News from this week!

German black/pagan metallers HANGATYR released their new album called "Elemente". You can purchase it via Nocturnal Empire or at the band's store. 

Listen to their music here.

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SUFFERING IN SOLITUDE is an young american band playing death/doom metal with post-rock influences. At the end of this year (31.12) you can purchase their debut album entitled "A Place Apart" (six tracks / 29 minutes of music) via Domestic Genocide Records

Check out their music here.

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News from the belarussian pagan./folk metal bands - Gods Tower:

We did it! GODS TOWER "Raven Tales" boxed set is out now!!!

8xDLP boxed set containing all GODS TOWER full-length albums and demos is released. With your priceless help we worked on this huge release more than 100 days. Here's the result. All those who made the preorder will get their limited sets soon. From today, the regular version of boxset with bonus A2 poster and 24-page biography\photo booklet will be available atwww.possession.ru
Hurry up, only 250 copies left!

Also we present new GODS TOWER 7'' EP "Roll Out" with 2 exclusive brand new tracks. Only 120 copies from 333 left already! Every copy of this EP includes an invite code for World of Tanks game. You can listen to this EP atwww.possessionproductions.bandcamp.com for free.

the boxset price: 139 USD + postages
the EP price: 12 USD + postages

We want to thank everyone who believed and supported our initiative! We sincerely believe that these releases will met your expectations. Wait for your parcels and then listen to amazing GODS TOWER music on vinyl. OYHRA!!!

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Since 6th of December you can purchase a demo of bulgarian blackened doom metal metallers from UPYR. You can buy it as a CD from band's bandcamp or as a limited cassete from Serpent Eve Records.

Listen to their music here.

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Icelanders from Skálmöld released their first DVD/live album called Skálmöld & Sinfóníuhljómsveit Íslands. The band had played there together with an Icelandic Symphonic Orchestra (if I am correct). You can buy it directly from the band (Facebook).

You can also watch a fragment of this concert here.

Falkenbach - "Asa" (2013)

Falkenbach

"Asa"

Prophecy Prods.

2013

OK, let's start this review with the only flaw that "Asa" has: the cover could be better. Really, Bierstadt is a great painter, but this particular artwork is only not bad. Of course in some way it represents the atmosphere of the album, but still it's not stunning.
And that's it. Now prepare for the one, long complimenting (or ass-licking, if you want). The new Falkenbach's album "Asa" shows a pure genius of Vratyas. It is amazing how this men can create such a powerful material, even if he really didn't record anything new. Again. Yes, dear readers - Falkenbach doesn't develop nor changes it's music much. It's specific style can't be faked by any other band, and if you heard the previous albums "Tiurida", "Heralding" etc. you know what to expect. Most of the tracks (beside more diverse "Bluot Fuër Bluot") can be divided into two categories: the first one is a folk-epic side. These songs contain many parts of acoustic guitar, playing together with heavy riffs and clear, longing vocals of Vakyas. As always they are a bit nostalgic and a bit (only a bit) epic. Also, as on my ear there is less folk instruments this time. I don't know how this band do it, but it really sounds outstanding. The music contains some magic, that you immediatelly falls into the atmposphere of each hymn... Just listen to the single promoting this album - "Eweroun" - and you will understand that I am right.
The second category are tracks based on traditional black metal from the early 90s. And I will write it in that way: they are amazing! The riffs are dynamic as hell, and remind me again the best era in black metal's history. Just check out this opening riff from "I Nattens Stilta" - it's SO FUCKING INSANE! Or a genius riffs from "Stike Wound" with the polka-beats in the background! By the way it can be clearly heared that Vratyas had well chosen his line-up. The musicians proof that they are really experienced, and their abilities can be seen here perfectly. The heavier side of "Asa" is absolutely not complicated (like the softer side, to be honest), yet the music is so memorable... You can clearly hear an ancient spirit of this music.
"Asa" is one of the greatest albums of this year, if not best. A must-have for fans of pagan and epic metal.

Rate: 10/10

Lyric video for official single "Eweroun":

Tracklist:

1. Vaer Stjerdan Vaerdan

2. Wulfarveijd

3. Mijn Laezt Wourd

4. Bronzen Embrace

5. Eweroun

6. I Nattens Stilta

7. Bluot Fuër Bluot

8. Stike Wound

9. Ufirstanan Folk

Forefather - Last of the Line (2011)

Forefather

Last of the Line

Seven Kingdoms

2011

Forefather is a viking... I mean anglo-saxon metal band, founded in Leatherhead (England) by two brothers - Athelstan and Wulfstan. In brief the play black metal mixed with heavy metal with an epic attitude and lyrics about anglo-saxon period of english history. 

