Taekaury - Spirit of Koguryo

Artist: Taekaury
Release Title: Spirit of Koguryo
Year: 2014
Label: Fallen-Angel Productions
Genre: Pagan Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Intro (天地開闢)
2. Killing Racist
3. Fucking Nowadays Korean Mental
4. Spirit of Koguryo
5. Gwanggaeto the Great King
6. From Dusk Till Dawn
7. Outro (蚩尤戱)
8. Way of Blood

One of the most convoluted band history’s ever, South Korean one-man pagan black metallers Taekaury have a rather long history dating back to 2000, including two spells as Apparition before this current name and then as Malakh before changing back once again. Initially independently released in 2014, the group decides to re-release their debut full-length on July 30, 2014 on Fallen-Angel Productions.

Managing to infuse their sound into an enjoyable whole, the main element at play here is the fact that this one really contains quite an exotic and vicious sound through the traditional elements present. The riff-work is exceptionally enjoyable with the vicious rhythms running throughout here carrying this one along in mixing swirling tremolo patterns alongside the bands’ infusion of charging militaristic patterns and a pounding death metal sensibility to their drumming as this here offers a far more explosive influence in that style. This features quite a more pronounced heavier, plodding charge than would normally be expected in pagan black metal styles and lets this one charge along quite nicely with it’s galloping mid-tempo pace and twisting riffing that manages to make for quite an exceptional sound here, especially alongside the album’s rather fun tendency to include short snippets of localized sound-clips or musical passages to add to the exotic flavor. That said, there’s a few minor elements that don’t work well here which really comes from the second half of the album as this is a stylistic departure from the first part. Rather than carrying on the first where it was somewhat more energetic, the majority of the tracks in this section here come off a little more plodding and slower paced which turns their swirling riff-work into simply plodding, nearly lifeless sections that aren’t really that interesting. It’s about all that really doesn’t work here.

Though it’s not necessarily the most cohesive effort around with a few minor flaws to be found here with the album loosing some steam as it goes along, there’s some absolutely fun moments as well throughout here that make this enough to be worthwhile for fans of the localized sound or those that prefer a more melodious version of pagan-accented black metal.

Score: 78/100

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http://fallangels.cafe24.com/product/detail.html?product_no=894&cate_no=33&display_group=1

Heervader/Ancestors Blood - Ancestors Blood/Heervader Split

Artist: Ancestors Blood/Heervader
Release Title: Ancestors Blood/Heervader
Year: 2015
Label: Heidens Hart Records
Genre: Ancestors Blood (Pagan Black Metal); Heervader (Pagan Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Heervader - Berserkgangr 08:48
2. Heervader - Bloedbroeder van de Aarde 05:14
3. Heervader - Voorwaarts! 06:22
4. Ancestors Blood - Deceiver for Power and Glory 06:06
5. Ancestors Blood - Ritual of the Sacred Dance 07:33
6. Ancestors Blood - Revelation (Beyond Death) 04:43
7. Ancestors Blood - Rise of the Spirit of Ancient Heroes

This split release from these two black metal acts, the Finnish Ancestors Blood and Dutch Heervader, comes off rather well here with two pagan-inspired acts coming together for a truly enjoyable release.

On the Heervader side, this is mostly a nice mid-tempo affair that runs through mostly swirling tremolo rhythms and a raw, simplistic style that makes for bouncy, light pagan tunes. There’s another strong pagan influence here with the strong use of keyboards and acoustic guitars with the lyrics in their native tongue that furthers this all rather nicely alongside the tight use of traditional galloping rhythms and paces that makes the group rather engaging with their melodic tendencies helping to lend a fair bit of easy-going sensibilities to their section by making for pleasingly enjoyable tracks without really wading in the extremes of the genre. ‘Berserkgangr’ begins with spritely acoustic guitar runs before going through a lively mid-tempo series of tremolo-picked runs keeping to bouncy pagan rhythms as the occasional blastbeat works alongside the raw riff-work as interludes of folk instrumentals run alongside the warm tremolo melodies through the final half works for a strong opening. ‘Bloedbroeder van de Aarde’ features simple, thunderous drumming with an extended speech that turns into a bouncy mid-tempo gallop with swirling tremolo patterns and raw riffing through the series of tight rhythms with the light riff-work against the thunderous drumming along through the grand finale makes for another strong effort. ‘Voorwaarts!’ uses a fine acoustic intro with a nice burst into a fiery mid-tempo burst with swirling tremolo patterns and light acoustics mixed together for a fine series of patterns running throughout the sprawling, mid-tempo pace with the riffing continuing alongside the steady drumming with the light pagan patterns throughout the final half for a rather enjoyable conclusion to their side.

On the Ancestors Blood side,this ends up being quite similar overall with a few small added touches here and there. Again, the framework is based on swirling tremolo riffing and pounding, simplified drumming along steady, mid-tempo paces throughout that add a distinguished melodic flair and ambiance to their tracks as the strong framework keeps the tracks running along quite smoothly as should be beneficial from their longer career that yields a more cohesive, competent approach. The one big factor here that differentiates them from the others is a kind of grandiose, majestic keyboard bombast throughout the tracks that adds a grand style along with the raging tremolo riff-work that effectively portays the raw, repetitive arrangements associated with the genre for the big winners of the split. ‘Deceiver for Power and Glory’ features strong swirling tremolo patterns and charging drumming wrapping into a steady buzzing series of riffs with strong ethereal keyboards creating a fine epic soundscape with the extended patterns alongside the thumping drumming with the ethereal patterns coming through the finale for a rather enjoyable offering. The epic ‘Ritual of the Sacred Dance’ features a steady buzzing tremolo pattern steadily running through a fine mid-tempo series of patterns with the ethereal keyboards holding the melodic rhythms through glowing patterns of haunting keyboards washing through the simple rhythms with the fine drumming keeping the atmospherics in check throughout the final half for a strong if overlong effort. Finishing off with live versions of ‘Revelation (Beyond Death)’ and ‘Rise of the Spirit of Ancient Heroes’ where both take an endless droning series of riff-work through the fine mid-tempo riffing that holds the fine melodic rhythms and epic keyboards haunting throughout the originals only drenched in the low-fi reverb to effectively drown-out the actual riffing beyond the singular arrangements here for a fine if entirely unneeded conclusion to their side.

Overall, with the two bands here coming pretty much from the same style and making for a pretty cohesive style, this one gets quite enjoyable here at showcasing these two promising pagan black metal acts. Definitely worthwhile for those who are fans of either act on the release or the generally curious fan of this style looking to try something else out in the style.

Score: 80/100

Heervader:

Ancestors Blood:

Does it sound good? Order from here:
https://heidenshart.bandcamp.com/album/split