Emyn Muil - 'Turin Turambar Dagnir Glaurunga' (2013)

Emyn Muil

'Turin Turambar Dagnir Glaurunga'

Nartum Music Projects

2013

Epicness, atmosphere, black metal and Tolkien - what band comes to your head? Of course Summoning. There are/were quite many bands influenced by this legendary duo - one were better, other were worse. Emyn Muil, a debutant one-men solo project from the sunny Italia is one of another austrians disciples.
Other band that comes to my head is of course Elffor. The label/band put to this list also Windir and Arathorn. Well, the elements of the first one can be barely heard here, the second one is unknown to me. Yet I hope that you got the general idea? The music is epic, yet also very raw and dark. The closest clue are here three first albums of Summoning - they have more or less similar atmosphere. The production is not very well, vocals are screaming in an unintelligible way and keyboard-based ambient creates 'epicness'. I have nothing against 'bad' production, but here sometimes everything is merge into one thing. Another fail are in my opinion keyboards - in many places they sound very synthetic. I mean especially purely ambient tracks, 'cause the metal ones sounds much better. Today it's way easier to create more natural sound, so being blindly gazed in Summoning is not the best idea in this case.
Most of the tracks are not very original. It is clearly heard that Saverio, the guy responsible for this project, is still under a big influence of mentioned hordes. Well, not everyone is a genius able to create something completely fresh at the first time. I'm affraid that due to this fact Emyn Muil will land in 'for Summoning maniacs' label, and this is not completely fair. There are tracks that are really good, with no doubt (opening one, 'Path of the Doomed',  or defenitely the best song  'Death of Glaurung'). Especially great is the using of 'choirs', or battle cries (you name it) and war horns. Some of the riffs are also really fine, very heavy and catchy - a motif from 'Turin Son of Hurin' is a good example. Too bad that many times soughing production makes it impossible to hear it well. Ambient tracks can be also a great interludes - 'The Sack of Nargothrond' is a shining point of this release, made in an excellent way. On the other hand, I think that  sometimes there is too much of it. Putting three ambient composition one after another in the middle of the album wasn't really the best idea.
So in conclusion - the album is not bad, but it can be done better. I was complaining a lot, but the music really makes a very positive impression in many parts. People who love raw, epic stuff will be of course vitally interested in this material. In case of the other ones - that depends, but they can give this band a chance. Personally I have one advice for Emyn Muil: less ambient, more originality for the future. Try to make something more for your own, and maybe it will profit on the next release.

Rate: 7/10
Vladyka

P.S
If I'm not mistaken, the band will release the next album via Northern Silence Prods. You can also purchase this one in their shop.

Check out band's music:

Tracklist:

1. Turin Son of Hurin

2.Aure Entuluva

3. Arise in Gondolin

4. Mim's Betrayal

5. Dark Riots From Angband

6. Gurthang

7. Path of the Doomed

8. The Sack of Nargothrond

9. Death of Glaurung

10. Hail to the Black Sword

Total time: 52:14

Summoning - "Old Mornings Dawn" (2013)

Summoning 

"Old Mornings Dawn"

Napalm Recs.

2013

Seven years - that's a quite big piece of time. When I heard that almighy Summoning is going to release once again another album, I was curious if they are still able to write some magnificent music. And well, I have good news: they are still in good condition - even if not so good as, let's say, ten years ago. 

The album starts with an quasi-intro "Evernight", with female (elven, hehe) whispers and happy, sweet tunes. As you may guess - I was stunned, because I was affraid of another "Oath Bound". The next track "Flammifer" is happily much better. For my luck all the sweetness is later given in minimum dose. Of course it's hidden here and there, but generally speaking it's not annoying. Yet it doesn't change a fact that since the first listenning I always skip the intro.

