Search - Primordial :: Journey's End

CELTIC FOLK METAL GRANDEUR

Josh Darkness | Australia | 12/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Primordial are a very highly respected name in the pagan metal scene, on the border between folk music and metal. Drenched in pagan Celtic influences, the closest comparison would be to `Morningrise' era Opeth, if Opeth were influenced by Celtic folk music, which obviously has had a huge influence on Primordial in their clean vocal style, song structures and acoustic passages, check out the track `Dark Song' for a fine example. This is an old Celtic folk poem written by Amergin Glungel, an ancient Irish pagan poet. This song is THE ABSOLUTE FINEST in creating a melancholic, bleak Celtic atmosphere, and A. Nemtheanga's clean vocals are at his best. `A Journeys End' is a very epic album with long songs and driving rhythms, overwhelmed with an overall feeling of bleakness playing with your emotions. Like Opeth, Primordial use two very distinct singing styles, a standard metal screech which is very black metal inspired, and also a clean, folky voice. Their heavy passages are quite difficult to describe, perhaps doom metal with traditional Irish-esque melodies. `A Journeys End' is probably Primordial's most doomy album to date, however it is this despair and melancholy which makes `A Journeys End' the outstanding album that it is. `A Journeys End' opens with the track `Graven Idol' and an intro of marching drums leading into a solid guitarline which is both rough and fast, bordering on black metal yet not losing their special touch and when the clean vocals kick in the effect is absolutely spellbinding. This leads into the above mentioned track `Dark Song' which will totally win you into the sound of Primordial if `Graven Idol' didn't. `Autumn Ablaze' goes back to the sound of `Graven Idol' and the rest of the album continues on this excellent note. `Solitary Mourner' is a very bleak sounding and desolate song, with the bare essentials of ambient swirls with A. Nemtheanga's tortured and melancholic vocals over the top creating the bleakest possible atmosphere. This is quite a slow album, and only the dedicated listener will sit through the entire album in one sitting. Fortunately this is an excellent album from an excellent band with a massive dedicated fanbase. Primordial are the leading metal band out of Ireland. The production on `A Journeys End' is murky, with a poor guitar sound, however after a few listeners you realise that the production is just one of the factors creating such a deep and bleak atmosphere. `A Journeys End' deserves a listen and I guarantee it will win you over if you arent one of those closed minded metalheads who are too afraid of anything that doesn't have blastbeats in it. Put `A Journeys End' in your CD player and become immersed with the dense, bleak atmospheres it creates. If you are expecting keyboards, female vocals, orchestral moments or gothic overtones then you will not find it here. Primordial's music is like a journey of supreme depth which you may not grasp fully upon the first listen, however after a number of listens you will be fully entrapped in the world of Primordial."

Passionate beauty packed in special metal

M Flamman | Breda, the Netherlands | 04/17/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These Irish deliver a very pleasant cd to listen to. The songs are perfectly arranged (with acoustic rhythm-session), beuatiful and highly passionate- really Irish! The songs are complex and long, and really epical. This is a MUST for all those doom/ gothic/ dark-fans out there. References? Old Anathema maybe, or My Dying Bride, or old Katatonia. Who loved these bands should also like this band. Enjoy!"

Bleak and Harrowing

D. West | Pittsburgh, PA. | 06/10/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Primordial's second album from 1998. The band delivers an impassioned dark beauty with Journey's End. I would refer to this as; Celtic/Folk/Pagan/Metal with the Irish heritage of the band expertly represented. The music contains nothing fancy, no frills, no overblown compositions as some Metal bands incorporate to impress. The guitars are wonderfully played, coming at you in waves in sincerest form. The drumming is fantastic, great fills and bass. The vocals are what seem to stand out to me on most Primordial albums. A.A. Nemtheanga,(imo) has one of the most passionate vocal deliveries in music today. I believe what this man is singing. Whether it be a black/metal rasp, whispered or spoken word or powerful clean style, Nemtheanga convinces. For me, this album has some of Primordials best songs; "Dark Song", Autumn Ablaze, Journey's End, Bitter Harvest and the truly disturbing Solitary Mourner. This band has something important to say. I wish I could be more descriptive of this amazing brick of Metal. A very unique band. One of the best working today. Suffice to say, this is an excellent addition to any serious music fans collection. I'm bewildered that this is the only review."