The music is not very complicated, but it has it's own spirit. What surprised me is an almost merry beginning of the album, played in the vain of traditional heavy metal. Later the music is darker, but I must admit that pure heavy metal now dominates in Forefather's music. There are loads of great melodies here, but played in a way that it doesn't sounds like some crappy Gamma Gay or other shit like that. The riffs are being played with very folkish attitude, yet don't expect any folk-metals or a music from the sign of Tyr. Athelstan and Wulfstan are heavily soaked in old school heavy metal and of course Bathory. The only reminiscences of old black metal style are harsh vocals (but even them are less common than clear, sublime ones) and some guitar pitches, and very quick tempos at the end that can be associated with BM.  

The album, even if as I said is not very complicated , is constructed cleverly. There are more epic, slow tracks like for example "Up High" with dignified vocals of Wulfstan. The song remind me a bit some hymn or thing like that - but anyway it's a very enjoyable piece of art. There are also wilder, faster and darker tracks like the next one on the list - "Wolves of Prayer" or "Shadows of Dead" with an intensive tempo (blast-beats). I have also a feeling that the music is getting heavier since "Wolves...", but still don't expect some complete sonic massacre. 

I am writing and writing, but you still don't know is "Last of the Line" good or is it not. Well, it's good. It's almost completely unoriginal, but from the other side it's composed with taste. The music is not getting boring even after many replays, and you can remember some melodies already after a first time with this album. A fine piece of anglo-saxon music :)

Rate: 7+/10

Vladyka

Tracklist:

1. Cometh the King

2. Last of the Line

3. Chorus of Steel

4. By Thy Deeds

5. Up High

6. Wolves of Prayer

7. Wyrda Gesceaft

8. Doomsday Dawns

9. Shadows of the Dead

10. Spears of Faith

11. The Downfallen

12. Into the rising sun

Kroda - "Varulven" 2013

Kroda

"Varulven"

Purity Through Fire

2013

This album is a compilation of previously unreleased material. It contains only four songs, and lasts for circa twenty minutes. Here you can read more about it and actually listen to it for free - as it's available on Kroda's bandcamp. I may only add that the physical version (limited digipack) will be released by PTF in the beginning of November. For those who are not familiar with this band I will write few word why it's worth to have it in your collection.

And it's woth because it shows a bit different face of Kroda. The first track is played (as it's written on bandcamp) in a viking rock style, and bases on traditional nordic song. The main vocals are a female one, while the howling of Eisenslav is a bit on the second plan. In my opinion it sounds very good, and it would be interesting if a band adopted such elements on a new release. 

The rest of the material is more typical for this project. "Nemesis" is a german folk song, played on traditional ukrainian instruments (sopilka etc). If you heard "Oj na Gori..." from "Funf Jahre Kulturkampf" you can be sure that it sounds really (let's not be affraid of that word) nice. This track is also a good break between "Werwolf" and "Der Scharlachrote Tod". Both of those tracks are covers - the first one is Temnozor's, while the second one is Absurd's. It's not a big secret that Kroda knows how to play in interesting and ass-kicking way music of someone else. "Werewolf" is a bit different than the original, and moreover it's so full of energy that it looks a bit strange how only one person can make such a gehenna! The last track is like his predecessor a guts-grinding piece of brutal art, except it's a live version. And well, it just proves that Kroda is a beast on the scene!

I listen to "Varulven" whenever I can, and I am already preparing some money to buy the upcoming digipack. To everyone who is a fan of this ukrainian band or is simply interested in pagan/folk metal scene I recommend to do the same. A short, yet very good release.

Rate: 8+/10

Vladyka

Tracklist:
1. Varulven
2. Werwolf
3. Nemesis
4. Der Scharlachrote Tod (Absurd cover)

Enslaved - RIITIIR (2012)

Enslaved

"RIITIIR"

Nuclear Blast

2012

For some reasons I have never really listen to the previous album of Norwegians, "Axioma Ethica Odini". I was constantly making excuses "that I will listen to it soon". And suddenly I was informed that Enslaved is going to release another album. So please forgive me that I will not compare "RIITIIR" to the previous longplay, 'cuz the only thing I've heard from "Axioma..." was a promo video for that album.

