(Andy Synn takes a look at the new album from Feral Lord, out this Friday)
As you may know, it’s a common complaint of ours that there’s just so much music released each and every week/month/year that it’s impossible for us to keep up with it all, not matter how hard we try.
What you may not know, however, is that Jared Moran (aka Plaguehammer, aka Cave Ritual, aka Ionnonnisssz, etc) has been more responsible than most for us falling ever further behind the curve, such is the frequency and profligacy of his output.
Sure, we’ve covered a number of his projects before – including, but not limited to, the likes of Zvylpwkua, Acausal Intrusion, Hierarchies (whose debut album was released earlier this year), Vertebrae Fetish Totem (whose new record was also released a few months back, though we haven’t covered it yet), Out of the Mouth of Graves, and, of course, Feral Lord – but we’ve still barely scratched the surface of his discography.
That doesn’t mean we’re going to stop trying though… and with the upcoming release of Wunjo (though you can stream and purchase it right now) we’re able to add another successful review to our catalogue of criticism.
What initially surprised me about this record (there’s some contention right now about whether it’s an album or an EP due to the fact that on the one hand it’s only 30 minutes long, but on the other it’s also only 5 minutes shorter than their first full-length) was how unexpectedly melodic it was, right from the get go.
True, their previous works didn’t totally ignore the melodic side of their sound (I recall making a point about how there was something oddly psychoactive about the chaotic cacophony of their second album, Vires In Absoluto, in particular) but the more refined balance between raw sonic intensity and ecstatic melodic energy (the latter of which some of the more hyped-up bands out there have yet to capture anywhere near as consistently) represents a striking and unexpected shift.
But it was only when I discovered that the album’s title refers to a proto-Germanic rune (visible above) which represents (amongst other things) the concepts of “joy”, “harmony” and oneness with the self that the pieces finally fell into place… because Feral Lord sound more at one with themselves than ever on these three tracks.
The title-track, for example, is just under eight-and-a-half minutes of seething melody and surging ferocity which eschews the more “polished” approach of what generally passes for “Melodic Black Metal” in favour of a more rough-hewn, hand-crafted sound which just feels that much more spontaneous and organic and… alive… in comparison, while also recalling (in places, at least) the unfettered elemental aggression of early Enslaved.
Similarly, the kit-rattling kick drums and hypnotic hooks of “Raido” are delivered with a sense of venom and vigour reminiscent of classic Kampfar, marrying ringing, harmonic notes and rippling, heroic chords in a potent display of primal, blasting fury and ragged, punky grooves, while the almost thirteen minute thrill ride of “Ansuz” is a raging rollercoaster of piercing, proggy melodies and spiky, stabbing discordance, showcasing some of the most subtly intricate guitar work and smartly dynamic songwriting (most apparent in the band’s willingness to ease off the gas and let things simmer in between eruptions of blazing bombast) on the entire record.
Make no mistake about it, whether you want to call Wunjo an EP or an album is, ultimately, mostly immaterial… all that really matters is that it feels like the most fully-focussed and fleshed out form of Feral Lord (in spite of its relatively short run-time) yet, the product of a band growing ever more comfortable in their own skin and ever more confident walking their own path.