NORTHLAND
Northland
(Black Bards)
44:50min

The terminus Pagan Metal is like a floating entity with so many facets that it’s nearly impossible to summarize it with only a few words. Everything started 15 years ago with a handful of northern Black Metal acts which extended the standard musical cosmos by adding more traditional instruments supported by (in these dark days) unfamiliar friendly and positive vibes. And today we have to live with the consequences. Best proof for this infinite style mixture is the NORTHLAND debut via Black Bards released in summer 2010. The band from Barcelona / Spain is offering a very refreshing Pagan Metal heavily influenced by the major players of this style (especially the ones from far Finland.) But for a young band – a stable NORTHLAND line-up could only be found after several years – these modern influences are no reason for a general negative approach. The presented eleven tracks are lacking in some way of some necessary rough edges but the debut is still a convincing release. But don’t expect the coldest version of a northern winter storm it’s more the mild mediterian version typical for bands from Spain and Italy. In other words a basic Metal structure supported by heavy keys, acoustic guitar and violins and lot of passion and atmosphere. This debut is not in the position to gain the purest form of sensation reactions – a 100 % convincing unique note is still missing – but NORTHLAND have a certain potential which only needs further time to fully blossom. www.black-bards.de, www.myspace.com/northlandmetal

Matthias Auch

Matthias Auch

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