Primordial belongs to that small serie of groups with depth, artistry, culture. Music to be absorbed while listening in the closed circuit of your headphones. The fourth full-length CD of this Irish group is out now! They got a grip on me from the beginning in 1995/96 when they released ‘Imrama’, because they made such an innovative mix of black metal, Irish music, folk, poetry, clean and grunt vocals and above all these fine unique guitarsounds. They always went a little bit further than others in historical lyrics with ‘Spirit the earth aflame’ as a provisional highlight until then. Black metal influences were almost diminished to none. The traditional Irish sounds are mixed with Primordial’s own guitarwall in a perfect way. Now there is ‘Storm before calm’ and we can sleep on both ears : Primordial has stayed themselves and they express this in wonderful songs. Not an epic rolling intro to start with this time, but ‘The heretics age’ starts at full force. The special guitar sound of the group is already illustrated in this first song. Music speaks for itself I should say and when you want to hear what I mean by ‘light, transparent guitar’ you should have a listen to the beginning of ‘Fallen to ruin’. Recently Michael O’Floinn has joined the 4 man line-up which results in a full-blooded sound. At the end of ‘Fallen to ruin’ we can enjoy these webs of riffs backed up with humble solo’s. Somehow it makes me dream of times long forgotten and yet the music is very up to date. This is certainly the strong side of Primordial : it contains elements of and respect for the past moulded to a present-day’s creation. ‘Cast to the pyre’, one of the highlights of the CD, begins with spoken words full of bitterness. Alan’s bright voice resounds in a charismatic elegy, ceremonial articulation. The doomy atmosphere unfolds like a plural leafed flower in the refreshing morning dew, based on boosty guitars and melancholic guitarpicking. Primordial will never look back in anger on their musical past : this being part of the second wave of BM is honoured in the roaring ‘What sleeps within’. But above all ‘Storm before calm’ is an album with a great diversity. We cherish the first peaceful rays of a new ‘glorious dawn’; a new world order is ready to be explored on the music of drumrolls and acoustic guitars. Every lyric in the CD booklet is accompanied by a small word of explanation, to give this creation a right place in history. When Manowar was the dawn of a new age in battle metal, Primordial turns out to be the educated messenger of this beloved patrimonium. Everyone who’s willing to get to know Primordial should start from the beginning, I should say. But certainly you must see ‘Spirit the earth aflame’ and ‘Storm before calm’ as two stories with a resemblance. ‘Spirit’ was the call to war and changes while ‘Storm’ tells us about the searching of the individual person or nation to find his place and peace of mind in this ever changing world. As for ‘Sons of the morrigan’ there are two verses inspired by the old Irish poem ‘The recovery of the tain’. Ogham is the old Irish language. This song tells us about the life of a warrior at the end of his days. He looks back on all his deeds and at the end of his journey he will offer himself to the higher spirits, those who had given him a role in the history of his own fatherland. On a mid temp rhythm retrospection flows into resignation, brought in a majestic musical way. In the lyrics we find links to Primordial’s own passed works (to A journey’s end and Cast to the pyre). ‘Hosting of the Sidhe’ is sacrificed to William Butler Yeats, one of Eire’s greatest poets. The musical translation hangs a misty shade over the meadows. Mystical and possessed. ‘Storm before calm’ is a call to all of us, living in the fastfood society where everything becomes bleach and flatted and the respect for our past is gone (who loves to study dates in history as a child ? Only later, travelling and older you will understand the charm of your own and other cultures). But the most important thing is to enjoy the beautiful music on this record. More of this you can read on the interview pages of this site, because I had a nice talk with singer Alan lately. Review : Vera ‘Gothica’
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