Deep in the pulsating earthen heart of Romania a.k.a. Transylvania, radiates some of the purest inspiration for an array of black metal and ethnic folk bands dispersed across it’ land. One can journey through it’s relic forests or hike the majestic mountain steppes, and spend time in the local village for feasting and ceremonial arts. One particular metal band has injected all this natural stimulation into their lifestyle and their eloquent music, namely Negura Bunget (“Dark Foggy Forest”). Coming out of the shadows in 1996, and reigning for 15 years years thus far, it was to be their primary journey to Canadian Soils. Their past drummer and current keyboardist, Negru and Inia Dinia were also coming with them under the banner of Din Brad (“from the fir tree”). The former of these perform melodious hymns in their native tongue, utilizing a single bass drum, a shaman drum, a panpipe, and keyboards. Inia’s lyrics resonates within those who have an appreciation for exotic language, and her voice has a certain penetrative quality to it, that can heal your inner self if you let it. Together with these two esoteric groups, were two black metal sects from the local and northerly lands of Ontario. Mark Howitt (Lord Defiler) was one who was greatly a fundamental pillar to make this night possible. Wolven Ancestry, and Eclipse Eternal supplied a harsher pagan edge to the evening’s communion.
Din Brad came subtly into the evening, just being in their essence. Not capturing too much attention from metalheads, but as I have lately come to loathe this term, and have preferred much more spiritual music or metal-oriented music deeper meaning, I quickly filled the void of empty space where no one was standing at the front, and let myself be absorbed, while other photo fiends around me took their time to capture their image permanently. One shaman dram that was hanging from the bass drum captured my attention and seemed to made of skin. They performed a cover of an old Romanian song as well, so you can listen to that one. It just reminds of an ancient rite held around a blazing bonfire, whilst darkly clad savages convulse above the ground in rhythmic splendor.
Din Brade – Durere
Eclipse Eternal had just released a new malefic opus entitled, ‘The Essence Of Hopelessness’, and they have staked their claim over the past few years, playing a copious amount of live rituals in Toronto. These means a new bastion of hate, and dark heathen worship was to be proclaimed in the name of black metal from them. A new energy, methinks have undertaken their performances, as from direct experience seeing them about 3 years ago, they were relatively standard. They neither stand out too much right now, but they hold a firm place in the orthodox black metal niche. Voldamares tortured us with his groans and screams, taking all the breath in his body to force out the poisonous cipher of Eclipse Eternal’s lyrics. A horn was raised in honor for some who have went beyond the mortal chain…
Eclipse Eternal – Murder… Suicide
Eclipse Eternal – MurderSuicide
The wolfpack had new garments to adorn this time around, as Lord Defiler had told me before the show. Each draped with wolf fur, and sir Howitt with a taxidermy wolf headress. He is a fellow wolf shaman, and one who also understand to necessity of representing the bestial animistic quality in man. There was some filming going on for one of their songs as well. They received a major feed(back), as they slowly devoured everyone raw. I shall let the photos do most of the speaking…
Wolven Ancestry – A Bloodline Of Immortal Passion Bestowed The Harmony Of Man And Wolf
Wolven Ancestry – A Bloodline Of Immortal Passion Bestowed The Harmony Of Man And Wolf
Negura Bunget, entertained a length set and seemed most cohesive together after the various line up differences over the recent times. Their new vocalist Chakravartin filled the gap of their former frontman. Some memorable segments of their spirituality in the flesh were Cunoașterea Tăcută, casting slow spells over a dazed crowd, Norilor with the use of an archaic wooden board “drum”, & Pãmînt would see the panpipe being played as majestically as a sylvan satyr. They are in the root stages of crafting a video documentary of their homeland, the first piece will be entitled Tau. Read about that here http://www.transilvaniantrilogy.com/films/
Negura Bunget – Pamint
Am.K
April 30, 2012 at 1:45 am
Arg, Negura Bunget track shows ” file not found “.
The three others are great.