What I really like about new Austrian's album is a production of their new opus. I mean especially synths - they are again recorded in all, good style of medieval/ambient, but produced with modern sound. Thanks to that Summoning haven't loose their charming originality. Again we can also here charachteristic synthetic drums programmed by Protector, a bit soughing guitars and desperate roars. The music can be really majestic and epic, like in the title track, full of choirs and orchestrations. It can be also much more darker and melancholic (see e.g. the next track "The White Tower"), referring to band's earlier works. The proportion of epic and dark elements is of course different in every track, but fans of Summoning surely will know what to expect. 

I really enjoy this album - it passes really fast, taking you once again to vast, dark landscapes of Middle-Earth. But (yes, there is unfotunetely one "but") there is one problem - I am not impressed by "Old Mornings Dawn" like I was by such "Stronghold" or other "Dol Guldur". Let's face it - except the better, modern production and some relishes there is only little of originality. That's the reason I am sure that the reviews of this album will be so diverse. But as for me - I am very pleased with this longplay. I only hope that the next record will be released faster than by another seven years!

Rate: 8+/10

Vladyka

Tracklist:

1. Evernight

2. Flammifer

3. Old Moring Dawns

4. The White Tower

5. Caradhras

6. Of Pale White Morns and Darkened Eves

7. The Wandering Fire

8. Earthsine

Graveland / Biały Viteź - "Ogień Wilczych Serc" (2012)

Graveland / Biały Viteź

"Ogień Wilczych Serc"

Eastside

2012

This is the split release of the two polish bands - a well known in pagan metal scene Graveland and lesser known Biały Viteź (the guys have only one demo and other split on their account). The cover artwork is really good, so you are propably asking yourself "is their music really good too?". Well you can think no more, and simply satisfy your curiosity by reading this review.

The three first tracks are recorded by Graveland, so I'll start with this band. Generally speaking, there is not much to say. One of those three tracks is "Biała Husaria" - a song previously known under an english name "White Winged Hussary". And well, it's very good, and sounds really fantastic. But I really don't know why Rob decided to rerecord this song. The two new hymns are a bit faster. Rob again entered into a more aggressive areas, with blast beats and more furious riffing. Thanks to a great, organic production they sound like they were supposed to sound - very epic, and at the same time very atmospheric and powerfull. Fans of Graveland should be pleased by this release, even if it's really nothing new.
The second part of this split belongs to folk metallers from Biały Viteź. They creativeness is much closer to what was invented by the eastern pagan metal bands. As in Graveland's case the sound is really powerfull, but at the same time a bit more dirty and underground. Guitar riffs are evidently inspired by the polish black metal hords from the '90s, while atmospheric parts of keyboards sounds a bit like Drudkh. But don't worry, the guys from BV are not a copycats, and their create something fresh. The metal parts together with usage of folk instruments and "mystical" keyboard sound really interesting, for 100% in slavic vain, which is a great advantage in immersion of celtic and nordic bands. By the way folk parts really remind me Jar -  it only shows that BV is really into polish pagan scene, and not just another bunch of jolly dumbasses.
The vocals on this album are sung in very characteristic way - some will like that, some will not, but in my case I count it as an advantege. To be honest, the only weak element of this material is the last track - it sounds like a too long outro. I know that there must be a place for atmospheric parts, but for me some sad accords and a guy singing in the same vain for almost 4 minutes is not an "atmosphere". I call it "boredom". Happily the rest of their music sounds fantastic, and I guess that "Kędy mój los" will be a concert killer - there is a place for aggressive mosh, and for the epic singing. Ideallly, hehe.
To sum up: for fans of pagan metal this split will be something like a pearl in the sea of crap. It's really worth to have this album - especially because of great part recorded by Biały Viteź.

Rate: Graveland: 7/10, Biały Viteź: 8+/10
Vladyka

Tracklist:
Graveland:
1. Zimno z za szarego horyzontu
2. Pancerna Pięść
3. Biała Husaria
---
Biały Viteź:
4. Intro - ku chwale
5.  Na swój miecz
6. Gdzie umiera dzień
7. Kędy mój los
8. Kiedy skonam