Although perhaps not as well-known as the likes of Salem and Orphaned Land outside their home country Arallu have been a consistent force over the last quarter of a century since they first declared ‘war on the wailing wall’ From the dusty looking enclave Ma’ale Adummim the Israeli outfit were formed by Moti “Butchered” Daniel who remains very much at the heart of things today. Band members have come and gone as have 7 studio albums proceeding this one and no shortage of labels. Perhaps bringing their ‘Death Covenant’ to Hammerheart could see a turning point for them and having dipped into the group’s career over the years, albeit having never actually reviewed them, I was keen to hear an album described as “hardly comparable to its predecessors.”
There’s an obvious Satanic and occult stance to the group’s melodic blackened death metal which is a perhaps a somewhat dangerous stance coming out of the Holy Land but the album starts with what suggests a blessing on chanted atmospheric opener ‘End ov Wars (Tikva).’ The title speaks for itself but hostilities are quickly engaged and that blessing becomes more of a curse as they romp into ‘Prophecy of the Dead.’ There is an instant feel of the mysticism and exotic due to the use of traditional plucked string instrument the Saz filling in many of the melodic lines along with the guitar. The music twists and turns and percussion is also augmented by the tap of the darbuka, all these parts provided superbly by Eylon Bart. The coarse and vociferous snarls from lead singer / bassist Butchered give things that extra edge of hostility as we are swept along by both his coarse sermons and the rapid-fire thrashy musicianship on songs like ‘Ruler of the Seven Worlds’ Tracks are kept fairly short and to the point, most of them between the 3-4 minute mark but there is plenty going on within them to engage the listener.
It’s pretty unique as well and very authentic in sound due to the traditional instruments. About the closest I can come to it outside the aforementioned, is perhaps Melechesh who interestingly Butchered has played live in previously. A snatch of clean crooned vocals among the rapid-fire spat out diatribes on ‘Under Jerusalem’s Temple Mount’ comes as a bit of a surprise but works particularly well and over repeated plays I have found myself expectantly waiting for them. One thing is for certain here and that’s the fact the music transports you far from home, well it does in a cold, wet and miserable UK that’s for sure. The drive and melodic thrust is mesmerising as it weaves away like a restless djinn. Speaking of which it sounds like exactly what has been uncorked during ‘Satanic Spirit’ which adds some very odd psychedelic tones to its pallet whilst going literally haywire. Thankfully ‘Mystical Sultan’ allows you some calm after this reaping dust devil has caused carnage with meandering strummed lines and hollered spoken word parts. It’s a bit of a zen moment baby but be warned the ‘Desert Shadow Will Rise’ and we are told “They come as legions As an army of demons They look familiar but sound foreign.” The subtext is pretty-obvious.
Arallu hail from a war-torn land and it’s here we find ourselves in pitched battle over the last few numbers. From the solemn female accompanied warbles casting a shroud over the suddenly swaggering mayhem of “Humanity Death Embrace’ (complete with added authenticity via Varathron’s Stefan Necroabyssius) we are thrust unwittingly into an arid theatre of chaotic turmoil. From here we are led through the biblical passage of ‘Empire Of Salt’ and moved from delicate acoustic parts along with the sound of rattlesnakes to vitriolic and powerful surges of brutality. Cast upon a ‘Skeleton Battlefield’ the final part wraps things up in a blood-soaked fashion and everything combines around huge screams and a prophetic feeling that this is a story to be continued, as these homelands will never quite find the peace that so many would wish for.
Perhaps it’s for others more well versed in the group’s previous albums to decide whether this is indeed a step above all that has come before it but I found a solid, interesting and intoxicating album here.
(8/10 Pete Woods)
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