ELDENSKY

Retaining complete musical autonomy and vision in your songwriting, unclouded and untainted by the input of other musicians is an often daring and bold step to take, and Calgary-based musician Beren Tol Galen’s debut Eldensky release is exemplar par excellence of solo metal songwriting at an incredibly high standard. From the outset, Beren’s ability to transport the listener into an other- worldly mind-set is distinctly apparent, with the layered breathy keyboard lines of ‘Cloven Hills’ overlaid with Celtic pipes providing a fitting introduction to the musical journey to follow. Whilst describing his music as “pagan folk metal”, Eldensky, in reality, sits on a slightly higher musical ledge than the average folk metal band and rises above many of the clichés and pastiches that newer bands to the scene have adopted, thus making this release stand out all the more. The album has a distinctly Scandinavian melodic-death-black metal feel in many parts (imagine a more folk-inspired Dark Tranquility mixed with Moonsorrow and a hint of Summoning), in terms of both the style and tightness of guitar riffing and in drumming style (which whilst they are programmed drums, have an incredibly “live and real” feel to them) and also the relatively high-pitched growled vocals on certain tracks. Yet interspersed with this heaviness, lies exquisitely constructed, hauntingly beautiful and ethereal melodies; some containing samples of elements of sounds (and sights) of nature that have clearly influenced Beren (equally apparent in the artwork of the album and on his website, which is well worth a visit to view his spectacular landscape photography), other parts with lush whispered vocals and others, including finale track Light Fades, edging towards a more ambient electronic ambience. With exceptionally professional artwork, near-perfect production and mixing (highly admirable for a home-studio recording), entrancing songwriting, flawless guitar playing, atmospheric keyboards, and incredibly skilled programming, this is indubitably one of the finest solo projects to have graced my ears for many a year. Simply stunning, on every level.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Sounds of the Land Records

Album

FROM FORGOTTEN PAGAN REALMS

Review by Hannah Sylvester

RUNNING TIME:

34:20

RELEASE DATE:

16th February 2011

TRACK LISTING

1) Cloven Hills
2) Breaking of the Sky
3) The River Bard
4) Through Timeless Halls
5) Dirge For A Darkened Night
6) Unconquered
7) Spirit of Trees
8) Heathen Lands
9) Light Fades

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Canada

"Simply stunning, on every level."