Urskumug - Am Nodr
Ledo Takas Records - LETA 019 - 30 April 2006
By George Grant
Forgive my ignorance, but an electronic buzzing alarm is hardly something I would expect to hear on a self-described tribal black metal album. Luckily for Latvias Urskumug, such mislabeling can ignored when the music really begins. What we have here is a very modern sounding black metal record, akin to Emperors IX Equilibrium album with a strong synthesis and blurring of the lines between black metal and death metal. The black metal influences take shape for the more vast and sweeping sections backed by a slight choral presence in the track '~~~~' (thats actually the title), as well as the more death metal approach of the varied rhythmic interplay between guitar and drums as heard on the closing 'Mother of Halfworld.'
Obviously such variation in styles makes Am Nodr an excited listen, however, the band doesnt stop there. Added to the mix are some unique melodies that can only be attributed to their Latvian origin. Dont mistake this as a simple folk-like guitar part laid on top of the music. Urskumug actually takes the time to fit the melodies into the song and bind them to the theme, and such efforts pay off in the end.
Am Nodr isnt a landmark album, but rather a very interesting listen. Urskumug has all the elements to make a masterpiece but they just havent reached that point, but if they continue down the path they have forged they could very well. This album is certainly worth a closer inspection.
Official Urskumug Website
Official Urskumug Myspace Page
Official Ledo Takas Records Website
Ledo Takas Records - LETA 019 - 30 April 2006
By George Grant
Forgive my ignorance, but an electronic buzzing alarm is hardly something I would expect to hear on a self-described tribal black metal album. Luckily for Latvias Urskumug, such mislabeling can ignored when the music really begins. What we have here is a very modern sounding black metal record, akin to Emperors IX Equilibrium album with a strong synthesis and blurring of the lines between black metal and death metal. The black metal influences take shape for the more vast and sweeping sections backed by a slight choral presence in the track '~~~~' (thats actually the title), as well as the more death metal approach of the varied rhythmic interplay between guitar and drums as heard on the closing 'Mother of Halfworld.'
Obviously such variation in styles makes Am Nodr an excited listen, however, the band doesnt stop there. Added to the mix are some unique melodies that can only be attributed to their Latvian origin. Dont mistake this as a simple folk-like guitar part laid on top of the music. Urskumug actually takes the time to fit the melodies into the song and bind them to the theme, and such efforts pay off in the end.
Am Nodr isnt a landmark album, but rather a very interesting listen. Urskumug has all the elements to make a masterpiece but they just havent reached that point, but if they continue down the path they have forged they could very well. This album is certainly worth a closer inspection.
Official Urskumug Website
Official Urskumug Myspace Page
Official Ledo Takas Records Website
