Valensorow - Neptus
Well, here's a strong candidate for most fun metal album this year. My initial reaction when seeing a band tagged as "metalcore with folk/viking influences" was basically ".... what the hell?! Hahaha! This is gonna be terrible!" It seemed like a hugely gimmicky notion. My curiosity led me to their online album stream to see what madness was afoot. Truth be told, though, the only way "madness" figures into it is as a way to describe the energy and pomp this album churns out by the gigawatt. This band is hyper as fuck. It makes "Halo of Blood" (fun as that album surprisingly is) sound like funeral doom. Okay, not exactly, but you get the point. Let me have my hyperbole, dammit!
Right off the bat, I want to address the metalcore tag - it carries a stigma in many a modern metalhead mind - and point out that this band is heavy on the metal (teehee) and kind of in-between on the core. There are some breakdowns, sure, but they don't just use them for the hell of it like some modern bands seem to these days. They're well-executed and mostly short. The "viking metal" side is really the meat and potatoes here - within the first minute of track 1 (the title track), this band makes it obvious that they are very strongly influenced by bands like Ensiferum (especially in the lead guitar area) and Finntroll (in the intensity and folksiness). In truth, they might not be the most original band - the core elements notwithstanding - but as I always say, it's all in the execution. These guys do it right, and have some major fun doing it.
This is the part where I typically go on about the instruments/vocals. I'll try not to ramble too much! Everything is clearly heard; Neptus is mixed well. Vocals alternate between low gutturals and core-ish shrieks. The lead guitarist performs *very* catchy/bouncy melodies... "Indiril Forest", for example, stands up to the work done on Ensiferum's amazing debut. Some tracks utilize solos, breakdowns or both (i.e., track 8 has breakdowns and a short but memorable solo). Drumming is furious. The bass presence is also quite strong here, and he really gives it a work-out on the album closer. There are occasional keys and (perhaps simulated) accordion bits. Album high-light "Tales of an Admiral" showcases these elements, as well as the good old "keyboard choir" effect to add dramatic effect. There's also a solid breakdown in there for good measure - it's a song that exemplifies what the band's over-all sound is all about.
Rambled a bit, didn't I? Well, let's sum it up. This isn't flawless by any means. The ballad (track 5) is awkward, with cheesy lyrics and the clean vocals kinda sucking, though the acoustic guitar work is solid. A few tracks (7 and 8 right together, notably) downplay the whole Viking vibe on behalf of a more conventional core sound, especially on verse rhythms - sometimes a bit too much for my liking. Admittedly, the soloing on those 2 noted tracks is superb. "Storms" in general doesn't really do anything for me until the outro. But the over-all product is a well-crafted, fast, folksy foray into a somewhat different direction than the average Viking metaller is accustomed to. You'll laugh, you'll cry (simultaneously during the goofy ballad), you'll spill your ale and dance with the mop. Or something.
What can I say? I recommend this album to fun people.
copas from http://www.metal-archives.com/reviews/Valensorow/Neptus/380251/
Tracklist:
01. Neptus
02. Clan Valensorow
03. Indiril Forest
04. A New Jericho
05. Dirge Of The Dying
06. Upon The Mountain
07. The Sorceress
08. With An Iron Fist
09. La Oss Jakte
10. Tales Of An Admiral
11. Storms
12. The Raid
TKP
password : nymph
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