When some one tells you about black/folk metal at first a
landscape will click automatically in your imaginary such as burly warriors
shouting from the top of the distant mountains, the sound of a thousand
soldiers marching on to the mountains singing battle hymns, their footsteps
pounding like drums, and a hundred bards gathering their instruments to play a
tune that will turn this battle into folklore, while wood sprites and faeries
help them compose their melodies. While some excellent ,unique band attempting
to sell their flavor of the month band to potential listeners, there are some
that simply exist outside of pre-existing molds. Some challengers exist, such
as Nechochwen, a phenomenal addition to the Black metal roster.
On this year West Virginia based US black/folk metal band
Nechochwen unveiled their third full length album entitled “Heart Of Akamon”
via Nordvis Produktion record label with 43:45 min running time . This new
album consist with 8 tracks . Nechochwen are classified as Folk Metal, but
whereas most music in that genre is inspired by Celtic or Nordic heritage, this
band showcased themes in native American heritage. The band don’t describe
woodland scenes. They formed out of a collective desire to explore the heritage
of the eastern woodland Indians of North America .Their new album connecting
with people of similar ancestry through eclectic and atmospheric guitar music
that tells a story . They have crafted a rich folk atmosphere that rivals the
well established European black/folk scene.Nechochwen was formed in 2005. In
before they had released two full length album entitled “Algonkian Mythos” in
2008 and “Azimuths to the Otherworld” in 2010. Now I am straight going to the
point about this new album .
When I was spinning their latest studio effort for the first
time I was overwhelmed and this album sounds so authentic,mature and truly
epic. This is triumphant sophisticated,neoclassical,orchestral black metal.
Nechochwen delivers distinctly experimental, atmospherically remarkable form of
black metal with a little bit of the folk leanings.This bands each and every
musician did fantastic job on this album in radiant way . This whole album
reflects the grand diversity of sound brought together on this album . It is
really not easy to describe their musical style . A natural synthesis of
dissonant sounds and disparate styles all combined in one bold, enlightened
display of unbound creativity Despite the often atmospheric black metal
assaults with a lots of segments of slower tempo too where Nechochwen combines
folk, delicious acoustic passages with cavernous drum thrashes,
intermingled,atmospheric guitars and those effective immense even some clean
voice.Black/folk metal can create a wide variety of soundscapes. Nechochwen was
able to manage combining black metal with beautiful and vast setting of the
Native American heritage,dazzling acoustic passages and Native American
instruments like lalawas, flute,hand drum and floor tom.
well,their latest opus opening track is “The Serpent
Tradition” . This track starts with absolutely stunning ethereal sounds capes
consist with atmospheric slow build, majestic acoustic guitars sound followed
by melodic,choppy riffs and a wall of blackened blasting drums and clean
vocals.Later the song returns to the sonic assailment and the musical style
transformed into a whirlwind of guitar noise laced with aggression,deliberate
cadence and progression,folk seasonings. Their whole composition and musical
style is impeccable also borrow great atmosphere with sour ,dissonant riffs
work . Their whole composition and musical style is impeccable also borrow
great atmosphere with unconventional instruments. Their distinct style infused
me by a lot. In this album traditional native American folk instruments like
lalawas,native american flute,hand drum and floor tom added native American
folk metal flavor to Nechochwen’s black metal soundscape and this album borrow
the vibe of strong, powerful ,complete and gorgeous atmosphere. Traditional
folk instruments create a sort of equilibrium between melody,beauty and
ferocity. Honestly saying after a multiple listen this album just blew me away
with their atmospheric, the multi-layered,traditional folk musical style. Each
and every single member have exudes tremendous effort in radiant way on this
album with excellent diligence and nailed it. I highly appreciate and embrace
this album.
This album is filled with a slew of cadence, catchy,
dazzling,shimmering, slow but powerful riffs work . As well bass line up is
whopping, anemic, strong ,rumbling, slithering . Drumming,percussion line up is
militant, pounding ,solid,clattering and powerful . In each track delicious,
gorgeous, soaring riffs,bass lineups matched in well manner with traditional
folk music . The most striking thing you’ll notice about the sound of
Nechochwen is flute work, exquisite acoustic guitar works ,traditional folk
instrumental work,drumming lineups and extremely well symphonic,rhythmic
swells. This whole albums sound deliver a dissonant, melancholic,atmospheric,melodic
black metal with emotion and pure energy. “Heart Of Akamon” endures beauty of
black metal. This whole album take you on such scenic journeys with their hymns
to nature,Tribal rituals,native American traditions from beginning to the end.
This album indulge strong songwriting and brilliant musicianship. This album
have a hypnotic, hallucinate effect on the listener .I owe their natural
sounds. vocals low pitched screams ,rousing battle voice, howling ,immense even
some clean voice emerged on this album in a well manner and intertwined
perfectly with their unique,atmospheric black metal laced with melodic,native
american folk metal musical accompaniment also embedded perfectly. I really
worship this band and they have their own unique identity.
Each song have an energy ,fluency and draw a beautiful
native American folklore landscape .Each and every single track is mind
blowing. I personally Cherish all of them. Here I want to mention a track
especially “October 6, 1813” and “Kišelamakong” because those aforementioned
tracks are flawlessly acoustic oriented with beautiful composition. Album
artwork is Pretty neat,solid and portray the native American history.Overall
“Heart Of Akamon” whole album is Spectacular,engrossing ,significant and
remarkable . This album sounds so authentic,epic and a truly remarkable sonic
journey from beginning to end . Indeed this album is such an true gem of this
year . Outstanding another one release of this year so far . The US bruisers
still possess all the necessary skills and hard-won experience to put
younger,newcomer challengers in their place.If you looking for something
different, epic this black/folk album will take you on a journey into another
universe and rekindle your love for black/folk metal. Submit your sense to this
beauty.
My Rating – 4.9/5
Album Review done by Souvik Basu. Published on 10.10.2015
