Artist: Graveland
Country: Poland
Label: No Colours Records
Formats: LP / CD
Year: 2004
The highly productive Polish pagan/black metal band Graveland, who release something at least once a year, now return with their latest effort titled “Dawn of Iron Blades”. This album, which is released in a normal CD-version, an A5 digi-pack as well as a gatefold LP has turned out quite a satisfactory album. What immediately struck me is that throughout the many years of their existence the bass drums still cannot be managed so well that they sound tight, but perhaps this done deliberately, or is it a statement against the modern triggered drum sound. It certainly adds to the typical atmosphere Graveland always manages to create and of course this ensures immediate recognition as well. The same can be said about Rob Darken’s vocals, which have stayed in the characteristic Graveland style as well and sound similar to an album like “Thousand Swords”, for instance.
The music itself is predominantly mid-tempo and the production can even be called good, without losing the typical underground sound. All 6 tracks featured are relatively long, ranging from 6 to 11 minutes, but this does not any way diminish the epic nature of the tracks. To heighten the atmosphere keyboards have also been used but in such a way that they are not too prominently present. Something that could have been left out, in my opinion, are the somewhat laughable high-pitched shrieks because they do not add much at all, except for a smile on the listener’s face perhaps. The music is furthermore characterised by melodic leads that recur quite often and unfortunately sound rather alike as well.
For Graveland fans this is certainly an album to go for; most of them will probably know exactly what to expect and they are absolutely right in assuming so. Personally, I think the album is quite a good one but then again, it is not an extraordinarily great one either. This is mainly due to the fact that you have to be in the right mood to listen the complete album at one go. For me it gets a little monotonous after a while. Like I mentioned already, it is not a bad album, nor is it original – but for a band like Graveland that is not necessary, doubtlessly.
My personal favourite is the fifth track “Crown Heroic My Departure”, which is really varied when it comes to tempo changes. It even has a semi-fast part, and to my complete surprise also a double bass drum part that is actually very well played, but which reeks a little of manipulation. All in all, “Dawn of Iron Blades” is a worthy follow-up that strengthens Graveland position in the pagan/black metal scene. Especially the dedicated fans will appreciate this album and because of the good sound it perhaps also appeals to others.
