It’s back to bygone dusty trails of West Virginia, the country roads of which John Denver once put into musical verse when he yearned a return. We wanted one too as it has been seven years since Nechochwen (and amazingly after all this time I can still spell the band’s name without resorting to cut and paste) took us into The Heart Of Akamon. It was back in 2010 when I was first fascinated by the work of Aaron and Andrew and their musical “exploration of Native American Indian heritage” on ‘Azimuths to the Otherworld’ Their melding of stormy blackened metal and acoustic fretwork really took the listener back in time and told a campfire tale or two in the process. Time to curl up in a blanket and simmer the beans as branches crackle under the night sky, a bottle of spirits will help raise yours too as you settle down to an album that will captivate, relax and stir you in equal measures.
Kanawha this ‘friendly brother’ according to Catawba Indian tribe as well as being a tributary of the Ohio River, snakes and charms its way along with some classic folksy metal sounding melodies and riffs into a section of blasting but controlled fury on the title track. Settling down the vocals are craggy at first and rasp before clean croons soar and compliment them perfectly. Its evident this is going to be far from all out extremity and not a complete war-party of a listen, in fact truces may well be forged, trade partnerships aligned and even some friendship around the peace pipe. Melodies are gorgeous and take the listener back to the classics by the likes of Thin Lizzy at times as they glitter and sparkle away shining beneath the pounding stomp of the more blackened furrows. ‘The Murky Deep’ takes this sound to an acoustic frame as it babbles and meanders like a lazy river itself. Actually, Mr Denver himself would possibly dig this, so too will Opeth fans with its progressive flow taking us on a nice mellow raft journey as we reach the surprisingly beautiful ‘I Can Die But Once’ reminiscent of a time before they fully embraced the pipe and slippers.
And so, the expertly constructed songcraft continues on the journey taking us occasionally into the heart of darkness on its exploration of hitherto unexplored terrains. You will lose yourself in passages and maybe even occasionally slumber as snores and the breaking of winds caress around the encampment but you will never be bored, this dreamtime complete with visions and signs will be a thoughtful one. Choppy movements and rigorous riffs will break any lethargy and violent furrows are never too far away. Look out for occasional country twang scenting things along with a whip-poor-will whoop from passing birds and the jangle of a jaw harp. Woodwind is another sound to join, trilling in a solemn fashion before the might of ‘Generations Of War’ takes us on a bloody scalping party. The stories write themselves in your head as you listen along, completely immersed at their page-turning prowess. It’s epic in scope but not in length at an easily digestible 41 minutes runtime and seems over too quickly leaving you wanting more. As we move ‘Across The Divide’ though this tale is now told, hopefully the next chapter won’t be as long in the writing.
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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