Due to near nonexistent promotion when it was originally released in 2003, the “Grátr” album by German band HELRUNAR is being re-released by Lupus Lounge now. This time around, the band’s name and music should gain much more widespread attention. Beginning with a light guitar intro, accompanied by deep, spoken word German, the album shoots into the woods as it were. What endears the Pagan Black Metal sub genre to its fans is the simple fact that Pagan Black Metal is, essentially, Folk Metal but without the often times embarassing music. Its Folk Metal played to Black Metal. Bands like TAAKE and WINDIR are sturdy examples, both having released highly unique, and individualized albums. HELRUNAR do what those two bands did, and they do it well. The speed, the synchronous death rattle vocal, and folk melodies set to Black Metal speeds are what make HELRUNAR, like so many other bands of their kind, typically successful with their target audiences. Good stuff, and the box is probably cool, too. www.helrunar.com, www.myspace.com/helrunarhorde