Search - Haggard :: Awaking the Centuries

Medieval music meets Mozart meets metal

Jason P. Sorens | Tonawanda, NY United States | 10/31/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This music bears only the slightest of resemblances to death or black metal, with mostly light and airy, major-key melodies reminding me principally of Mozart, with some Germanic medieval and folk music thrown in. Occasionally there are gruff vocals, which may inspire the attribution of "death metal," but the vast majority of the music here is quite far from that.The music is also very well done, with the jaunty nine-minute title track being a principal highlight. The "classical" parts come off as genuine, with a melange of real strings, woodwinds, and piano (and a french horn), unlike some classical-metal fusion bands who use mostly synthesizers (*cough* Rhapsody *cough*). The music sounds highly "organic" as a result. If you enjoyed Therion's latest album, especially instrumental tracks like "Flight of the Lord of Lies," you should check out Haggard immediately. The only possible complaint is that the ponderous metal guitar riffs aren't particularly inspiring, but I think they are there mostly to set a "heavy" background, in the way that a bass guitar is typically intended to do."

Great symphonic metal.

mlsml2000 | Grand Junction, CO & Belgium | 11/04/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If, like me, you are a fan of Nightwish, Tristania and Therion, this album is definitely for you!
The arrangements successfully combine classical instruments (real ones!)with modern guitars and drums. Some pieces are light and dreamy and then explode with quite powerful guitar riffs. The grunts are not as pronounced as Tristania (for example) and the female background vocals add a nice finishing touch. This album style contains elements from Tristania, ToT but also from Rondo Veneziano and Lacrimosa (although with a lot more punch...). Although I really love this album (except track 2,what is it doing there?), I gave it only 4 stars because it is way too short (37 1/2 min) for such a steep price. You start to really enjoy the music and the CD is already over..."

Excellent baroque metal

Gael | Paris | 10/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An excellent album, similar to Therion and other classical-inspired metal groups."