One of the least mentioned aspects of this misunderstood-but-we’re-secretly-glad metal genre we all love is the willingness to explore and embrace other cultures, particularly in their mythic or historical sense. Yeah, the Daily Hate wouldn’t believe it, but it does. Particularly in the folk/black metal sub-genres I’ve had the opportunity to listen to music drawn from English rural, English/Saxon, Scottish, Faroe Islands, Icelandic, South American/Incan, Thai, Mongol, Siberian, North African, French Canadian, Japanese, Taiwanese, Norwegian and Irish traditions (just off the top of my head). Nechochwen, a project from the US add nicely to the list with a cultural interest of particular interest to me, that of the Native American peoples, particularly those of the Eastern Woodlands.
This is their fourth album but my first meeting and, straight of it is an intriguing one. Opening song ‘The Serpent Tradition’ begins with some skilfully plucked acoustic work, an evocative opening that draws in a Sylvan world of close trees and vast woods but not in the gloom and darkness manner of many Scandinavian, but summoning a more embracing if wild place. A burst of pure black metal brings what (without a lyric sheet) appears to be concerning the coming of the Europeans (maybe even the Scandinavians) to the land and the destruction that followed. Suitably harsh, it breaks down into some melancholy clean singing that draws in a feeling of earlier Opeth in its skill and melody.
After an acoustic passage ‘The Impending Winter’ followed by sporadic musket fire, we hurtle Brume D’Automne/Forteresse-esque into some tempestuous, rolling folk black metal with raw screams and hammering drums. ‘Lost On The Trail Of The Setting Sun’ is where the hints that were on the opening track fully blossom: There is a truly epic metal tradition to the heavier guitar work here, a fearless use of melodic lead breaks and heavy metal epic riffing that reminds me of great Irish sons Mael Mordha. With the Opeth influence of prog death this sounds as though it should be disjointed but not a bit of it. The closing section of this song has all these in full flight and it its quite glorious.
The quiet, grim ‘October 6 1813 ‘ would have been quite at home amongst the ‘Once And All, Together, For Home ‘ compilation of last year, though sadly I have no idea of the subject matter. This moves into the complex, wonderful ‘Traversing The Shades Of Death ‘: Imagine Opeth around Blackwater Park playing black metal and you’re close. It is fluid, beautifully composed and sounds stop fresh, so vital and so intense you have to draw in your breath.
Heart Of Akamon is an outstanding album, a mature achievement with a sincerity that can’t fail to touch you and a talent for composition that is utterly top draw. That this is the work of one individual is frankly amazing. Folk metal fans with a nod to harsher sounds and prog touches should fall in love with this. Opeth fans who long for their metal roots, black metal fans, particularly of the folkier end of the Quebec scene, epic metal fans who don’t mind dipping into the black: Give this a listen. Try the second to last song ‘Skyhook’ with its blistering opening and perfect fall into acoustic, woodland sounds and then the ominous winds, the drumming, the rolling, epic melodic folk metal and you will be captivated.
Me? Off to find their other stuff.
Transporting, intelligent, emotional music for those who want to think and to feel.
(8.5/10 Gizmo)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nechochwen-Official/110325015754751
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