As eyes discern the many works of men, we become numb to such pieces, so much that even wonders that are crafted may go unnoticed. Then there are those whose speech pierces the heavens , and though buried by the weight of countless others that pile it’s body, it’s voice is still heard, so we use its sound as map to be a guide to lead to that which is true, for when found, an ineffable quality and connection is made. A connection that latches to the soul and transforms the very mind, for we leave this world behind, and onto a new one we plant our spirit into its soul.
‘Chronicles of Domination’ by Götterkrieg uses the magick of Black Metal’s epic and medieval theme, and from this spell, a stygian sound is forged. One whose melody rings forth in a similar resonance as Summoning and even some Finnish Black Metal, with works such as Valar’s ‘Magic and Wyrmfire’. Atmosphere becomes the zenith of this release, for the convergence of the instrumental aspects do so naught just in creating a musical piece, but rather they craft the very climate of this journey.
‘Hymn for the Black Knights’ and ‘As Long as My Sword Keep Standing’ articulates this sentiment, the motion of the synths coupled with the guitars to converge into a communion of varying energies, for the tonal sound of the strings at time can evoke a razor-like ambience yet Cimmerian spell to its transmission. The synths on the other hand introduces a noctilucent charm to its sound, for it adds a certain ghastly glow to soundscape, like a moon that shimmers upon the ripping waters. Traversing through this release, there are times where the ethereal moments are broken up and in its place the Medieval undertones are prevalent, akin to a more Finnish Black Metal sound. ‘Rumo à Vitória, Nós Cavalgamos’ illuminates these features, wherein the percussion, synths and guitars adopt a frenzied approach to their playing, as though a storm rages within this obsidian frost.
A sense of tangibility becomes inscribed upon the album through the production, for it is like one who gazes at the painting, wishing to feel the colors , to feel the depth.The production makes this possible, whereby it allows the senses to feel the fragility of the cold undertones but at the same time the dread that it brings. In tangent, the vocals, when fused with the raw-like production, adds a certain gravitas, as the tongue tinged in the frost of the void spurts a cold liturgy which is enough to grip and contort the spine like venom writhing through a body. ‘Sob as Vastas Terras de Elysium’ is an example where this wintry speech is transmitted accentuating the atmosphere, breathing life into this album.
The frozen hymn which emanates from ‘Chronicles of Domination’ purges the mind from fickle emotions and ascends into a sensation where veins are reclaimed by the coursing storm that seeks to usher the soul upon a voyage beyond the invisible.
An aural landscape forged from the melodies of the tundra takes shape to merge with the senses, giving unto the mind a journey to embark, a journey to feel.
