Metal music is a kind of package, or bricolage as Deena Weistein wrote, because it is not only about the music, it is much more. She noticed three dimensions: the sonic dimension, the visual dimension, and the verbal dimension. CD covers, for instance, belong to the visual dimension. We all know they are so important to Metal music to a point to persuade one to buy an album only for the image of the CD. Show of hands who’s never! I did.
Well, that said, I must point out that the first thing that caught my attention to “Wächter des Waldes” was the CD cover. In fact, it is not that brilliant or anything related, I just liked it. Same thing about the music, there is nothing outstanding here with Thorondir, but the passion their music passes extrapolates the boundaries. It is so energetic and enthusiastic that my dear fan will headbang all the time. Even though the dark atmosphere the band wishes to pass the fan, the album has such a vibrant magnetism that I was immeadiately attracted to it. The music here pulses as there is no future for humankind – well, in fact, there is not. Besides, the burning atmosphere, the band deals pretty well with the combination of guitar melodies and harsh vocals as their did with “Morast.” But I guess the cherry of the cake is the background sounds as the bagpipes of “Zur alten Taverne” and all the plot twists the track delivers.
Musicwise, Thorondir‘s secret is mostly with the guitars whose clear and standard tone highlight the musical performance. Add to that the more melodic verve the guitars deliver as “Geisterheer vom Fichtelwald” showcases the fan. Each guitar intervention fills up the air with melodic notes. To the more attentive fan will realize there are lots of details hidden in the tracks meaning a band that cares a lot about the details. The fan is welcomed with grand finale “Baldurs Ruf,” a track full of melodies and finesse with only an acoustic guitar and some keyboard effects in the background. This track crowns the melodic verve and the finesse the band wishes to pass the fan.
Thorondir “Wächter des Waldes” will be released on October 09th via Trollzorn Records.
Track Listing:
01. In der Tiefe des Waldes
02. Drudenfluch
03. Blut und Ruhm
04. Rübezahl
05. Der wilde Jäger
06. Bruder Hain
07. Morast
08. Zur alten Taverne
09. Geisterheer vom Fichtelwald
10. Perchtas Schatten
11. Baldurs Ruf
Watch “Der wilde Jäger” official lyric video here:
I’m just a lucky guy who has chosen metal to live with for a long time. Metal changed my life for good. It made me more confident and stronger. Metalheads are naturally far away from the mass mediocrity and don’t accept impostures from anybody else. Metal is more than music, it’s a life changing oportunity!