Mythical Beasts and Mediaeval Warfare

This is Latvia’s self-proclaimed romantic dragon metal band, Heresiarh’s, first release. Prior to this the band released a six-song demo containing many of these same songs. I can actually brag that I found this band back in that day, one of the main members of Heresiarh, Morgueldar Dragonseye, ran a demo label dealing exclusively in Tolken inspired Euro metal and ambiance. I did an order with them and outta politeness ordered the label-owners band. Not expecting too much I was actually surprised with a pleasant demo, pleasant enough to get me excited about the release of their first full-length album.

About half of the songs on “Mythical Beasts and Mediaeval Warfare” are re-recorded from their first demo. My first gripe with this album is the production. I’m all about demos and not an elitist when it comes to album sounds, but I really had hoped for some more fine tuned production. It’s not bad don’t get me wrong, it’s just mediocre. But this isn’t a major hurdle to overcome to enjoy the music.

After a muffled roar of an intro the album, with some strummed acoustics, crescendos into the first track, Horns of War. This is one of the bands best songs and a good opener for the album. Fast up-paced intensity starts out with harsh black metal vocals, but then explodes in more melodic passages introducing the bands primary singer, Rasa. Her voice is not as strong, boisterous, or even operatic as other female-vocally led bands, but ethereal and woeful yet still maintaining a good presence.

The basic rhythm of the band is black metal influenced, but contains mediaeval and folky riffing. The keyboards offer both atmosphere and lead melodies. The drum sound seems a bit muddied to me, again, my gripe with production. All the re-recorded songs from their previous pro-demo sound good. Some have a bit more flare, like a new intro or an added layer of guitar of keyboard rhythm. The new tracks show the same style with the same direction and theme in mind. “Trollstorm” is a more metal track that features only the black metal vocals and the “Saga of the Shield-maid” is added upon with a second part.

The lyrics and theme of “Mythical Beasts and Mediaeval Warfare” is fantasy-based, strongly around Tolken. The atmosphere of the band doesn’t invoke the darkness and more somber aspects of Tolken’s world as Summoning does, but sticks to the ethereal and epic mystique of Middle-Earth

I have a bias towards these guys and do enjoy this album. I’d recommend it to fans that like folk and ambiance in their metal, for both those elements are more prominent than the actual black metal roots, but it is a metal album foremost. Those looking for another Tristania or any kind of Goth Metal band should listen to them first before buying. These guys do what they do well and create some memorable songs. Their status right now is questionable and I hope that they take the ideas displayed on their first professional outing and evolve further for their next (hopefully) recording.