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Equilibrium
Album: Sagas
Release Date: July 8, 2008
Label: Nuclear Blast
Track Listing
01. Prolog auf Erden
02. Wurzelbert
03. Blut im Auge
04. Unbesiegt
05. Verrat
06. Snüffel
07. Heimwärts
08. Heiderauche
09. Die Weide und der Fluß
10. Des Sängers Fluch
11. Ruf in den Wind
12. Dämmerung
13. Mana
Reviewer: Doug
The second release from the German symphonic pagan metal band, Equilibrium,
has landed on US shores! At nearly 80 minutes in length, the new album, Sagas,
promises to be an epic journey through the world of folklore and fantasy. Will
this ambitious endeavor live up to its own hype?
Sagas storms out of the gates right from the prologue and leaves little room to
breathe during its grand voyage. A flurry of double bass and sweeping keyboards
amidst various folk instruments all flow effortlessly through each track while
the vocal parts, be they Helge Stang’s guttural death growls or chanted
harmonies, stand in the forefront. Soaring guitar rhythms drive the melody of
the songs and the bass provides the backbone.
Though the album stays rather consistent with an up-tempo pace, there are a few
breaks given. The interlude, “Heiderauche,” slows things down before leading
into one the best tracks on the album. “Die Weide und der Fluß” begins at a
mid-tempo speed and includes some rather ethereal chanting harmonies before
erupting into back high gear. It also contains an unexpected, yet excellent,
keyboard solo that gives the song an added appeal.
Not without its flaws, however, the album finds itself the victim of repetition.
Double bass sections are occasionally overdone, pounding the life out of some
otherwise great songs. In similar fashion, guitar riffs grow redundant from
overuse by relying on other instruments to pick up the slack. The songs “Blut im
Auge” and “Verrat” felt like the biggest perpetrators of these flaws. The band
does start to remedy these issues towards middle of the album, though.
Closing out the disc is the hit and miss instrumental, “Mana.” While the song
shows off the bands skills and abilities, the sixteen minute marathon does come
off as a bit pretentious.
Final Verdict
When looking at the grand scheme of things, the faults on Sagas seem miniscule
to the amount of delight you’ll get from listening to this album. Equilibrium
seems to be wholeheartedly enjoying the time they are having playing throughout
the entire disc. That being said, the album contains enough charm that fans of
epic, symphonic folk and pagan metal won’t want to miss out on!
Rating
8.75 out of 10
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