Artist: Suidakra
Title: Book of Dowth
Genre: Melodic Black Metal / Folk Metal
Release Date: 25th March 2011
Label: AFM Records
Album Review
SUIDAKRA are one of those bands who once they started up, seemed to naturally just create good music. They’ve been having no problem cranking out album after album with little backlash from fans for very few reasons, particularly because they aren’t the most experimental group in melodic black metal. However, this also doesn’t mean they aren’t adventurous. If they’re style isn’t broken (or criticized), why try to fix it? SUIDARKRA do a great job at merging black metal with melodic Viking / folk metal, and also trying to spread a diversity of sound and style across the album so ‘no one song sounds the same in a row.’ At least, that is the effect they achieve with their latest album, ‘Book of Dowth’.
The album begins with the heavily Celtic ‘Over Nine Waves’, which features bagpipes and then a crunch metal rhythm that goes well together. Then the black metal hits with ‘Dowth 2059’. At first it may not seem like much - it just feels like a black metal version of AMON AMARTH meets HEIDEVOLK, but the melodic bits are pretty catchy and enjoyable. The same can be said for ‘Battle-Cairns’ which tends to stay in the same style, so fans may start to wonder if every track will be like this. Then, the bombshell hits with ‘Birog’s Oath’. The melodic black metal structure is still there in the music with a more folk centred sound from the keyboards, but now mysterious female vocals take over with very little mention or credit, as SUIDAKRA don’t usually employ female vocals within their music. Right after a new surprise hits with the acoustic ‘Mag Mell’ which features a mix of clean male and female vocals. It is a great example of folk music and will have listeners’ heads spinning because by this point all expectations will have been blown away.
‘The Dark Mound’ brings back that melodic black metal feeling from the earlier tracks, but it feels more like Viking metal when compared to anything else. ‘Balor’ deceives with an acoustic opening and then explodes into the heavier music, but it may be the most overlooked track on the album because with the layered rough clean vocals it tends to feel like a BORKNAGAR knock off. ‘Stone of the Seven Suns’ is like a heavy metal tavern song, full of catchy acoustic melodies while accompanied by electrified chugs. Lyrically, it may seem repetitive, but it is still enjoyable. ‘Fury Fomoraigh’ is the heaviest track on the album, even though it features an almost symphonic closing. The last track, ‘Otherworlds Collide’ is just a simple, acoustic outro that easily settles out just like the intro track got listeners warmed up for the album. Overall, a great mix of heavy and melodic that will please fans of folk and black metal alike.
Tracklist
01. Over Nine Waves 1:57
02. Dowth 2059 4:38
03. Battle-Cairns 3:36
04. Biróg's Oath 4:18
05. Mag Mell 3:19
06. The Dark Mound 5:14
07. Balor 5:02
08. Stone Of The Seven Suns 5:42
09. Fury Fomoraigh 4:43
10. Otherworlds Collide 1:42
Line-up
Arkadius "Akki" Antonik - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
Marcus Riewaldt - Bass
Lars Wehner - Drums, Backing Vocals
Website
http://www.suidakra.com/
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 8
Sound: 8
Total: 8 / 10
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