Artist: Svarrogh / Ravenclaw
Country: Bulgaria / Lithuania
Label: Atlantida Productions
Formats: CD
Year: 2003
A split release of two acts, one being Ravenclaw the other being Svarrogh. Both presented by Atantida Productions from Lithuania. I can’t supply you with much more information than this, since I haven’t got any more information with my promo copy of this split CD.
The split opens with Ravenclaw, six tracks of dark medieval music. Keyboard driven ambiental parts mingled with the more electronical blackmetal passages we know from bands like Vinterriket to name one. Its quite familiar with the ambient act from Argentina I reviewed not so long ago, Mitternach. With the same vocal effects, and this band also uses the medieval theme to built the music upon. Strange blackened sounds create this dark atmosphere that is needed for this kind of music. Samples of autumnal storms and ancient battles put you in the delusion of being the witness of a great apocalypse, blizzards, immense thunder and lightning, threatening skies and you own destiny that lies on the bottom of the huge ravine this music leaves when its done…
The sick story continues with Svarrogh, but this act moves itself on a more melodic and majestic path. Where Ravenclaw is Ambient with Black Metal parts, this is Black Metal with Ambiental parts. But this band can’t be classified in one sub-genre, it’s both melodic and raw, but epic and folkish too. Fast and slow parts are alternated quite interesting, that’s the only reason why this band can keep my attention, because the songs on their own aren’t really special nor is it any original. The riffings are just plain simple and played over a thousand times. Still no bad listen to me.
After all I think the best part of this CD is the first one, Ravenclaw is the more obscure and right-to-the point band. Svarrogh needs some more time to decide what they want with the band, because they mix up a lot of styles and every song had its own identity but lacks the coherentness that is needed in an album. But it nevertheless promises a lot for the future.
