#37 - Top of 2018

Suidacra - Cimbric Yarns (AFM Records)

Suidacra are a long way from their death/death metal days (with some folk influences) as their new full length album "Cimbric Yarns" (their 13th record!!!) is totally immersed in the folk genre with a focus on Celtic mythology and tunes (packed with acoustic guitars, flutes and violins). "Echtra" is an epic instrumental opening which sets the tone with female voice-over (by Tina Stabel) establishing the themes of the record. "Serpentine Origins" is filled with acoustic guitar riffs and mellow female vocals that blend perfectly with male vocals leading to a melodic chorus. In "Ode to Arma", Sebastian Jensen takes over the lead vocal with his deep & rough voice. "A Day and Forever" sounds like a song straight out of Arjen Lucassen's Ayreon with more pronounced folk elements. The instrumental "Black Dawn" is followed by the epic "At Nine Light Night" (which sounds like a song by a band of warriors) and the orchestrated "Shakehenge" (with its great flute tunes) are definitely two of the highlights of the album. The cinematic "Assault on Urlár" and the mellow "Caoine Cruác" are filled with Celtic and epic elements serving perfectly as the final two songs of the album narrating the Celtic tale of Suidacra.



92.4/100

Below is the official music video for "Shakehenge".