Irish outfit Primordial can be counted among those bands who have settled on a unique formula of their own devising that has proven successful over a considerable row of releases. Epic tales, drawing from history and mythology, are rendered in bombastic, usually long and/or doom-paced songs blending a consistently decreasing black metal substrate with more traditional heavy metal and adequate elements drawn from the tropes of folk music; all of this topped by vocalist Alan Averill’s trademark vocal style, fulfilling the role of passionate bard (or maybe more like a hero reliving his adventures after coming from battle), making up what could be likened, both in theme and sound, to an extension of what Iron Maiden explored in their classic albums with the added innovations naturally bought by time and more recent developments in metal music.
Their latest offering is no exception, with the content of “How It Ends” remaining certainly within the expectations of everyone with knowledge of the band’s former ventures. Songs are fundamentally based on the strident power of the riffs and, of course, the vocal accompaniment of Averill, who as in the preceding records sounds at times like a narrator waiting for the opportunity to launch himself in impassioned screaming. The guitars are either ponderous or explicitly aiming for the adventurous excitement demanded by the lyrical content and general spirit of the music; also frequent is the affectation of folk tunes or simply the sense of pummeling drive and energy that one expects from the music’s triumphalist premise (as in the compacted “Traidisiúnta”, which functions like a distillation of this particular feel).
While, for example, a song like “Call to Cernunnos” admirably displays a genuinely folk-sounding melody, processed by the metallic sheen of the electric guitars, the material in general doesn’t stand out as much as the band’s best efforts. In spite of the consistency that the band still manages to maintain, we find no equivalent in this album of a song like “Empire Falls” or even “Wield Lightning to Split the Sun” from “Where Greater Men Have Fallen”. In general, the lasting impression is that of a certain weariness that nevertheless doesn’t stop this from being an all-around enjoyable record, specially for the already converted.
Rafael, whats your opinion on Blood Revolt.
Solid, from what I remember (it’s been a while though)
‘Exile Amongst the Ruins’ was pretty dull and disappointing. According to your review this might be more in line with ‘Where Greater Men Have Fallen’, ok but not great. I think Primordial lost it somewhere after ‘Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand’, which is a pity, since their 2000s output and evolution was truly fantastic, but it’s very difficult to be on top for so long. I’ll give the new one a few spins anyway, great bands are always interesting even in their lower moments.
I agree, with the exception that I’d say “Where Greater Men Have Fallen” represents a minor ascent in the latter phase of their discography. The song I mentioned in particular belongs to the classic Primordial canon in my view.