Eald – Through A World Impatient For My Death
The cover picture started my interest but with a longer and more unusual title than the average release I was intrigued to hear this Spanish two-piece and discovered the contrasting styles of harshness and melody can exist together. Best of all the demo is available for free download from the band’s Myspace.
In keeping with the cover ‘Frivolous’ begins with a blast wave worthy of the image it portrays. Fast paced riffing with quality drums and a brilliant clean production for an underground release without going over the top. After the first minute another brisk riff full of icy nuclear electric energy shoots forth, I hate comparisons but this reminded me of Ljå. Not copying them at all because it has its own merits and atmosphere as some clear singing cuts like a knife through the airwaves.
The way they do it adds another dimension to the music and is fully credible and commendable. There’s also a belting mosh riff during the later half of the track and its moments like that that have Eald win you over. Combining together some clear/semi-clear vocals with pure fast Black Metal riffing isn’t often executed with precision and slick proficiency.
Next up is ‘Perhaps, In The End’ that opts for the catchy intense guitar chorus with no vocals, the clear vocals re-appear with a Viking slant to them and there is a really well done bridge that drops in from a bass drum tap tap tap. Its worth mentioning that the vocals are good soily and grumbling and that the drumming is first class and as tight as a mosquito’s fart. I smiled when they did a little tribute to Iron Maiden as well, that’s always welcome in Black Metal in my opinion.
‘Malice’ is just as fast and hard as the rest but brings control along for the ride as Eald delve into some slower more emotional style stuff. Far from ruining proceedings it compliments the overall bulk of the demo and the vocal transition back to normal is smoothly worked. Finally ‘Prayer To The Fallen God’ finishes this, only their second demo in nine years with an example of all they are capable of by mixing up all the elements of the previous tracks and sticking the proverbial cherry on the top of the cake.
It’s rare that Spain is mentioned as a player in the context of the Black Metal underground, a serious player that is, but I believe that Eald are one of the finest Iberian bands in the genre and as this is free there is no excuse for you not to check it out. Once you do I’m sure you’ll agree that this is a very good offering indeed.
Black Metal is dead. In the UK at least. Seeing as though it is the place that gave birth to the genre it is as fuckin’ useless a broke-dick dog. There is no scene to speak of, just the odd one or two equally useless bands trying in vain to mimic some of the more [...]
Opening with a song title of the length Bal Sagoth would be proud of (thankfully that’s as the only comparison to draw), the imaginatively titled ‘A Glimpse of the Image of Lucifer Gleaming Beyond the Subterraneous Black Sun’ marches forth. Mid paced, it stamps away with the precision of a well oiled Black Metal machine [...]
ha, I haven’t expected this from you.. different than most of the bands you review, I mean clean vocals wow, clear sound, still true black metal.. excellent \m/
Yeah Misan, its a pretty wierd one for me, not usually my type of stuff but this is quality Black Metal, interesting but also a bit unusual.