Subject: Review of Bal Sagoth - "Starfire Burning Upon..."
"Starfire Burning Upon The Ice-Veiled
Throne Of Ultima Thule" is the full title of Bal Sagoth's
second album, and the song titles themselves are just as
lengthy... take track 8 for example, "And Lo, When The
Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, Then Dark Sorceries Shall
Enshroud The Citadel Of The Obsidian Crown." The titles are
just as epic as the songs themselves! There are 11 tracks, and
the album lasts for over 50 minutes. Track 1 is an interactive CD
Rom track, which just contains some info about the Cacophonous
Records label, plus sound clips of "She Who Loves The
Flames" by Gehenna, "Beyond Centuries" by Sigh,
and "A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria" by Bal Sagoth
(from their debut, which also has that title). However, it's
tracks 2-11 which I want to
concentrate on...
I'd like to start off by saying that this album is fucking brilliant. It's a vast improvement on "A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria." Aye, us Brits have come up with some corker albums so far this year... and this one is so good that I rate it alongside Cradle Of Filth's masterpiece "Dusk... And Her Embrace." However, Bal Sagoth sound quite different to CoF. Sure, it's black (or at least "dark") metal with strong touches of death, and there are masses of keyboards, and the songs are epic with mind bending structures... but Bal Sagoth have nothing to do with Vampires, Satanism or any of that business. This music is more comparable to the latter Bathory albums, i.e. triumphant, symphonic hymns of war and glory. And, I daresay, just as pretentious as the Vampire theme because of it. However, Bal Sagoth do admit that their music is fantasy, so whilst they are Pagans in "real life," at least they don't claim to be real life Vikings or anything. I think "dark epic metal" (or something similar) is how the band like to label themselves, and I have no problem with that.
THE VOCALS
The vocals are sometimes growled, sometimes sort of shrieked in Byron's unmistakable way, but mostly they're simply spoken. However, it's all written as a kind of concept album, so therefore this narrative vocal style works rather well.
THE MUSIC
This has to be one of the most symphonic metal albums ever. The keyboards here are amazing, and sound like a full orchestra. Plenty of strings and brass sounds, giving the songs an incredibly orchestral feel, which fits in very well amongst the guitars. Sure, there are heaps of synths, but yes, the guitars also play their part... a good, strong metal guitar sound, with plenty of powerful riffs. There are also some more tranquil moments, where the music takes on an almost ambient feel, with searing lead guitar work. The drumming is also very precise, thundering away and driving the songs forward. Every song here is excellent, but my current favourites are tracks 3, 5, 7, 8 and 10. (There's no way I'm typing out the full titles of those tracks, otherwise I'd be here all day). A good production, a very original sound and supreme musicianship.
What more can I say?? I definitly recommend this album to anyone who likes dark metal combined with strong elements of classical music. No matter how many times I listen to it, I'm still left standing in awe of it's majesty.
Rating: 10 out of 10.