Forgive me also if you will be disappointed by this review, but I am not going to write about every complex of their last opus. Mainly because I have not much to say. I've been listening to this release for quite a long time, and I am still under a big impression of this album. But let me start from the beginning.

First of all, I don't know why but I feel that this material is much harder to listen than the previous ones. I don't know is it because of the production (a bit more sultry, I think) or that the band again goes into even more progressive areas. Yes, again - if someone likes only their early works, he can skip reading this article and go find something better to do. But back to the topic. As I said, the album is more difficult to listen, even that from the other hand it has definitely much more clean vocals than the rest of their creativeness. For example I listen now to "Materal", I'm in mid part f this track and I hear there a really good melodies and hypnotic clean vocals of keyboardist (Herbrand), turning into a great rock guitar solo and then slow, heavy parts with Grutle's howlings. 

This weird feeling that the album is heavier and more ethereal at the same time accompanied me in every replay. And there were quite many of them. I am not sure what I should think about it. But I am sure for one thing: I love it. Really - this album passess very quick (even duration is more than an hour) and it almost literally take you to some other world. 

If you are a fan of Enslaved, you can be sure that you will like this album. The band is consequently walking on their own path into more and more progressive areas. They sound is once again lighter, but from the other hand much more complicated and with many relishes. They have lost on this trail their primal raw, black metal sound and that's why some malcontent's will be spreading bullshit again. But you know what? I don't care, and it seems that Norwegians don't care either. "RITTIIR" is a parfect, complex album with so many feelings and ideas that you should definitely check it for yourself is it worth your time or not. 

Rate: 10/10

Vladyka

Tracklist:

1. Thoughts likeHammers

2. Death in the Eyes of Dawn

3. Veilburner

4. Roots of the Mountain

5. Riitiir

6. Materal

7. Storm of Memories

8. Forsaken

The Flight of Sleipnir - "Saga" (2013)

The Flight of Sleipnir

"Saga"

Eyes Like Snow 

2013

This is the 4th longplay of American stoner/doom/viking metal duo The Flight of Sleipnir. 

Their new opus is a bit different than a very calm "Essence of Nine". They are still exploring spacious, slow musical landscapes. Yet they again decided to put more harshness into it. Thanks to that a new material is a bit more diverse. The best example of this diversity can be a track called "Demise Carries with It a Song"; it  starts with a bit faster riffing and harsh screaming to turn into slower, calmer stuff, full of solo passages in a more classical rock vain. Most of the music bases on such slow, atmospheric playing full of melancholic singing and acoustic themes (to summon e.g. beautiful song "The Mountain"). Fans of stoner/doom will also find something good for themselves, since it is a part of TFoF's world (like e.g. a great riffs in "Harrowing Desperation"). The whole album is a great mix of all of those elements. A dose of sadness fills every track in it's own way, sometimes even in a bit epic style like in "Hour of Cessation". 

However I don't understand why many people label them as a "folk metal" band. Maybe I have other imagination of what folk metal is, but for me using acoustic guitars is not enough to be labelad as that. But generally speaking the music of Slepnir bears a lot of marks of originality, so it's not very surprising that people have proplems with describing their music. 

A few words about production: it simply well suits the music. It's from one hand enough spacious when band goes into more touching, atmospheric playing, yet very sultry when they starts to play slow, doom parts with harsh vocals. Just listen to "Beneath Red Skies", and you will understand that I am right.

The Flight... recorded again a more than just listenable album. I am sure that their newborn child will visit my music player very often. "Saga" is truly a wonderful piece of art! 

Rate: 9/10

Vladyka

Tracklist:

1. Prologue

2. Reaffirmation

3. Reverence

4. Harrowing Desperation

5. Heavy Rest the Chains of the Dead

6. Judgment

7. Demise Carries with It a Song

8. The Mountain

9. Hour of Cessation

10. Remission

11. Beneath Red Skies

12. Epilogue

Introduction to paganism - part III - germanic tradition

Introduction
This text contains only basic information about germanic native traditions. If you want to learn more - read some books, or go to links that I recommend you at the end of this article.

Sources and historical background

Christianization of germanic tribes was a very long proces. First baptized gemans are those who were living near Roman Empire, circa about IV A.D. The last christianized were swedish tribes (XII A.D.). Very often christian germanic kings were trying to send missions to other pagan germans, to take new worshippers of Christ under their reign.

