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A majestic adventure of two promising Folk bands.-
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| Viter/Kings & Beggars: Diva Ruzha |
Folk Metal
Casus Belli Mortis
March 15th, 2011
- Diva Ruzha (Viter and Kings & Beggars) - 6:43
- Ai Vis Lo Lop (Kings & Beggars) - 4:24
- Vänner och Fränder (Viter and Kings & Beggars) - 4:59
- Migla, Migla, Rasa, Rasa (Skyforger cover) (Viter and Kings & Beggars) - 4:02
- Chycheri (Viter) - 3:00
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| Review Information |
Release length: 23:07
Review posted on May 4th, 2011
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| | Overall Score: 10/10 |
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| Discography |
Discography covers all information available up to day of review and is updated if future albums are reviewed. |
| KINGS & BEGGARS |
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| Full-Length(s): |
Irish Beggars (2011)
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| Split(s): |
Diva Ruzha (2011)
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| Live CD(s): |
Live at Tustan' Festival (2009)
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| VITER |
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| EP(s): |
Dzherelo (2010)
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| Split(s): |
Diva Ruzha (2011)
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| Review |
When it comes to Folk music, Casus Belli Musica is becoming a growing force in the underground scene. The label signed the group Viter a while back to issue their debut EP, and now welcomes the band's return with a split release called Diva Ruzha which includes the music ensemble Kings & Beggars joining the mix for a five song release that finds the two groups working together to create captivating Folk music. But, this music is impressive on many levels, not just specifically with the group's music.
The material on Diva Ruzha is the perfect blend of a heavier Folk Metal approach with a more general Folk music ensemble of traditional geographical folk instruments and roots. Right from the start of this release, the cooperation between Viter and Kings & Beggars on the title track "Diva Ruzha" becomes captivating. The deeper male vocals singing alongside soft female vocals in perfect harmony with the right amount of mid-tempo Folk music that just has that right amount of edge, and once in a while treading off into passages of Metal, really set up a beautiful and moving natural vibe to this split release. These are easily the most interesting tracks of the release as the bands work well together to really create something beautiful and moving, and while "Diva Ruzha" will capture the listener and lure him in, it's "Vänner och Fränder" that will truly captivate the listener with it's slower paced music that feels majestic yet moody and depressive at times thanks to the folk input from Kings & Beggars. The duet vocals are spellbinding as well, really becoming a whole other entity that adds a new level of passion to the bewitching music that sounds like it's meant as a ritual in praise of natural spirits, leaving a vision of gypsy's dancing seductively around a fire that has been set up with their camp or dwelling for the night.
The split has three songs that are a collaborative effort, including those two already mentioned, and the Skyforger cover "Migla, Migla, Rasa, Rasa" which isn't as spellbinding, but still a great song nonethe less. However, each band does manager to get one solo track in as well to round off the album. Viter includes the track "Chycheri", a new composition that is a little more upbeat and a strictly fun Folk track that will bring an instant smile to any fan of the style's face and probably even have them clapping along with the faster rhythm. It's not the strongest of folk songs on here, but it's an interesting little addition, especially given it's three minute track length, and it's one that closes off this split release in a positive manner. You also have "Ai Vis Lo Lop" which feels more like something one might expect to see in a fantastical film of medieval times that royalty, knights, or even peasants may be dancing along to, more the latter of the three given the captivating upbeat male and female vocals that feel far from a genuine duet, but bring in a fun atmosphere to the rather beautiful and regal sounding folk music.
There's really nothing else that could be said about the music that hasn't been said already. The music is beautiful, and if it isn't then it's just more upbeat and fun, capturing the spirit of the time and region the groups are trying to emulate. But, one of the more interesting elements outside of the music for this release would be the disc itself. The packaging is your traditional digipack format, but the disc itself stands out nicely. While there are many releases that have CDs that are cut into designs, this one takes on a whole other concept that I personally have never seen before outside of my own creative doings from my early teens, and that is a design on the back of the CD itself that, in a sense, looks etched in. The disc looks and feels thicker, and around the unused portion of the disc is an etched circular design of a rose going around it in a circle, which comes off more like the equivalent of vinyl that has some kind of design or picture on it.
Overall, Diva Ruzha is a fantastic split release that's only fault is that it's so short. The combination of Viter and Kings & Beggars is an astounding idea, and this release is the proof. The music these two acts generate is simply captivating, especially to those able to use their imaginations to visual the atmosphere and time period the band is setting up while being swept away into such beautiful and moving material, as well as some of the more upbeat and fun tracks. Even the disc itself is impressive and shows the care involved with this release from the label, as well as the band. If you have yet to hear anything by either of these acts, there has never been a better time then now.
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Physical review copy of this release provided by:
Casus Belli Musica.
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