out now: Surturs Lohe - pagan metal from Germany

Surturs Lohe

Wielandstahl

September 24th, 2021

Einheit Produktionen

The pagan metal band Surturs Lohe (Germany) began in 1996 and in 1999 they did a demo, a split in 2000, and from then on the full-lengths arrived in 2001, 2002, 2011 and 2016, with some shorter recordings in between. This brings us to the new album (nine songs in some 54 minutes). Having practically perfected their art at this phase of their discography, it is an ambitious but considered interplay of various aesthetics like folk, black, opera and classical music, with a context of history-mythology in German. If their work can do inspire musicians elsewhere, it is to motivate creativity and an interest in the land and peoples, and its history and myths, in which they may find themselves.

No one particular song or segment captures the entirety of the craft of Surturs Lohe because the music plays like a concept album or a metal opera. For instance, different segments provide glimpses but never the entire range. Some parts demonstrate black metal guitar melodies, mellow/aethereal folk affinities present themselves in other places, classical influences are found throughout the work, and the vocals show well-done lower black metal growling, and various bard-like male and operatic female singing are important components to the sound. While at times the music goes at all-out black metal blazing speed, things can settle down to the serenity of a cappella, and moods in between. In short, while a couple of attentive listens will help to begin grasping the sound landscape, there is no doubt that the band's labor has resulted in a major accomplishment for them, and as such, repeated listens will only enrich the act of experiencing their music.

Surturs Lohe - Kelche von Gold (Offical Video)

Surturs Lohe - Wielandstahl (Official Video)

https://www.facebook.com/SurtursLoheOfficial