Aiumeen Basoa - Iraganeko Bide Malkartsutik
Aiumeen Basoa are another one of those complex folk metal bands that involve numerous members and instruments to create a heavily atmospheric album. However, unlike many folk metal bands out there, Auimeen's debut, Iraganeko Bide Malkartsutik, has everything that a folk metal fan would love. There's the harsher, melodic passages by distorted guitars and then the slower, more uppity tunes carried by the violin, keyboard, and accordion. Lots of folk metal bands use these instruments,, however, so what makes this group so special? The answer is simply variety and texture. Auimeen Basoa will be known for their epic, lengthy tracks. But, these tracks don't get stale over time due to repetitive melodies or the same musical pattern created by when the folk instruments mix with the metal ones. This is an exciting roller coaster ride that cascades up and down, back and forth, left and right, while displaying excellent musicianship as well as ingenuity.
The accordion is most interesting instrument that this group employs. From the opening track, "Kantauriko Trabain Erruak," it sounds like majestic polka. Eventually the heavier sections come in with the 'black metal' shrieking and chugging guitars. The violin makes its appearance in between and weaves some inspiration while the drums are plodding, but rhythmic with their thunderings, like a marching army. Halfway throgh the song things quiet down and the guitars offer some slower, picked, progressive sections and the violin really gets to shine, along with a mix of clean male and female vocals. It is moments like these that really show fans how much Aiumeen dig into their classical/ folk side to try and make their debut a varied one. Of course, there are the heavier tracks too that sound like they came straight out of a black metal hellpit, but this is not very often. Nothing here is really pure metal at all due to the more acoustic sections. However, when things do decide to get heavy, like on "Akelarrearen Sua," one can expect it sound like early Emperor.
For the most part, though, much of Iraganeko Bide Malkartsutik is dominated by the folk and gothic elements of using mournful clean male and female vocals. One coudl almost consider this depressing metal, if it wasn't for accordion's happy tune that works it way into a song. And, for some reason, everything seems to rise in spirits along with it. The guitars are faster, the drums sound more lively, and it just really gets the energy of the music going. "Ekaitzaren Begitik" shys away from the folk side of the music a bit and opts for more of a progressive, classical metal style. Mostly due to its symphonic sound by the keyboards and ethereal female vocals, this is one of the most atmospheric tracks on the album. There's even some dark growls in there to really give a doom metal feeling, as the entire pace of the song is slow. Fortunately, it isn't the kind of slow that drags on and on and makes one want to skip it for the sake of repetitiveness. It's a quirk on the album, but a welcome influence in the music overall.
Fans who are tired of seeing folk bands following a certain trend or style and all sounding the same will find that fresh, new element they've been searching for in this album. It's epic, it's dark, it's metal, and it doesn't come off as a Lord Of the Rings soundtrack. Think of this as Agalloch meets Slartibartfass. It's surprising that even though the band has been around since 1994 it took them over ten years to get their debut album, but perhaps the result was well worth the wait. Had they rushed their work since their 2001 EP, it might not be the masterpiece it is today.
The accordion is most interesting instrument that this group employs. From the opening track, "Kantauriko Trabain Erruak," it sounds like majestic polka. Eventually the heavier sections come in with the 'black metal' shrieking and chugging guitars. The violin makes its appearance in between and weaves some inspiration while the drums are plodding, but rhythmic with their thunderings, like a marching army. Halfway throgh the song things quiet down and the guitars offer some slower, picked, progressive sections and the violin really gets to shine, along with a mix of clean male and female vocals. It is moments like these that really show fans how much Aiumeen dig into their classical/ folk side to try and make their debut a varied one. Of course, there are the heavier tracks too that sound like they came straight out of a black metal hellpit, but this is not very often. Nothing here is really pure metal at all due to the more acoustic sections. However, when things do decide to get heavy, like on "Akelarrearen Sua," one can expect it sound like early Emperor.
For the most part, though, much of Iraganeko Bide Malkartsutik is dominated by the folk and gothic elements of using mournful clean male and female vocals. One coudl almost consider this depressing metal, if it wasn't for accordion's happy tune that works it way into a song. And, for some reason, everything seems to rise in spirits along with it. The guitars are faster, the drums sound more lively, and it just really gets the energy of the music going. "Ekaitzaren Begitik" shys away from the folk side of the music a bit and opts for more of a progressive, classical metal style. Mostly due to its symphonic sound by the keyboards and ethereal female vocals, this is one of the most atmospheric tracks on the album. There's even some dark growls in there to really give a doom metal feeling, as the entire pace of the song is slow. Fortunately, it isn't the kind of slow that drags on and on and makes one want to skip it for the sake of repetitiveness. It's a quirk on the album, but a welcome influence in the music overall.
Fans who are tired of seeing folk bands following a certain trend or style and all sounding the same will find that fresh, new element they've been searching for in this album. It's epic, it's dark, it's metal, and it doesn't come off as a Lord Of the Rings soundtrack. Think of this as Agalloch meets Slartibartfass. It's surprising that even though the band has been around since 1994 it took them over ten years to get their debut album, but perhaps the result was well worth the wait. Had they rushed their work since their 2001 EP, it might not be the masterpiece it is today.
- Kantauriko Trabain Erruak
- Jentil Odola
- Aintzinako Guduen Oroimenak
- Akelarrearen Sua
- Ekaitzaren Begitik
- Aiumeen Basoa / Arlekina
Erzsebet Records
Reviewer: Colin McNamara
Sep 25, 2010
Sep 25, 2010
Next review:
Necroparthenophagy - Laiad Chis Ananael
Share this:
