Heathenreel

by

Elvenking

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Listening to the preview clips from this album, it sounds beautiful, catchy, and competent. And indeed, the bits of music in the previews are all of those things. However, the previews very poorly represent the full songs.

This album exemplifies what may be Elvenking's greatest weaknesses. With the notable exceptions of Pagan Purity, the Regality Dance and Seasonspeech, each song sounds like it was cobbled together from a mix of half-formed ideas, spare melodies, and clips swept up off the cutting room floor. Beautiful songs are interspersed with pieces of what sound like completely different songs. Worse songs. Random segments of growls - both low and high - abound, turning what might be a great blend of folk and metal into something ridiculous. Some songs seem to have no unifying theme at all and are instead just a medley of undercooked ideas. Worst of all, some of these short clips are breathtakingly good, and it is heartbreaking that they now will never develop into full songs of their own.

There is some good music to be found here but only if you're willing to work - or wait - for it. If not, I'd recommend any of Elvenking's other albums instead.