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Ireland's Primordial had early beginnings of death and black
metal. They have experimented and evolved over time to the
point that they have strayed far from their roots. Their new
release, To the Nameless Dead, is a vast soundscape
full of heart, soul and emotion. Sadness and sorrow weep from
every guitar riff and lyric. A.A. Nemtheanga's melancholic
vocals have a feel of desperation and strife, like he is fighting
for something he truly believes in with every last breath.
The ambiance of the album has just as much to do with the
overall concept as it does with the band's turbulent history.
A detailed biographical timeline accompanied the promo album
and reading it almost brought tears to my eyes. No one in
the band ever passed away to my knowledge, but Primordial
has endured hardship after hardship, mostly due to the struggle
of trying to make it as a metal band (canceled tours, legal
issues, lack of promotion, etc.) But the one thing that Primordial
has gained from this is determination and this is a theme
of the album. The band is determined to remember our past
and the importance of the people who fought and died to give
us the lives that many of us lead today; remembrance of all
our nations' histories and the importance of standing up
for what our ancestors believed in. Thus, the album's title
is a tribute to those forgotten, The Nameless Dead.
Musically, mood and atmosphere are the main role-players
on the album. Primordial don't provide that headbanging riff
or mosh-inducing breakdown on a regular basis. Instead, they
create a massive wall of sound, something of a mix between
black metal, folk and sludge. Their country's heritage and
influence can be heard in several areas, as well. “Empire
Falls” is a powerful opener, with Nemtheanga's unmatched
intensity driving the song. Wow, this guy can sing. And these
are not merely songs, but epics; the average length is around
seven minutes. Picking and plucking out specific parts of
songs or accurately describing Primordial's sound is just
as hard as pronouncing the member's names—and that's
a compliment. All I can say is that their sound is experimental
yet undeniably heavy. The only bands I can think of to
compare them to are Therion, Satyricon and Cult of Luna.
Primoridal climbs to new territory in the standout “Heathen
Tribes.” Starting as an Irish folk song, it builds with
rhythm and acoustic guitars before climaxing with amazingly
distinct riffs. You'll want to play this one over and over. It
sounds like nothing I've heard before. Distortion opens
“Traitors Gate” and gives way to fast black metal
passages. This is the heaviest song on the album. The powerful
guitar chords of the eight-minute closer, "No Nation
on This Earth, end To the Nameless Dead in triumphant
fashion.
Primordial is unique in that they are one of the few bands
that lets emotion drive their music. The album is a strong
and important statement, both musically and conceptually.
I'm sure the struggle will continue for Primordial, but they
have won this battle. Fortunately for the metal world, there
is still a war to be won.
®2008 Live-Metal.net
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