TURISAS - Battle Metal

Celkové hodnocení alba: 69% Rok vydání: 2004 Žánr: folk metal Celkový čas: 57:15 Skladby

Review:

Unpack the bearskin and the spiked club, in the forest is a party and TURISAS are the organisers!

To complete the confusion after the Belgians of THURISAZ, we now get the Finns of TURISAS. Prior to the release there was quite some ballyhoo around the band, almost making them the unsigned legend of Finnish Viking Metal. “Battle Metal“ now is the official label debut for the quintet from Hämeenlinna, where the five headed line-up is complemented by two guest musicians, live they even have four more session musicians, so understatement is not really the Finns’ thing.

After ENSIFERUM and MOONSORROW Finland sends out another high octane representative into the Viking Metal market and if there had been any doubts before, this album makes it very clear that the land of the thousand lakes firmly has claimed the throne, after with EINHERJER one of the best horses in Norway’s stable has put itself to sleep. And the title of the debut “Battle Metal” is program, for TURISAS run over you with the force of a Viking tribe in a really bad mood.

“Victoriae & Triumphi Dominus“ is a very epic instrumental that would honour any movie, towards the end also with a deep male choir and a female vocals, very strong intro! And “As Torches Rise“ sets out very symphonic, with very strong keyboards, plus double-bass and rough vocals, before a bit later a violin is added to a swingful Folk Metal rhythm, that’s entertaining! And that definitely is not all yet, for the title track also brings back the choirs of the intro, plus some flute, this is big Viking Metal!

“The Land Of Hope And Glory” is epic Viking Metal, covering all shadings of this direction, with big choirs, rough vocals, violins, flutes, accordions, great, simply great! “One More” – at the beginning a little less heavy, but even more epic with completely clean vocals, in the chorus also some shout choir and violin, then suddenly accelerating and getting more intense, with the typically rough vocals of fronter Mathias D.G. Nygard, to switch into pure Folk Metal with clear voice and violin, while “Midnight Sunrise“ with keyboards and violin to speed things up and supported by violin and shout choir leads to the vocals of guest elf Nina Laakso, before the big choir joins the epic Viking Metal and then even invites the accordion in.

But it gets even better! “Among Ancestors” sets out with double-bass and big choir and continues with this choir throughout the song, biiiig feeling, combined with the symphonic keyboards and all, brilliant track that towards the end even adds a short Humppa passage. “Sahti-Waari” is purest Folk Metal with violin and great flute, accordion and choir, wow! “Prologue For R.R.R.” is a very dark, narrated introduction for “Rex Regi Rebellis“, again an extremely varied track, which covers everything from fat double-bass to very calm parts, from Nygard’s rough voice to big choir, from heavy guitars to violin, before “Katuman Kaiku“ closes off the album purely instrumental with accordion and great solo flute over slow-paced Viking Metal.

I know, I seem to have developed the habit of dissecting albums that I like a lot almost track for track, but I just can’t help it, for that “Battle Metal” is just far too varied and great, I don’t want to inflict any injustice upon the songs!

You can twist and turn it any way you want, TURISAS without a doubt are one of the hottest contenders for the title “newcomer of the year”, Viking Metal as it should be, I am eagerly awaiting new material and be careful, behind the third tree to the left a bear is standing… (Online October 14, 2004)

Author: Alex (9 of 10)
Source: http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=7010