I recently had the luck of catching Velnias on tour as support to Kampfar and to say they blew me away with an impressive barraging and windswept performance would be an understatement. I said I was really interested to hear what they were like on disc and lo and behold shortly after this a deluxe reissue of their debut album ‘Sovereign Nocturnal’ landed on the door mat. This was originally released in 2008 via God Is The Myth records and apparently has had several re-pressings since then. The card gatefold packaging contains an insert with lyrics and some gorgeous new artwork, dropping the viewer into a mystical and somewhat pagan medieval place. The music itself consists of just three numbers running at a suitably epic 41 minutes playing time. The band from Boulder Colorado have since this released 2012 album ‘RuneEater’ on Pesanta Urfolk which I must have missed and I am not sure what the material they played live consisted of. I have to admit that I was quite surprised on playing ‘Sovereign Nocturnal’ as it was not quite such a heaving, multi-layered storm of sound as they played on stage but a lot looser and more subtly designed.
A hooting owl and wind take us somewhat calmly ‘Into Arms Of Oak’ and a drum is gently hand tapped before guitars slowly ebb in. There’s a large atmosphere already and I wait for an explosion. However it is long and elongated guitar wails that drench in a doom-laden shroud of despondency which greets me and it is a case of settling back and see where this journey is going to lead. A weighty mid paced tumult descends with thick gravid vocal roars coursing through; it’s charged and hefty but slows again to a crawl. This is a song that mesmerises more than powers away and it has a feel of olden times at its heart with acoustic fronds and folk like parts spreading through it and splitting up the angry vocals and more fist slamming epic parts of the number. The blackened folk parts swagger away and it is obvious how serious the band were even at this early part of their career. At times musically I am reminded of early Primordial here rather than the more geographically inclined bands such as Wolves In The Throne Room who they resembled more in the live context. There is lots of room to breathe amidst the music and emotions of passion, yearning and pride are very much at the heart of this. ‘Risen Of The Moor’ has that pagan folk etched feel as it acoustically takes form, it feels almost Celtic which is no doubt why Primordial spring to mind but that Cascadian charge powerfully picks up and the intensity pounds suitably along although not at a pace that particularly overpowers. Listening to it I can totally see why this pagan clamour was an excellent match for a tour with Kampfar whereas live I found them a slightly odd choice. There’s a fine sense of majesty about the melody on this and it’s certainly strong enough to get you head-banging along. It doesn’t seem to know where to tail off though and finishing the song with a near drum solo and lone guitar chord does seem somewhat obtuse.
In a way it sets up well to roll into the final part which is the title track and it feels now the band have hit their stride with an anger and determination bristling behind this and the solid heathen fervour really bites in as this purposefully strides towards conclusion.
So a powerful release and one that I was pleased to get my teeth into, however I am not convinced it is a full reflection on the band I witnessed recently but an early work of one who were going to improve with age.
(7/10 Pete Woods)
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