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Trollech is a Pagan Black Metal act from the Czech Republic, and up to this point have issued four full-length releases, with this, Jasmuz, being their fifth effort. Having heard the band once before, I figured I knew what was going to come forward from the speakers upon pushing the play button on this release, but never could an assumption have been more wrong. Instead of a straight forward, hard hitting act that memory so suggested, what eminated was something a little more obscure and along the lines of an Avant Garde release for that of a Pagan Black Metal act through the usage of rather annoying and oftenly overused falsetto vocals. Musically, Jasmuz is really not a bad CD. As a matter of fact, some of the music on here is actually well written and can often hit hard and keep the listener attentive. Tracks like "Královský Jezdec" hit the listener pretty hard with traditional Pagan Black Metal guitar riffs that are executed flawlessly with appropriate drumming that isn't just constant blast beats. The following track, "Podkovy", however, is a little different from that song, as well as other tracks on this release, due to the guitar work present. The guitars on this track at least do tackle more original going and, during the chorus, take on a hint of melody. Outside these tracks, "Brnení" is another good song that is worth your time, as well as the closing track "Jasmuz Už Spí", both of which aren't anything too original, but are both tightly performed Pagan influenced Black Metal tracks that boast all the positive aspects about the style. However, the greatest problem that Jasmuz has would be the more comical vocal stylings that appear at the start of the release. On your first time through, your journey into this CD, if you're not a fan of the style, will probably end at the counter of a local used music store during the opening track "Moudrost Kováre". Trollech refers to themselves as "Forest Metal", so the echoing falsetto vocal style makes more sense when you take a look at it, but no matter what, still sounds a bit silly. Even the rhaspier non-falsetto vocals on this track, as well as the next few songs, sound rather bad. Luckily this is only during the first half of the album, and if it's used anywhere else it's to the point where you won't even notice it. Again, the music on these tracks are great, and if you can look past these vocals, or can even just accept the vocals, you'll find that there is a great musical backdrop behind them that sometimes will compliment these monkey-esque vocal sounds that you're stuck listening to. With all that being said, Jasmuz is not a bad album, but would have greatly benefited from a lack of Falsetto vocals. Yes, some tracks can get a little generic, such as the second track, "Královský Jezdec". However, there isn't a single song on here that will get boring quick, including the nearly two and a half minute acoustic instrumental "Strom Kolobehu", which actually sounds beautiful for what the band is trying to do on this release. Once you get where the band is coming from, the Falsetto's will be appreciated a little more, but there's no denying that they can often be overused, such as the abuse on the first track, leaving the listener in search of aspirin for the intense headache it will cause. Of course, this falls into the category of the album not getting boring, as this song will actually keep the listener on their toes if you can take that sort of view to it. Jasmuz is still worth checking out despite some of the issues with the avant garde direction the band seems to have taken in the vocals. The latter of the album is like a whole other experience all together, with the band slowly reducing the usage of the Falsettos through the album. If you have an iron will, or are looking for something different and have plenty of Tylenol, then give this name Trollech release a spin. There's no denying there are some catchy tunes on here that will make the purchase feel worthwhile, but at the same time there will be some moments that will have you spitting and cursing the spirits of the forest. |
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