Some people like to be noticed and considering the large, hideously expensive to post box file that this CD and bio arrived in Warseid are amongst them. The CD also sported a cover and insert whose quality puts quite a few record companies to shame. So I guess we can file US band Warseid under ‘serious about this’.
Musically the concept EP here is split into four parts and notches up about half an hour of melodic folk pagan/black metal. Beginning with some tricky acoustic work, Part 1 (Shackles Through Sand) pushes out into some nicely done almost symphonic folk metal. The growled vocals are remarkably clear and coherent, the clean ones rather good and the mid paced riff with the progressive flourishes over the top are well thought out. I struggle for US reference points and mostly I’m feeling a more UK and European take on things; touches not dissimilar to Old Corpse Road but with the CoF influence turned right down, something which reminds me a little of Forefather and weirdly old Bal Sagoth in the keyboard use. Then add Turisas touches in the drama and storytelling. Not lead-weight heavy and overall a little like an extended intro this first track, but pretty neat.
Frost Upon The Embers brings the folk, turns up the symphonic and the vocals push harder. This is much more like it; energy, hooks and some pretty good guitar chops. The fiddle is a welcome intrusion, too. Fine, the production is a little thin for this kind of thing, sapping some of the energy, but it’s not dreadful. Part 3 The Vengeance Pact seems to get a little lost for me; not fatally by any means but the surprising complexity of the Bal Sagoth mashed with Turisas meets folk metal twists and turns in such a short length of less than six minutes pulls it’s teeth a little. Closing with the sombre but epic Farewell, combining clean harmony vocals, acoustic guitar and low strings before the symphonic clouds roll in for an emotional ending. A cheap European act would have probably wedged some female vocals onto this but thankfully Warseid stick to their guns and push things more in a proggy tinged Turisas direction again.
I’ve spun this a fair few times but in truth I am still just a little perplexed but still enthusiastic. When this is good (most of Farewell and Frost Upon The Embers) this is rather good indeed. They ride the folk and the symphonic well and clearly are very well set up for musical talent, but I think sometimes too many ideas crowd into too small a place. The music and the listener both need a little more time to breathe. But let me tell you, that is a problem you actually want to hear in a band still yet to release their debut full length. Add a brighter, sharper and more full on production and they’ll be there.
Like your folk, your mythology, your fantasy? Like the epic Turisas way of doing things? Give Warseid a good listen, remember the name and fingers crossed they’ll be at the gates soon.
(6/10 Gizmo)
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