Tag Archives: folk black metal

(review) Prognan – Nasi Zivoti Vise Ne Postoje

Prognan are from Croatia and this is their brand new opus. All I can say after listening to this one is that I am jaw dropped and just listen to this one over and over again. Well, it is very hard to describe this opus. Let’s start with that it is a concept album about WWI on these places which I can relate to because my greatgrandfather died in trenches fighting for Austro Hungary in the mud, blood and guts of this war in 1917. Music is epic black thrash death metal with some folk influenced vocals and even violin at the end of 28061914 start of the album with assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. Neprijatelj pred vratima shows all aggression of battle, and connects it with epic melancholy almost doomy second half of the song with clean vocals, violin and choir parts being one of my personal favorites on this opus. Lyrics are in Croatian and are fantastic, so if you do not speak Croatian, maybe try to translate them, because you will not regret it. As I understand this opus describes battles between royal Serbian army and Austro-Hungarian-German forces, retreat over the mountains, coming back to war after great losses, and finally coming home to suffer in peace again. The whole album is apocalyptic atmosphere, blast beats mix with sadness and you can almost smell blood, guts and decomposed bodies on no man’s land while listening. Guitar work is epic and fantastic with melodies, but vocals are one of the best in the genre, when growling you understand what is being sung about, but also transform into awesome clean sad voice. There are also folk influenced parts on majestic Golgota. This music reflects thoughts and suffering of ordinary soldier in war. Fantastic album and for sure one of the best Croatian releases in last ten years for sure!

10/10

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(review) Wolfchant – Omega:Bestia

Germany´s Wolfchant have been active in the scene for almost twenty years now and this is their new opus, seventh full length and I am honored having listened to this magnificent album. There are 14 songs on two discs on this one and every song is a hit. Music of Wolfchant can be described as pagan folk metal with lots of black and melodic death metal influences in the songs, but I can also hear some gothic and some neue Deutsche haerte in some songs, maybe it is only me. Lyrics are mainly in German and since I speak and understand this language I love how this strong language fits perfectly into vocal lines. Besides epic guitar work, aggressive and folk/atmospheric parts in the picture, vocals are one of the main strengths of this band. Singer Nortwin transforms perfectly from death growling to clean singing, black metal screeching and yet remaining understandable. Lyrics are about nature, inner strength, personal, yet pagan and retaining that defiant metal heart vibe in them. My personal highlights are: Der Geist und der Dunkelheit, Jaeger der Nacht and The Flame.

9,5/10