Primordial

[Nate The Great]

What, when, where, and why. (Which albums do I need?)

Also, I still can't find Esoteric. Somebody go find it for me. The band has it to sell directly, but it's a little expensive.

 

[J.]

Metamorphogenesis shouldn't be too difficult to find. I'm sure The End will restock it, since it sold out within a week. If you see Esoteric's first two releases, do not hesitate to buy. They are very hard to get a hold of, apart from eBay. The Pernicious Enigma is usually on eBay, but I've never seen Epistemological Despondency on eBay, but I've heard it fetches a rather substancial sum. That being said, I've heard that the first two are being re-released, so hopefully that will make them easier to find.

Primordial, one of my favorite bands. I'd say the eseential releases are A Journeys End and Spirit the Earth Aflame. A Journeys End is much darker and bleak, has much more atmosphere than any of their other releases. A comparison to Agalloch would not be far off, but Primordial are much more black metal than Agalloch. Spirit the Earth Aflame is the most epic release, and was the best album of 2000 IMO. The singer really hit his peak on this one. When I say "epic" I don't mean viking metal. This is pure pagan metal from Ireland, with that Celtic flavor (no, there are no tin whistles).

SO it depends what you want: darkness and atmosphere or paganism and epicness.

Imrama (the debut) and Storm Before Calm (the latest one) don't stand up to the other two IMO. Both are much more black metal than anything. Still good albums in their own right, but they ar eclipsed by AJE and STEA.

 

[Erik]

"A Journey's End", preferrably. You can read my review of it on RC, and someone (I forget who, PJ or Mark probably?) has reviewed "Imrama" which I consider less than essential... AJE is great, great stuff though, also "Spirit the Earth Aflame," but that one is less even in quality.

 

[Demonspell]

I'd definitely consider getting Primordial's last two albums, as Dreamlord stated above they capture the spirit of paganism better than most bands...

 

[Black Winter Day]

i only have spirit the earth aflame and storm before calm and i love them both. get primordial.

 

[MadeInNewJersey]

I reviewed "Imrama," and while it's a good record for completists, especially if you love fall in love with the band, it's by no means essential (as mentioned by Erik & Dream).

I also agree with Dream that "Spirit the Earth..." is killer, but I also feel their latest ("Storm b4 Calm") is their best IMO. I'd start with either of those.

 

[Dev]

Spirit The Earth Aflame has not 1 weak or average song , I'd suggest that first of course , then Strom Before Calm and finally A journey's End .

Gods to the godless / The Soul Must Sleep / The Burning Season is the one of the greatest combo I've ever heard .

 

[NAD]

The Soul Must Sleep > all other songs
A Journey's End > all other albums

Anyhow, is their new stuff worth getting? I never loved The Gathering Wilderness, but find To The Nameless Dead pretty damn solid. Don't know anything newer than that.

2004 > 2020

 

[J.]

I cant get into anything passed Storm Before Calm. Hate those vocals.

My answer: no

 

[Ellestin]

I cant get into anything passed Storm Before Calm. Hate those vocals.

I wouldn't be that radical but I tend to agree. The heroic/whiney voice is really overused on later albums and while there are still some great songs, too many fall in the annoying category fast.

To the Nameless Dead and The Gathering Wilderness are super solid and age well, the rest is mainly expendable.

 

[NAD]

Seems like my current path of own-the-first-six-albums combined with occasionally-hear-the-new-"hits"-on-YooToob is the way to keep on keepin' on then. Thanks, Dudes.

If I can maintain some semblance of Status Quo in existence right now, that's good.

 

[einride]

I cant get into anything passed Storm Before Calm. Hate those vocals.

My answer: no

I wouldn't be that radical but I tend to agree. The heroic/whiney voice is really overused on later albums and while there are still some great songs, too many fall in the annoying category fast.

i agree with both of the above, for the most part

for me primordial after the gathering wilderness -- which i think is at least partly very good though it suffers throughout from a misguided production job -- went from a heavy-hearted pagan epic rainy day thing to this weird primordiowar RAISE YOUR FUCKIN HORNS METAL BROTHERS shit that i don't think suits them and that i don't care for and also i think they've completely run out of ideas and the vox are really overdramatic

a journey's end is always and forever their best album

top five primordial songs

1. autumn's ablaze
2. gods to the godless
3. sons of the morrigan
4. the coffin ships
5. a journey's end

 

[NAD]

Third confirmation, motion carried. *gavel*

Autumn's Ablaze is so good man. It's like everything you could ever want in a pagan/heathen/celtic/serious/whatever metal song. A very perfect Thing.

Top 5 For Me:

1. The Soul Must Sleep
2. Autumn's Ablaze
3. Solitary Mourner
4. Glorious Dawn
5. As Rome Burns

1 and 2 are forever but 3/4/5 can vary I suppose.

 

[~Neurotica]

Solitary Mourner

that one is more of an exception of their usual style

 

[NAD]

First time I heard Solitary Mourner I made this face and well that lesson about "don't make that face or it will stay that way forever" from childhood finally came true.

 

[Ellestin]

lol

 

[Doom]

"Run out of ideas" sums it up perfectly wrt the last couple of albums.

 

[Doom]

This band have certainly written some absolute classic tracks, but I don't love any of their albums all the way through.

 

[J.]

i would be fine with just Spirit and Journey. But I like some tracks from Imrama and Storm.

After that, no dice