Interesting and a little bit on the different side this one. Obviously this is Dutch through and through as are all the lyrics. Having said that the drummer is Ask Ty Arctander who is known for his work mainly in Norwegian band Kampfar and although this does share certain heathen sensibilities and pounding melodies it does exude a quite different feeling. This is yet another debut album and I seem to be saying this more and more at the moment and again it’s a pretty impressive one. I guess lyrically this is all about Dutch folklore and legend, that is the general idea I get from the sleeve art and the music as well, there are lots of proud and triumphant sounding melodies as well as an air of despair at times running through this as though mourning for comrades fallen in battle is commonplace. This is certainly the case in opening track ‘Stemmen in de avond’ but the jaunty sounds of following number ‘De vuurman van Papendal’ turns this on its head with folk laden flourishes reminiscent of everything from Arkona to Skyforger. The use of flutes and horns are well utilised here and this gives the number bravado and a solid atmospheric stomp without coming across as twee.
At full flight we go into blast territory and ‘De roep der gevallen helden,’ the albums shortest song can only be described as fast and furious, rasping black metal at first. Then it decides to canter off and fire up the violin and take us on a Dornenreich sounding hoedown around the olde camp fyre, well until what sounds like a roaring werewolf attacks! There are some good rousing vocal harmonics as we progress and the ever insistent violin is never far away giving the music a frantic edge that suggests dancing till you drop.
There’s lots going on here and plenty to enjoy, songs such as ‘De witte juffer van Kernheim’ sound like a debauched dance at an out of control gypsy wedding and the tune behind it does not want to let go once it gets in your head. The only real downside is lack of understanding and I do feel that I am partly missing what could be interesting tales behind the song. That said I can see this lot on a future Paganfest bill very easily and bet they are a riotous assembly live. Well worth checking out!
http://www.myspace.com/mondvolland
