagan metal band and it really stands proudly up on the disc. Other songs are not quite so in the face in fact ‘Offering Of Gold’ is a complete contrast with a sombre maudlin melody, slow acoustic pace and clean harmonious vocals installing a sense of loss about it. Again things change as the vocals rasp angrily into ‘The Gates Of Annwn.’ There is a fair bit of versatility and these four tracks show that the group have plenty of ideas that will no doubt spill over into an album that is destined to follow this next year. The guitar harmonics and the spoken Welsh parts on this particular track gives it a firm identity. Finally we have the title track with a really evocative and haunting keyboard intro and atmospheric distant booms. This progresses into traditional sounding guitar leads and another song with a strong sense of melody and vocal interplay.
All in all there is plenty to like here if you like your metal pagan with a sense of history about it. Could we actually have an example of true Welsh heritage metal here? Well best not stir up that pot but I am certainly looking forward to climbing over ‘Tales Of The Black Mountain’ when it arrives next year.
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Pete Woods
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