Title: Nibelung
Artist: Siegfried
Genre: Epic Metal
Release Date: 25th November 2009
Label: Napalm Records
Album Review
I usually make a point of simply reviewing an album track by track but owing to the nature of this venture I'm going to have to approach it somewhat differently. This is the third and long awaited album from Austrian metallers SIEGFRIED and deals with The Nibelung, which for those of you unacquainted with it, is the German / Norse Saga of the Royal Frankish House and their hordes. Think Wagner's 'Ring', Fritz Lang's 'Die Nibelungen' or Tolkien's 'The legend of Sigurd and Gudrun'. Pretty heavy stuff then. SIEGFRIED were formed (and named after the central character in The Nibelung, the charming warrior) late on in the nineties by Bachmaier (ex Sarcasm Syndrome), Bruder Cle (Angry Angels) and Sandra Schleret (Elis, ex Dreams of Sanity) with the three role playing the central characters to epic and outstandingly ambitious metal scores.
The album starts off with 'Der Ring der Nibelungen' (Ring of the Nibelung) with beautiful deep cellos leading to a thundering atmospheric overture which introduces us to the concept of the gold of the Nibelungen being cursed and thus to the story of the whole album. Clashing symbols and booming drums set the flavour of dark and awesome power as a tight metal symphony begins. Vocals are excellently provided by all concerned and it's already obvious that the mastering of this has been utterly masterful, so all due thanks to Alex Krull (Atrocity, Leaves’ Eyes) who utilised Mastersound Studios to produce something with a truly dynamic and perfectly balanced sound. 'Fafnir' is darker and heavier in flavour giving vent to the hate and lust of that character in the story, whilst 'Die Eisenfaust - Alberich' (Iron fist) has some awesome guttural vocals overlaid by Sandra's compelling soprano to make this truly operatic and very complex in nature.
If I have one criticism, and it isn't really a criticism it's something to applaud in fact, it's that this is a very clever work, very complicated, very busy and much focused, so much so that it might pass a few people by in its sheer ambition. 'Die Prophezeihung' (The Prediction) is next and explains the prophecy regarding the Nibelung both musically and lyrically with the lead being taken by Sandra again with great skill and enthusiasm. There is some tremendous riffage in here as well for those who like their guitar work as well as a consummate drummer in the form of Patrick Schrittwieser (Divine Temptation) who has really made this album what it is in my opinion, because a lesser drummer would never have pulled it off in a million years. And so we move on to 'Brunhild' one of the characters with an axe to grind (and there are a few of those in this epic saga). This is both wrathful and martial in feeling and inherently beautiful with more soaring vocals and a gorgeous melancholic piano interlude which is soon overcome by dirty metal guitars that in turn fall prey to a vocal crescendo of choir like proportions.
'Sachsensturm' (Sachsen Storm, or Charge depending on your take on the lyrics) is a battle fury of rhythmic war drums and God like horns with the three main protagonists slogging it out to a score with lots of double bass kicks of the drums, epic synths and God knows how many tracks they've actually used but the sound is HUGE. 'Totenwacht' (Death Watch) is awash with mammoth church organs, gentle mournful strings and hard hitting metal atrocities all fighting for supremacy in what feels chaotic and uncontrolled but is actually anything but. It's sung to its full tragic potential by Sandra as it soars towards the heartbreaking outcome. Sharper than I would have thought they'd treat it, 'Der Todesmarsch' (The Death March) is none the less a masterpiece of discordant and blissful vocals coupled with crippling metal overtones and choral insistences that form the perfect background to the vocal narration piece that accompanies it. And finally to 'Götterdämmerung' (Twilight of the Gods or Ragnarök), so breathtakingly beautiful with it's heavy grief laden piano and it's weeping vocals coupled with all the bile and vitriol in the world that has led this hate and greed ridden tale to it's epic and mythic conclusion.
I was left totally speechless after hearing this album. It's incredibly heavy going, but fabulously constructed and beautifully executed by people to whom this must have really been a labour of love. The sound is utterly sublime and I find it hard to fault much in anyway at all. I like heavy subject matter and all things mythic and epic, so this was exactly to my taste. If you like AYREON and want to be in Lord of the Rings, then this album really is for you as well. I can't recommend it enough and it is well and truly got an exceptionally well deserved ten.
Tracklist
01. Der Ring der Nibelungen
02. Fafnir
03. Die Eisenfaust (Alberich)
04. Die Prophezeihung
05. Brunhild
06. Sachsensturm
07. Totenwacht
08. Der Todesmarsch
09. Götterdämmerung
Line up
Sandra Schleret - Vocals
Werner Bialek - Vocals
Bruder Cle - Vocals
Ortwin - Guitars, Arrangements
Johannes Leierer - Bass
Schattwan - Keyboards
Patrick Schrittwieser - Drums
Website
http://www.siegfried.co.at/ / http://www.myspace.com/siegfriedmetal
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 10
Sound: 10
Extras: -
Total: 10 / 10
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