Scythia
...Of Exile
Independent (2011)
I admit, I sometimes forget folk metal actually exists. Sure, I toss around the term frequently when discussing Opeth, but rarely do I ever bring forth what the term actually means. I often forget the music of great bands such as Wuthering Heights or Skyclad. That's one reason listening to Canadian group Scythia's latest album ...Of Exile was so fascinating for me; it revived an interest in a genre I had almost entirely forgotten about.In general, the album sounds a lot like Ayreon circa The Human Equation, with strong overtones of Alestorm and Powerglove. You can also hear slight progressive and neoclassical influences; it's clear these guys have studied their Symphony X. Though Scythia's composition skills are relatively solid overall, the album does feel like it lacks inspiration. They are quite set in and dedicated to their brand of mediæval metal, and as a result, a lot of the tracks have this droning plod to them that make them not just more authentic, but a bit more lethargic as well. The flat out metal parts do blend very well with the more overt folk sections, however--certainly something to Scythia's writing credit. There's just a general sense of malaise that bogs … Read more
Servile Sect
TRVTH
Handmade Birds (2011)
Do you ever cringe whenever a music critic or what have you precludes a genre of music (which sometimes makes … Read more
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Gnaw Their Tongues
Per Flagellum Sanguemque, Tenebras Veneramus
Crucial Blast (2011)
Nightmares are a hard thing to quantify. As they happen without any control or uniformity. The terror invoked can be … Read more