The problem with germanic paganism is that we don't have many written texts about continental germanic tribes. Even if we have, these are things like Volsunga Saga, not saying much about Gods worshipped in the pagan era. We can get information from people who neighboured with germanic tribes (Germania by Tacitus) Our main sources are also scandinavian (nordic) sagas and Eddas – Poetic Edda and Prose Edda. Also we can learn much from archeology, linguistic, comparative mythology and folklore.

Remember also that what you find in Eddas and sagas are very often just a literature, written for fun of nobleman and other people.

In this article I will focus on scandinavian beliefs, which you can find in modern Asatru's beliefs.

Main Deities

Gods and Godess are divided into two kins, Aesirs and Vanirs. In the beggining there was a conflict between those kins, but it ended peacefully.

Gods of germanic people are not immortal and not perfect – they have to eat apples of Idunn to stay young. Aesirs and Frey will also die in Ragnarok – a Dawn of Gods. From the ashes of old world will arise another, better, ruled by offspring of fallen gods.

Aesirs

Odin (germ. Wotan, eng. Woden) – he is a main God of the whole germanic pantheon (although at the beginning the main God was Tyr), being a patron of warfare, wisdom, poetry and magic. In the past he was favourite God of nobleman and chiefs (kings). He created the world, together with His brothers Vili and Ve. He hung him up on the tree of the World, Ygddrasil, to get knowledge about secrets of the world. Hero of many myths, Odin represents a perfect, noble man. He will die during the Ragnarok, defeated by a great wolf Fenrir.

His is the ruler of Asgaard, the world of Aesirs.

His atributes are:

• Two ravens, Hugin and Mugin, who brings him news from all the worlds.
• Wolfes Geri and Freki.
• Gungnir, his spear
• a horse Sleipnir
• Hlidskjalf, jis throne.

Thor (germ. Donar, eng. Thunor) – a son of Odin, god of thunder, storm, vitality, harvest and simple warriors, very similar to slavic god Perun and celtic Taranis. Thor's the strongest of all Aesirs, and is known for being a protector of Asgaard (the home of gods). Due to this fact, many people wear an amulet (Thor's hammer) to protect them from evil. Thor's hammer is also the most popular symbol of Asatru.

He is a hero of many myths, in which he mostly gives a proof of his strenght and honor. He is also much more "human" god than his father. Thor will die during the Ragnarok, after the killing of the Serpent of the World - Jormugand.

He's atributes are:

• Thunder hammer Mjollnir
• a charriot with two goats
• a belt of strenght Megingiard
• iron gloves of power

Tyr (germ. Tiu / Ziu, eng. Tiw) – at the begginig he was a god of sky, main deity of the pantheon of germanic tribes. But later his atributes were "stolen" by Odin. So Tyr is know mainly as a god of war, justice and oath. He lost his hand, which was warmed by the great wolf Fenrir. Known of his great courage, he will die during the Ragnarok in the fight with the dog called Garm.

His atributes are:

• Tiwaz rune
• only one hand (left)
• often presented with a sword.

Baldr (germ. ?, eng. Bældæg) – a son of Odin, killed by his brother Hod after a trick of Loki. Known as a most beautiful and good of all gods. He is now in the kingdom of goddess Hel, but he will return after a Ragnarok, to rule new, better world.

He is a god of shinig and goodness, the most perfect creature of all beings.

Heimdallr – is a god of righteousness and light, defender of the rainbow bridge leading to Asgaard – Bifrost. He will play on his horn, Gjallarhorn, when the Ragnarok starts. And he will die in the duel with Loki.

Loki – is a giant of fire, adopted to Aesir's kin by Odin. An Allfather is also his bloodbound brother.

Known as a very chaotic god of cheat. He can take a form of any kind he'd like, and also change his sex. He is a hero of many myths, in which he once help Aesirs, and once do everything against them.

He tricked Hod to kill the most beloved of all gods – Baldr. As a punishment he was chainted onto a rock, whan a giant serpent spits on him a poison from time to time. His wife, Sigyn, holds a boal under Loki, so her husband didn't get injured by it.

He will break his change in a day of Ragnarok, and lead an army of giants and beasts against gods.

Bragi – a skaldic god, patron of poetry and singing (without magical approach).

Frigg (germ. Frijo, eng. Frige) – she's a wife of the highest god Odin, a patron of marriage, home, family, married women and births.

Very often she is identify with a Vanir Freya. It might be that in the beginning they were a one godess.

Idunn – a wife of Bragi, a keeper of apples giving gods their eternal youthfulness.

