Primordial - The Gathering Wilderness
Metal Blade - 39841 4518CD - 07/02/2005
By Patrick Walsh
Primordial have existed in one shape or form since 1987, and The Gathering Wilderness stands as their fifth album proper. Having been plagued throughout their existence with label hassles and touring problems, The Gathering Wilderness is by all means the beginning of a new era for the band. Having recently signed to Metal Blade records, it would appear Primordial are now recieving the recognition that had so eluded them in the past. Thankfully, The Gathering Wilderness is also the group's strongest effort to date, being a truly unique, passionate and quite exquisite affair.
The drafting of Billy Anderson (Sleep, Melvins, Brutal Truth, Neurosis, Fantomas etc) for production duties has boosted Primoridal's sound to a perviously unfathomable degree. His rough 'n ready, low end rumble style compliments Primordial's slightly barbaric edge perfectly, and the thing certainly has an earthier feel than before. Of note too is how, for the first time in this scribe's ears at least, the vocals of Nemtheanga have been truly reconciled with the interweaving guitarwork of Ciaran MacUiliam and Michael O'Floinn, and he sounds more confident and passionate than ever before.
Indeed, Primordial have always beeen chock full of the latter, and yet The gathering Wilderness harnesses it better than any of their previous works. Opener 'The golden Spiral' belts along amidst Nemtheanga's cries of I can feel my heartbeat thundering! It's stirring stuff, and the title track works like a reiteration of their penchant for the epic sitrrings of past cuts like 'The Heretic's Age' and 'Gods to the Godless' and soforth. However, the biggest kick in the teeth comes with 'the Coffin Ships', the album's centrepiece and an absolutely majestic, somber and despondant tune about the Irish famine. Nemtheanga wails as if his very life depends upon it, and if the touching lyrical beauty of Oh God that bread should be so dear/And human flesh so cheap doesn't bring a lump to the throat, you're lacking in a soul. Absolutely brilliant, and it is this track that maps out the underlying sorrow of Primordial's darkly epic, Bathory infused hymns, so that whilst they may have almost completely erased the black metal flourishes of old, they've replaced it with an emotional bent that virtually no metal band on the planet can match. Superb.
9/10
Primordial's Official Website
Metal Blade Records' official Website
Metal Blade - 39841 4518CD - 07/02/2005
By Patrick Walsh
Primordial have existed in one shape or form since 1987, and The Gathering Wilderness stands as their fifth album proper. Having been plagued throughout their existence with label hassles and touring problems, The Gathering Wilderness is by all means the beginning of a new era for the band. Having recently signed to Metal Blade records, it would appear Primordial are now recieving the recognition that had so eluded them in the past. Thankfully, The Gathering Wilderness is also the group's strongest effort to date, being a truly unique, passionate and quite exquisite affair.
The drafting of Billy Anderson (Sleep, Melvins, Brutal Truth, Neurosis, Fantomas etc) for production duties has boosted Primoridal's sound to a perviously unfathomable degree. His rough 'n ready, low end rumble style compliments Primordial's slightly barbaric edge perfectly, and the thing certainly has an earthier feel than before. Of note too is how, for the first time in this scribe's ears at least, the vocals of Nemtheanga have been truly reconciled with the interweaving guitarwork of Ciaran MacUiliam and Michael O'Floinn, and he sounds more confident and passionate than ever before.
Indeed, Primordial have always beeen chock full of the latter, and yet The gathering Wilderness harnesses it better than any of their previous works. Opener 'The golden Spiral' belts along amidst Nemtheanga's cries of I can feel my heartbeat thundering! It's stirring stuff, and the title track works like a reiteration of their penchant for the epic sitrrings of past cuts like 'The Heretic's Age' and 'Gods to the Godless' and soforth. However, the biggest kick in the teeth comes with 'the Coffin Ships', the album's centrepiece and an absolutely majestic, somber and despondant tune about the Irish famine. Nemtheanga wails as if his very life depends upon it, and if the touching lyrical beauty of Oh God that bread should be so dear/And human flesh so cheap doesn't bring a lump to the throat, you're lacking in a soul. Absolutely brilliant, and it is this track that maps out the underlying sorrow of Primordial's darkly epic, Bathory infused hymns, so that whilst they may have almost completely erased the black metal flourishes of old, they've replaced it with an emotional bent that virtually no metal band on the planet can match. Superb.
9/10
Primordial's Official Website
Metal Blade Records' official Website
