Darkestrah - Epos

Genre: Pagan Metal
Year: 2007
Tracklist:
1. Epos
Download (sendspace)
Yes, pagan metal from Kyrgyzstan, it does happen! And to start right away, some damn good one! Darkestrah release their sixth album 'Epos', which contains one lengthy track, which lasts over half an hour. Boring? Not quite, this is the best material I have heard of this band so far! Atmospheric but aggressive pagan metal combined with some nice synths and a cello! It may be clear that I am very fond of folk and folk influenced music, so this album is pretty much to my liking.

It opens with the sound of an ocean, with an atmospheric guitar passage, that slowly starts to fade in, accompanied by some calm drumming, and after a calm, gentle passage it blasts off. They combine atmospheric passages with blast beats and acoustic parts in a way that is just simply brilliant, nicely done gentlemen! Just when you think the track is over, they add another, even better passage after it, especially after the 23rd minute. I have heard a lot of good pagan metal, but rarely a great composition like this in this genre, and that says a lot! Fans of Summoning, Dimmu Borgir ('Stormblast' era) should really buy this one, but any atmospheric metal fan, if you like heavy, black, death or power metal, try this one!