STORMFÅGEL

"Den Nalkande Stormen"

Cold Meat Industry - 2005

CD

Amongst the horde of foreign artists who have recently been released by Roger Karmanik's notorious label, this time we've got the debut of a new entry from native Sweden. Stormfågel (Swedish for "thunderbird") dwells in the neoclassical/folk area, and is incarnated by composer Andreas Neidhardt and singer Éva Mag, the latter apparently coming from Hungary. Their music utilizes melancholic trumpets, gloomy strings, military drums and acoustic folk elements, experimenting an interesting fusion of different styles.

The CD opens with "Anyám Èdesanyám", a haunting chant in Magyar language assisted by bells, slow and doomy classical themes and piano, that immediately introduces the listener into a dark and epic atmosphere. The music boasts a certain variety and ideas don't seem to lack: "Daydreaming", with its waving piano tunes and the deep male voice narrating, is what we would have liked for so long to listen from Penitent, while "A Vicei Timetöbe" sounds as a more folkish tune, with violins, strings and flutes floating around Éva hypnotizing vocals, that here particularly call to mind Alzbeth of The Moon Lay Hidden Beneath A Cloud.

A sad trumpet appropriately introduces "Pessimism", a marching and melancholic song, while "Man Will Always Be A Man", successfully evokes after-battle desolated feelings with its military drums and funeral flutes. Best epic moments are achieved by "Holy Seed" and "A Poison Tree", the former with its apocalyptic clashes, the latter thanks to its demonic male vocals opposed to Éva's delicate ones, marching rhythms and ghostly organs. Finest folk ballad's prize is surely won by "Elmegyek, Elmegyek, Hosszú Utra Megyek".

The combination of Swedish martial/orchestral and Hungarian neofolk elements is rather original and intriguing, like you put The Moon Lay Hidden Beneath A Cloud, Blood Axis, Toroidh and Scivias in an electric mixer and drank what came out. "Den Nalkande Stormen" ("the approaching storms") is a good debut album for this newcomer in Cold Meat Industry's pantheon, and will surely appeal to followers of both styles.

- Simon V.

Website: http://www.stormfagel.com