Recenzija: Helroth – I, Pagan (2016.)

Helroth – I, Pagan

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U poslednjih nekoliko godina, pokazalo se da je je Poljska postala „meka“ za bendove raznih žanrova metala, uglavnom ekstremnijih (death, black i sličnih).  Medjutim, Helroth nam iz ove zemlje nude nešto sasvim drugo.  Oni su pagan folk metal bend.  Dolaze iz Warshave i formirani su kao bend krajem 2012 od strane tri bivša člana folk metal benda Vecordia – Marthe, Zapora i Ernesta.  2013 su postali diskografski aktivni sa svojim, pa osrednjim demoom i ne baš proslavljenim EP-jem Wataha.  Tri godine nakon ova dva, pa recimo neuspešna predstavljanja sceni, evo ih ponovo sa svojim prvim celim albumom I, Pagan.  Odmah na samom početku da vam kažem da je I, Pagan potpuno nešto drugo od ovog benda.   

Ovaj album je zaista veoma kvalitetan komad pagan folk metala, što je mnoge fanove ove muzike prilično iznenadilo.
Po defaultu, violina i flauta daju albumu taj pagan ton, ali se na njih lepe jaki muški i nežni ženski vokali.  Teški gitarski rifovi su najbolji u sporojim deonicama albuma.  Muzika benda isto tako obiluje veoma masivnim bubnjarskim deonicama, tu i tamo prošarane blastovima tako dobro odsviranima da je bend uspeo mnoge da uhvati na spavanju.  Nagle promene tempa i zvuka su tako prirodno odradjene da je celokupan materijal koji na ovom albumu prezentuju mnogo interesantniji za slušanje. 
Momenti u kojima Helroth na ovom albumu zaista blista su sporije deonice odsvirane sa puno emocije, tako da pesme poput možda „Mists of Eternity“ ili čak „Firedance“ prosto odišu mirisima divlje i netaknute prirode, upravo onima koji umeju da opiju i hipnotišu.  „Mists of Eternity“ je zapravo tako dobra pesma koju u prvo plan ističe nežna melodija odsvirana na violini praćenoj melodijom na akustičnoj gitari, tako da pesma kao celina možda predstavlja i najbolji momenat na albumu.  Čitava pesma je tako atmosferično odsvirana da vas prosto primorava da se udobno smestite i opustite se, uživajući u svakoj sekundi u zvučnim pasažima kroz koje vas vodi, potpuno opčinjene.  Definitino bi bend trebao da koristi ove jake strane na budućim ostvarenjima u znatno većoj meri.  Lirski, na albumu su zastupljene klasične pagan-folk teme bajki kao i verovanja Slovena. 
Ovo je sada već bend koji je definitivno uspeo da se iz skoro potpune tame isprsi i zauzme mesto u svetlom krugu na pozornici.  Još uvek tu ima mesta poboljšanjima, naročito u repertoaru pesama i konačnom iskristalisanju stila koji bend želi da sledi, jer se na momente na albumu primeti kao da bend još uvek traga za tom dobitnom kombinacijom elemenata koji će im šire otvoriti vrata.  Sve u svemu, ovaj album je sigurno vredan slušanja i predsatvlja jedno jako izdanja koje će sigurno obradovati one koji su ovaj bend možda otpisali.  Ako samo nastave ovako kako su krenuli, Helroth će sigurno pokazati i dokazati svima da oni itekako imaju šta da kažu i da zaslužuju svoje mesto pod pagan-folk kišobranom.

Helroth – I, Pagan

Art of the Night Productions (2016)

pagan folk metal

Ocena: 8/10.

Recenziju napisao: Igor Živić

 

                                           

Helroth - I, Pagan

In last several years, it has been shown so many times that Poland has become „mecca“ for bands of many different genres of metal music, mostly more extreme ones (death, black and similar).  But, Helroth are offering us from this country something a bit different.  They are a pagan-folk metal band.  They are coming from Warshava and are formed as a band at the end of 2012, by three ex-members of another folk metal band, Vecordia – Martha, Zapor and Ernest.  In 2013 they have become discographically active with the release of their, well not so good demo and pretty bad EP Wataha.  But now, three years after those first steps, here they are again, this time with their first full-length album I, Pagan.  And I have to tell you right here at the beginning,that I, Pagan is a completelly different song from this band.  This album is really godd quality piece of pagan-folk metal, which is the fact that has suprised fans of this genre, pretty much.
By the default, violine and phlute are giving this pagan undertone, but for them are glued strong male and gentle female vocals.  Heavy guitar riffs are the best is slower parts of the album.  Music of the band is filled with some very massive drum parts, seasoned here and there with blasts performed so well, that band has succeded to catch many of us of guard.  Many tempo and tone changes are done so natural that the materijal as a whole presented on this album is very interesting listening experience.
Moments in which Helroth is at their best are slower parts, played with so much emotion, to ttat songs like „Mists of Eternity“ or even „Firedance“ simply are breathing with smells of wild and untouched nature.  „Mists of Eternity“ is acctually such a good song with high accent on gentle melody played on violine, joined with equally gentle melody on accoustic guitar, so the song as a whole represents maybe the best moment on the album.  The song is performes so atmospherically, that you are simply forced to enjoy in every and each sound that it is consisted of.  Lyrically, at tha album are used classical pagan-folk topics, such as fairy-tales and Slavic beliefs.
This is now definitelly a band that has succeded to raise almost from total darkness and take its place in the light of the reflectors at the stage.  Yes, there are still plenty of opportunities for adjustments, especially in the song-structure department and final definition of the style the band wants to pursue, because at the moments you feel like that you have in front of yourself a band that is still searching for that winning combination of musical elements that will open wide the doors they are stanting at now.  All in all, this album is surelly worthy of your listening time and it represents a strong release that will make happy those that maybe did not believe in this band.  Only if they continue in this direction, Helroth will surelly show and proove to all that they have what to say and that they deserve their place under the pagan-folk umbrella.

Helroth – I, Pagan

Art of the Night Productions (2016)

pagan folk metal

Mark: 8/10.

Made by: Igor Živić