Lista de los grupos Viking Black Slechtvalk A Forlorn Throne

Damn it! Much too late I came across the band SLECHTVALK, but better late than never… A Forlorn Throne hits my taste perfectly and I am hardly able to describe the music with disdainful words because of surges of adrenalin and goose pimp attacks. The power of words is limited in contrast to the powerful might of this masterpiece!

The synthesis of Black Metal, hymnal refrains, pathetic interplays and felicitous vocal arrangements deserves nothing else than the grade of world class. After the fulminating beginning called Tamers Of The Seas, the track Forsaken takes away my breath: very melodic guitar attacks, variable vocals and rapid, augmenting leads cumulate in the egregious chorus, which leaves me with a dose of happiness. And what’s the best? SLECHTVALK do not exaggerate and do not use clichés, they are traceable despite the unloading arrangements. Mentioned song lasts for nine minutes and the band takes its time to oscillate between melodic franticness and calm acoustic parts. I have to mention the outstanding vocal performance; it ranges from screeches over dark growls to heroic clear voices. No matter if the chords are shredded and combined with decent keyboards or the fast lead guitar gets unleashed – every idea during the track Desolate got its right place and fits the song’s structure at best.
Divided By Malice begins like a breather in borne speed with hymnal vocals. Interim, the speed is augmented, but reduced again to present an acoustic guitar together with heart-warming voices. A while later, screeches and mid-tempo take on the lead. Towards the end, SLECHTVALK present a dozen of hammer chords, so that the end is coming lot too soon.
The tune Allegiance shows up in stomping style, the keyboard also plays an important role. Groovy rhythms get combined with fast blast beats. This song is quite cumbersome and complex; it presents another side of SLECHTVALK and is rounded off by an epic instrumental passage. Towards The Dawn bundles all forces, ere Vengeance Of A Scorned King mixes aggressiveness with floating leads and alternating vocals. I like the changes in measure, because the song seems to pulsate and captures till the end.

Fine lead guitars, filigree solos, broad instrumental parts, balanced vocal lines and felicitous changes in measure or mood dominate this outstanding hour of thrilling music leaving nothing to be desired. In the end, the question is if I should talk of a heavenly or hellish enjoyment – in any case the music on this masterpiece sounds suspenseful, matured and sweeping!

I'm a great fan of Christian Black Metal ("Unblack Metal"), so I know Slechtvalk and I like it, but when I listened to "A Forlorn Throne" at first, I was shocked. I didn't like it and I thought that Slechtvalk died. At that time I knew Viking Meta by hearsay and I didn't like it's guitar sound, I couldn't head whole beauty of this album, so I put it on the last shelf, where nobody could find it. A few days ago, I found out that I had nothing to listen to, so I decided to give "A Forlorn Throne" one more chance.

Noticed a change in the logo? This is reborn Slechtvalk logo. The biggest change which was observed in comparison with the previous albums, is in guitar riffs. If in the previous albums guitars and keyboards were creating melodic and symphonic sound, now the keyboards alone make the atmosphere (as in the song 'Towards the Dawn'), while guitar riffs acquired more brutality, typical for Viking Metal. Drummer really feels his instrument, as well as music, played by the band. Beside the speed of drumming, Drum Fills like that I could only hear in Metallica's early work. There was made huge upgrade in vocals. besides of harsh vocals, I could hear growls and clean vocals. Clean vocals sounded in previous albums too, but in this album clean vocals became more frequent. Bass plays among the guitars and almost can't be heard out of mix.

When I heard the intro of Tamers of the Seas, I realised that I wouldn't waste another hour of my life, as I was thinking before. The next track, Frosaken impressed me as soon as I heared the first words. Harsh vocals, with clean vocal and fast, blackened guitar riffs makes me feel whole pain, which is caused by being defeated and forsaken. Emotional parts continue, when song ends with quiet guitar riffs.

The song Desolate is only song in the album with Christian lyrics. It's like reminder, which reminds that this band is Christian, they worship God, not odin! Don't know why, but the intro reminds me intro of the Metallica's song 'Sad But True', but I like Slechtvalk version even more.

Next song, Divided by Malice has 100% epicness. It starts with keyboards and guitars making atmosphere and clean vocals, which shows pain of main hero. Then guitars start to play brutal, but very emotional riffs, vocals start to growl and then black metal rasp can be heared, which symbolises cry of his soul, then everything becomes quiet, when by the lyrics hero is shocked and then music webcasts his feelings about his vengance.

The next two tracks, Allegiance and Enthroned aren't so remarkable, as previous one was, but are still great and nice to listen, having rasps and growls give to the songs diversity. It was great pleasure to hear little guitar solo at the end of the Allegiance. The track Bewailed, by the lyrics, returned to the Divided by Malice. In my opinion, the best intro, which band could make for this song, along with clean vocals it gives visions of happiness.

The song Towards the Dawn starts with keyboards, which makes atmosphere of the epic morning, the morning, which is needed for final battle, as the song is about it. When keyboards part ends, brutal, but nice and emotional guitar riffs start, sweet as the final victory is. The greatest part of the song is boxed with lyrics;
'In the end I even experienced death...
but death could not kill me.
His Cravious Weaphons
I shattered on the ground,
He thought he had killed me,
but now I stand before him.
His thumbless fists, his eternal disgrace.
He is a shadow of the man he should have been.
He could not keep the one I love from me,
The bruises on her face begin to fade.
Now I have recovered what was owed.
His life will end.'
When the second half starts, can be felt great epicness in vocals, while gutars play quick riffs on first strum. The song Vengance of a Scorned King is final victory of the hero, when he finds and kills his enemy. Guitars quickly, what reminds me Thrash metal, growls, rasps and clean vocals are connected with lyrics, drums make background with its fills. 100% ending song!

Slechtvalk is known as the Christian Metal band, so I was expecting Christian lyrics, but in this album lyrics deal with Viking themes, like battles and war. To connect all the lyrics, we will have story of one viking, I don't know, are all the lyrics inspired by one film, or book, but in accordance with this album, can be made great film or book, called 'A Forlorn Throne" and I'm sure I'll love it. I'm Christian and it would be better for me, to hear Christian lyrics, but to create brutal Viking songs, lyrics about Vikings are needed. Besides, there are a lot of people, who do not like Christian lyrics, so it's great opportunity for Slechtvalk to gain new audience all over the world.

Many fans say, that their previous release was better than this one, but I think that 'A Forlorn Throne' is no worse. You only should listen to this album not like album by the band, who recorded 'At the Dawn of War', but like album by new promising band.