Ostara (eng. Ēostre) – a goddes of spring, light, life fertility and a first sunrise (on the spring).

Vanirs

Njordr – is a god of seas and oceans, helpful to people. He lives in Asgaard, but after the Ragnarok he will return to his home-world (Vanaheim).

A father of Freyr and Freya.

Freyr – a god of fertility, vegetation, land, prosperity, and peace. He is one of the most important germanic gods, together with Odin and Thor. Even he's a Vanir, his fate is bounded with Aesirs and he will die during the Ragnarok.

His atributes:

• a boar Gullinbursti
• flying ship Skidbladnir
• a ring Draupnir, given him after a Baldr's death
• deer's horn.

Freya – a sister of Freyr, sometimes identified with Frigg. She is a goddess of fertility, love,sex and female magic – seidhr. Mostly worshipped by a women, she's most important goddess, together with Odin's wife. She is also the most beautiful of all women.

Her atributes are:

• golden necklace Brisingamen
• a robe, made from hawks' feathers

Other gods

Hel – she is a daughter of Loki. Odin has given her a kingdom of the dead – Helheim. It is a place where souls of those who has not fallen in battle will exist, until the day of Ragnarok.

Other creatures

Disir – a spirits bounded with a human kin, being defenders of specific family. They are identify as a forefathers, bounded with a goddess Freya. They help humans in everyday life.

Fylgia – a personal helping spirit of each man, often presented as a women or an animal. Similar to slavic Dola or christian guardian angel.

Valkyries – a women-spirit, servant of Odin. They are collecting a souls of fallen in battle, and guide them to Vallhala – a home of the Highest. They are sometimes associated with Fylgias.

Alfs (Elves) – they are living in a world of Alfheim, ruled by Freyr. They are a spirits of wild nature, sometims associated with a dead persons.

There are also Dark Alfs, living in the world of underground, called Dwarves.

Giants (Thurs') – a creatures fighting with a gods, incarnation of chaos and wild forces of the universe.

Worlds of Ygdrassil

Ygdrassil, A tree of The World, is a place where lies all of the know worlds:

Asgaard – a world of Aesirs.

Alfheim – world of alfs, ruled by Freyr.

Muspelheim – southern world of fire, a home of fire giants.

Vanaheim – home of Vanirs.

Midgard – a wolrd of living humans.

Jotunheim – a world of mountain giants.

Nilfheim – a frosty home of ice giants.

Svartalfheim – underground world of dark alfs (dwarves).

Hel – underground world of dead.

Main festivals

1^st week of Ferbuary - Disablot – a festival dedicated to Freyr, Freya and disirs.

20^th / 21^st of March – Ostara – a festival of spring and fertility, rebirthing of the world.

30^th of April – Walpurgia's night – festival of goddesses bounded with magic and death (Frigg, Freya, Hel).

1^st of May – day of Freyr and Freya, festival of fertility.

21^st of June – Midsummer – a festival of summer. In this time ritual of Sunna's (Sun) blot must be performed.

1^st of August – Lammas – a festival of harvest, bounded with Freyr and Freya,

1^st of September – Day of Odin – a blot being perform to hail Odin

21^st of September - Autumn Equinox - a festival ending a harvest, bounded with Freyr and Freya, but also with all gods being associated with fertility and vegetation.

12^th of October - Alfarblot – festival of fylgias, disirs and alfs.

20^th / 21^st of December – Yule – festival of passing winter. Blot is being performed mainly for Freyr, Freya and Thor.

Learn more:

http://www.viking-mythology.com/

http://thenorsegods.com/

http://www.wizardrealm.com/norse/gods.html

http://norse-mythology.org/

http://www.norsemyth.org/

And books:

John Lindow - Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs.

Gabriel Turville-Petre - Myth and Religion of the North: The Religion of Ancient Scandinavia.

Kevin Crossley-Holland – The Norse Myths

H.R. Ellis Davidson - Gods and Myths of Northern Europe

And of course every source-text that you will find – Germania, Sagas and Eddas.

For polish-speaking people:

G. Dumezil - Bogowie germanów. Szkice o kształtowaniu się religii skandynawskiej (it can be difficult if you know nothing about a topic).

J. Ros – Heroje Północy (best translation of main scandinavian myths)

L.P. Słupecki - Mitologia Skandynawska w epoce Wikingów

L. Auerbach – Wikingowie i Germanie. Sagi ludów północy

Vladyka, June 2013