Primordial

From the first wave of pagan/folk metal bands comes Primordial’s “A Journey’s End.” Originally released in 1998 through the now-defunct Misanthropy records and later reissued by Hammerheart Records, Metal Blade brings us the third pressing of this classic recording. MB’s version includes the Hammerheart bonus track “And the Sun Set on Life Forever,” plus a live recording taken from the group’s 1999 performance in Lisbon, Portugal.

“A Journey’s End” was Primordial’s second recording. Compared to the group’s first full-length “Imra,” “A Journey’s End” is a more mature and consistent effort. Primordial retains a blackened sound, but with a greater tempering of clean vocals and Celtic harmonies. Although Primordial instilled future efforts with more Celtic harmonies, “A Journey’s End” really is the defining album of Primordial’s career.

While not as instrumentally intensive as compatriots Cruachan, Primordial does incorporate the occasional folk instrument into its sound. Mandolin, whistles, and Bodhran comprise the whole of non-traditional metal instruments found on “A Journey’s End.” Both clean and distorted guitar tones relate harmonies of the Celtic variety. “Graven Idol” features Nordic black metal guitar tones, but done in Irish scales. The following track “Dark Song” takes more of a classical approach with acoustic guitar. Although the ethnic melodies become quite apparent in some places, there is a feeling of melancholy absent from many bands of this ilk.

Naihmass Nemtheanga is partially responsible for relating such a sad atmosphere. “Solitary Mourner” and “Dark Song” show Nemtheanga crooning lamentable poetry. Primordial is a group solid in every area, but Nemtheanga’s golden voice really separates this group from the pack. Much like Vintersorg and Ihsahn, Nemtheanga possesses a powerful clean and harsh voice. His traditional singing voice, which falls somewhere in between Ovl. Svithjod of In the Woods and My Dying Bride’s Aaron Stainthorpe, is most commanding, though.

On a lesser note, Metal Blade has included in this pressing a live disc. Recorded in 1999 from the group’s performance in Lisbon, Portugal, the live disc contains a great set list. This list includes songs from the first two full-lengths, “The Burning Season” EP and their forthcoming album at that time, “Spirit the Earth Aflame.” While many black metal groups pride their selves on sounding necro, this recording is just plain bad. A speaker appears blown, which results in a fuzzy rattle throughout the entire recording.

Bar the poor live recording, which doesn’t negate from the overall score of this album because it’s merely a bonus, “A Journey’s End” is a classic album of pagan black metal recorded during a defining time, not only in the band’s career but also for this style in general. Too bad this album just missed the new millennium because it would have been included in this scribes top list of the decade!