Crusade / Autumnal Night

It took five years, but eventually Hellveto first full-length was re-released as a digipak featuring a new EP's worth of bonus material in the form of 'Crusade'. This is certainly an essential Hellveto release not merely for historical reasons, but because even this very early material is extremely strong and in a decidedly different vein from most of the project's work. It's an essential item for any dedicated Hellveto fan and certainly another powerful entry in the band's catalog.

This CD opens with four new tracks in the form of 'Crusade', an EP which mostly continues the style established on 'In The Glory Of Heroes' rather than the more technical and aggressive work of 'Stos'. The music is very similar to that former full-length, with decidedly varied and dramatic compositions which move at a leisurely pace. In a marked improvement over that album, however, the production on this EP is far superior, with very forward guitars and a less flat sound overall. This EP, though short, manages to churn out some impressive tracks in the form of prideful and arrogant 'Heritage Of Heresy' and the triumphant 'On The Paths Of Crusade'. While the material on this EP is somewhat dwarfed by its proximity to the band's debut full-length, it's certainly worthwhile material on its own, though perhaps not quite as immense as other EPs by the artist such as 'Visions From The Past'.

'Crusade' is certainly solid, but everyone who acquires this is getting it for 'Autumnal Night'. It may very well be the biggest departure from Hellveto's typical style ever heard, actually significantly closer to 'Goat Horns'-style Nokturnal Mortum in places rather than Hellveto's established form of orchestral pagan metal. The overall tempo of the music is much faster than the languishing midpace of most Hellveto music, and the guitars are more oriented towards traditional Slavic black metal riffing in place of the winding single note patterns of later works. Even the synths would seem at home on an early Lucifugum album at times, with certain tones such as a recurring flute sounding directly out of the Ukrainian scene.

'Autumnal Night' is certainly a curious album in Hellveto's catalog, but is in no way without merit. It's a severe stylistic diversion, but it manages to divert into being one of the better examples of Slavic style symphonic black that I've heard, rivaling albums such as 'Goat Horns' for the title of supremacy in that musical community. The riffs and orchestral melodies are very strong and evocative, and I'd go as far as to say that some tracks such as 'Death Of White Warrior' are some of the most emotive and passionate pieces that Hellveto has ever produced. Certainly elements of the band's later style are here, and this could be described as a 50/50 mixture of later Hellveto and Slavic symphonic black metal, making an album where comparisons can easily be drawn with other artists but a one to one match can never be found.

This certainly isn't a compilation to acquire for those looking to hear what Hellveto typically sounds like; it doesn't give a great indication of the artist's typical style and might confuse those interested in music like that heard on 'Stos'. However, for those who enjoy Hellveto in general or the Slavic symphonic black metal scene, this is absolutely great. 'Crusade' is an underrated but very solid piece of work, and 'Autumnal Night', though different, is a phenomenal album which would please many fans of artists such as Dub Buk or Nokturnal Mortum. Certainly worth investigation from anyone entrenched in this particular scene.