Myrkvar
Als Een Woeste Horde ()
Wydane przez Shiver RecordsRok wydania Kraj HollandNapisał Wouter6
Despite being known as a death - and black metal label Belgium's Shiver Records has signed Dutch folk/black metal act Myrkvar. With folk - and pagan metal currently being popular it comes as no surprise that every label is searching to launch their band into the genre. The only Dutch band on Shiver Records' Belgium focussed roster Myrkvar share a number of similarities with its many label mates. With lush instrumentation, including violins, jew's harp and flutes and a foundation of primitive, sometimes sloppy black metal Myrkvar have something for everybody. Like its more popular peers in Cruachan, Eluveitie, Heidevolk, Manegarm, Natan and Svartsot this record is full of upbeat folk rhythms, sing-along choruses and a wealthy array of vocals, including clean, semi-grunts, shouts as well as the genre-typical rasped vocals. The nature - and war sounds feel out of place and tagged on as a mere afterthought. On a whole, "Als Een Woeste Horde" is okay for a debut but Myrkvar will need to come up with a face of its own by the time their second album comes out. Recorded at Studio Touché, Nijmegen (Holland) in 2006 the production is a mixed bag. The guitar sound rather flat and thin, while the bass guitar is mixed higher than the guitars they support. The bass drums overpower the whole while the snares sound virtually powerless. The artwork by Esther Thewissen is amazing and can compete with the big names of this genre. "Als Een Woeste Horde" was originally released independently, but now picked up for wider release. Keep an eye on this band.
www.shiver-records.com
