I run into Drenaï via a Pagan folk metal compilation and loved them. After a short chat the band was so kind to send me their new album. The album just confirmed all the good things that I was expecting …
The brutal metal folk of Drenaï will drain you brains, but starts with a slow intro filled with nice storytelling and an angelic voice mixed with the voice of a legendary fighter, a harp, violin, a flute, heavenly chants, a bagpipe … Edge of the world is an up-tempo brutal metal folk track that comes close to the sound of Finntroll and others in its genre, but a more melodic sound, driven by great guitars and a flute. The melody makes it impossible to stand still during this one! A perfect warm up!
Sieben starts acoustic with a clean voice, a flute and a banjo. It feels as if we are part of a medieval campfire party with magical elements. My imagination is working hard, almost getting images of it, until the track changes brutally into a screamer destroying the heavenly peace and bringing war into the bigger picture.
Rowena starts with a lovely female voice, enchanting me whilst the flute leads. The harmonic sound on this one is simply great. You can shed a tear during this sad track, an emotional beauty! The brutal voice chases away and fights with the beauty making it a great symphonic duet! Snaga has a lot of variation within the track and I’m not only talking about the tempo! Great storytelling and with a lovely choir! The piano is a good extra!
The Last Stand is despite the soft start a pretty heavy track confirming the title of the track! Thirty Souls confirms their heavy sound; just as Gulgothir with the heavy grunting and drums on fire! This feels as the extra punch, ready for the grande finale! Funeral Pyre is a sad end track, revealing the end of a great story with a choir that sounds as if lead by monks. This one also confirms that they have a wide variety in their sound. The last notes are burning, hellish and heavy!
A great final for a great CD! After that the outro brings us the end of the story: Legends never Die. We also get a bonus track, the beautiful Keepers of the Pride lead by their typical flute and an acoustic guitar, until the Finntroll party starts with the accordion, the grunting … Party time! Don’t forget to share the bear when the tempo lowers and gives you some time to recuperate!
I hope to see these folks one of these months!
Bandcamp Wild Folk Pagan compilation vol III
