Anticipation is a strange beast, especially in the case of the UK’s own tribe of migrating Palaeolithic people Wyrdstaef. With a mere handful of shows they have by force of presence and performance managed to create the kind of interest that labels pay PR companies to create. See? That’s what playing live can do, especially when you have something as downright… strange as Wyrdstaef do. But you also wonder not only has anyone outside of the UK paid any attention, but can their music stand-alone without their compelling stage presence?
Well thankfully we get to find out at last. But for those of you who don’t know, everyone in this band is an accomplished musician and play across a wide spectrum of black metal, ancient folk and electronica. They know what they are about. They are busy. But for these fourteen minutes they are at last Wyrdstaef recording.
First track ‘Great Migrations’ is a great chunky slab of black metal. The riff and the electronic sounds (which are played live) howl around like a primeval blizzard across an unforgiving landscape. The vocals are commanding, urging on and the tempo just adds to the image of relentless trudging forwards in the teeth of nature. It is harsh, relentless and really nicely arranged and really gets under your skin…
Second track though, the epic ‘Those Who Came Before’ is something else entirely. A landscape of strange, eerie noises punctuated by tribal drum, ominous vocals and throat singing. We have the commanding narration by The Shaman, setting the scene on this journey to the deep past. Think Heilung or Nytt Land but more menacing, somehow darker. The sound of the spiritual centre of the tribe interpreting, directing, commanding them forward. It’s a wonderful but terrible place to be. Raw, uncivilized but bound by its own flow and its own spirits. This is not some ‘odd’ track. This is every bit, every sound the soul of Wyrdstaef. They combine the harsh primal attack of black metal with this ritual spirit in remarkable and consistent fashion.
Having seen them live on…most of their live outings I can also assure you that not only can they do this live, but even better they have songs which wrap these two elements even tighter together.
This is an exemplary start and now I am confident that there is even better to come.
I’d also urge you to check out the video too for the odd glimpse of what they do live…
(8/10 Gizmo)
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