Artist: Parzival
Title: Urheimat
Genre: Electro / Industrial / Gothic
Release Date: 25th March 2011
Label: Euphorius VME
Album Review
PARZIVAL is a Russian Gothic / Industrial / Classical band that is based in Copenhagen Denmark. The band was founded in 1999 and previously had the name STIFF MINERS. This group sounds like it is influenced by medieval music, Gregorian chants, Wagner, and general Industrial synth and Gothic sounds. The band tends to write it lyrics in German, Latin and occasionally Russian. The 3 core members are Russian but often have guest appearances from Danish musicians.
PARZIVAL's new album is called ‘Urheimat’ and it promises to be as epic as their former albums. Their music reminds me of the 19th century Russian romantics. Every time I listen to the songs on this album I think of the Russian national anthem for some odd reason. This band seems to follow the path of the romantic Russian poets from the dark side with deep, dark and luminous songs. The first song on the album is ‘Zeit 0’ and starts out with chanting. I feel like I have started on an epic journey to an exciting new underground world already. It continues with riveting electronic sounds and a drum beat that travels into the chanting. The second song is ‘Urheimat’ which is also the title of the album. This song starts out in a really exciting way and makes you realize your no longer on a journey, you are starting to actually live in the adventure! The chanting is less Gregorian like in the first song but more dramatic and it is complimented by electronic sounds. This song sounds like he is talking about the perils and tribulations in this epic journey we are all on in this lifetime.
The third song, ‘Nach Nord’, sounds like a fighting song almost. It starts out with forceful chanting and is complimented by synthetic sounds and seems like a good song to be danced to. The forth song gets much darker and starts out with some moaning and then the vocals start and continue to amaze me with the penetrating beats that are organized and driven to their final destination which is still unknown. Next one, ‘Peitsche Und Zuckerbrot’ gets even better with strong vocals in the beginning of the song continuing on the adventure into the mist with bouncing synthetic sounds and the strong vocals. It becomes more exciting with this striking sound that is reminiscent of marches of ancient soldiers. ‘ Der Geist Der Barons’ starts out with the whistling sound of wind and continues into a classical piece that sounds like medieval singing with a more feminine voice accompanying the main vocals then goes back into the dark vocals and ends with the classical medieval church like singing again. Interesting! The seventh song, ‘Leben Ist Fabrik’, starts out completely different. This song seems influenced by the German Industrial / EBM / Gothic scene with its heavy use of synthesizers and sound samplings. It is a departure from the previous and more classical song. Its like they came from the past in the former song and launched themselves into the future in a factory like existence.
Following ‘Die Grosse Schau’ seems to continue this factory like theme with repetitive sounds emanating from drum beats and then continue into chanting. The ninth song, ‘Der Anilingürtel’, is a bit slower in beat then the previous songs, the vocals start then a sort of odd sound from different samplings comes into play. It seems more technical and less classical in influence. I can hear some influences from an eerie sounding guitar. Next song, ‘Der Aarn’, starts out really slow and seems to give the listener a break from the former songs. Its like the adventurer took a sad turn and had a loss of some type or another in this epic journey. The hero lost a friend maybe? The typical chanting goes into song and includes the haunting chimes of a church bell. The song seems to be saying to us that the bell tolls for us all! The reaper will have his day! The eleventh song, ‘Der Blasebalg’, seems more fun in its demeanour with bouncing sounds and voices. The typical strong vocals tie you into the adventure by keeping the listeners attention. This adventure is happening now so be aware and awake for what is about to appear. This song ends with a lovely set of hard drum beats.
Song number twelve, ‘Elektrisches Vorspiel’, seems like they are experimenting with electrical sounds. In this song there are many buzzing and mechanical sounds. One of the sounds in this song sounds like it comes from an alien sci-fi movie. The effect is interesting with the vocals. The last song on the album, ‘Die Spröde Welt’, starts out slow then continues with this romantic Russian like chanting. In the song it seems to say that our journey is over and now we are going home with its continuous and melodic type sounds. ‘Urheimat’ is not just an album that you can listen to but an epic adventure you are going on with the band. It makes you feel like you are in a role playing game where you are the hero reciting his adventures. PARZIFAL has a unique sound all its own and despite having different influences they seem to tie it all together. This whole album is really an ancient epic, a Viking like saga really! It was a lot of fun to go on this journey!
Tracklist
01. Zeit 0
02. Urheimat
03. Nach Nord
04. Sei Bereit
05. Peitsche Und Zuckerbrot
06. Der Geist Der Barons
07. Leben Ist Fabrik
08. Die Grosse Schau
09. Der Anilingürtel
10. Der Aarn
11. Der Blasebalg
12. Elektrisches Vorspiel
13. Die Spröde Welt
Line-up
Dimitrij Bablevskij - vocals, programming
Oleg Naumov - Percussion, drums
Tim Ellegaard - Keyboards, bass, guitar
Michael Hedelain - Keyboards, drums
Websites
http://www.myspace.com/orderofparzival
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 9
Sound: 10
Extras: -
Total: 9.5 / 10
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