Skyforger
Zobena Dziesma

WARNING: This is my first review and I am starting with an album that is not very easy to review as it is relatively the last album by Skyforger (relatively because this album is from 2004).

Skyforger is a band that introduced "Folk black metal" into the facets of metal, but the Lithuanian quintet has always been passionate about folk, obviously sung in their native language. The album starts off very well with "Sen dzirdēju, nu ieraugu", a song that is composed solely of the five members singing, with no instruments other than the powerful vocal cords of the five. The second track, "Zobena dziesma", is purely Lithuanian as, in addition to the voice, typical Lithuanian instruments are played. The third song, "Parkiuns vede vedeklenu", always features the voices of the quintet in the foreground, accompanied only by the sound of a drum. Up to this point, it seems Skyforger has given their best, but with songs 4 to 9, namely "Gatavs biju karavīrs" "Apkart kalnu gaju" "Prūšu meita kara jāja" "Aiziedams pērkons grauda" "Sidrabiņa upe tek" and "Migla migla, Rasa rasa", Skyforger has truly delighted us with each of these songs, especially with "Migla migla, Rasa rasa", long but with epic turns; as well as "Sidrabina upe tek". The latter is also composed solely of vocals.

Track number 10 is a bit monotonous in my opinion but catchy as all the tracks have been so far. Song number 11 is titled "Kur tu jāsi bāleliņi?", a melancholic but beautiful song because it features double vocals, that is, singing and counter-singing, male and female. Track 12 is a Lithuanian warriors’ song "Zviegtin' zviedza kara zirgi" and starts with the neighing of horses in the foreground and then its full folk and warrior soul, the last song is a typical Lithuanian song "O kai sulute takejo" beautiful as well but boring.

This entire album is composed only of folk songs that are delightful and beautiful. I have never listened to such a beautiful record full of emotions in my, (albeit short) life.