Release length: 40:17
Review posted on May 2nd, 2011
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Overall Score:9.5/10
Discography
Discography covers all information available up to day of review and is updated if future albums are reviewed.
Full-Length(s):
Lupine Essence (1997) • Auld Lang Syne (1998) • Lays from Afar (1999) • The Arcanum (2000) • Emprise to Avalon (2003)
Signs for the Fallen (2003) • Command to Charge (2005) • Caledonia (2006) • Crógacht (2009) • Book of Dowth (2011)
Demo(s):
Dawn (1995)
Compilation(s):
13 Years of Celtic Wartunes (2008)
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Review
It's always great to see a new album out on store shelves by Suidakra, as this German act never fails their fans. However, this is a band that has a wide following, but sadly is still one of the lesser known bands in the Metal world, which is a huge travestry given their lineage of fantastic Folk and Medieval inspired Metal releases. Hopefully much of that will change with the band's recent signing to AFM Records to unleash their tenth full-length effort, Book of Dowth, two years after their widely accepted and critically praised album Crógacht. Expectations are high, so does this band deliver once again?
Pretty much right off the bat, the answer is yes. "Over Nine Waves" is an instrumental introduction that sets up the Medieval overtones of the music that will appear on this release thanks to a bagpipe performance against crashing waves that continues as the guitars chime in roughly forty seconds in with a slow build that continues to gradually progress in intensity, making the listener already tense up for what is to come. Before the song gets to bleed into the pounding "Dowth 2059", the listener's head will already be banging along with the music involuntarily, the pounding drums and build getting the listener's blood pumping for "Dowth 2059" which storms in with more pounding instruments in a beat that will give the listener whiplash, a intense and glorious for a release of this caliber. The track is driven by plenty of heavy, fast paced Melodic Death Metal guitar hooks plyed with pure energy and adrenaline that you can't help but be swept up with the overall intensity of the song. Of course, Suidakra is always good for variety with their releases, so while this track really stands out as perhaps a perfect introduction to this album, there is a good number of other tracks here that will capture the listener's interest.
For example, the song "Birog's Oath" is a more Folk Metal oriented track that goes at a chugging pace with bagpipes in the background. The vocals are performed by a female vocalist instead of the band's lead male vocalist, and the performance honestly sounds great with the Folk emphasis in the music. The manner in which the lyrics are sung feels very suiting to the age the band is trying to portray, and has almost a swinging feel to the performance that enhances that atmosphere nicely. It's not really the most fantastic of all Folk songs, but it really hits the subject and atmosphere hard with a stunning female lead. "Mag Mell" is essentially the same way, except this time around it's an acoustic piece that captures a traditional Folk style and atmosphere with clean male vocals performing in a suiting mellow, but still passionate manner. The only gripe to be had with these tracks are that they feel a little out of place where they are, but they also could have been spaced out from each other instead of being right next to one another. That would have made the album sound a little better with these tracks being there.
The band does have some other faster, heavier tracks on here, but none really seem to match the enthusiasm and energy that "Dowth 2059" has. There's no denying some of these songs are fine pieces of Folk and Medieval inspired Melodic Death Metal, and often come in a very serious tone and atmosphere compared to the more aggression and intense aforementioned track. "The Dark Mound", for example, finds a more Folk oriented atmosphere that seems to really capture a sense of war through the marching drum work that appears in the song, especially near the end, and the song takes on a more brutal and dark environment instead of a catchy one. The song is far from band and packs a great deal of intensity, and this song, as well as plenty of the other heavier, more serious tracks here, will still have your head banging right along with the beat. The only real difference is the lack of hooks and overall energetic performance, though the band still does incorporate some enthusiasm, though most is clearly replaced with the band trying, and clearly succeeding, to create material that is serious, stern, and overall very dark and burdening.
"Balor" really becomes one of the only exceptions to the more serious approach on this album. The song has a more glorious anthem feel to it that captures the more Medieval side of the band nicely. The music is heavy and hammers away with some more melodic hooks to it then others, but still not as much as "Dowth 2059". "Balor" will definitely leave a strong impression with the listener, and so will the following "Stone of Seven Suns", which has moments that come off more like songs to march off to war too, but at the same time has a chorus that feels more like you should raise your pints and chant along with fellow warriors at the local tavern. While the atmosphere still matches the material, this is perhaps a little confusing with the atmosphere of the album, being a little hard to discern between being a fun song, or one that should be considered gloomy or a preperation for death. Even though that bit is confusing, it's clear it's still a great song, and whether or not you should enjoy it becomes an easy to decipher "yes".
Book of Dowth is a rather gloomy, serious attempt from Suidakra, and it really shows a band that is still maturing and growing after all this time. If you have yet to experience Suidakra, then this is as good a chance as any to experience such a strong band. Each song on here works well to keep the listener fully entertained and engaged, and practically every song on here will have you headbanging along to the rhythm and hooks whether you want to or not. From start to finish you'll be engrossed with the atmosphere the band manages to project through each song, and you'll love every second of it.
