KromleK – ‘Finis Terræ’ (2011)
Rating: 8/10
Release: 8 April 2011
Label: Trollzorn Records
Kromlek, a German band, quite well known, but on the other hand… not at all. One of the more famous amongst the unknown. With of course as best song, “Grim Omens”. This is their new album and this time without a violinist, I’m curious.
“Iron Age Prelude,” I’m always happy with cool intros, of which I’ll soak in the atmosphere. Kromlek scores with this intro some points, something new in the direction of metal with a march behind it. After 1 minute 46 we get the second song, “Necropolis Fall” on an Equilibrium-like manner. The Equilibrium-like atmosphere lingers in the song but fortunately disappears around two minutes. With 3 minutes there is even something in Arabic and then the hurry back to their own somewhat futuristic way, like in the intro. These transitions remain the rest of the song and that sounds catchy. The subsequent track, “Angrlio” is a typical German folk metal track. “The Cocoon”, a galloping horse and a nice guitar. An open issue for many metalheads, tasty general metal, sound wise not pure folk-metal. “Mantikor” a nice melodic song, one that will do pretty well during live performances. After this, a song which begins in a very interesting way, you’ll be very curious how this continues, when you listen to it. And if the voltage is built up, the song starts really, but it still isn’t a very rough track, as you might expect.
“Moritvrvs immortalis”. What an opening! Heroic! So brave you’ll hear seldom, quiet but with head held high. But after a minute the warrior courage is gone and the mead is running! After a half-minute the song proceeds seriously. “Ad Rvbiconum”, the intro lets you all see what it’s like to go to war! And soon heavy fighting starts. With eyes closed, I listen to this CD, but now there’s a picture in my mind of a wall of death and a beautiful moshpit. After more than three minutes the almost futuristic sound is back again. To be honest, I think this is a really great song. After four and a half minutes to me the great sound off Bastion diesn. “Creation’s Crowning Glory”, is a fast song with a lot of quiet parts in it, actually in the style of the rest of the CD. This also applies to the subsequent song “Metropolitan Roots”. Next comes “Egophaneia” a little child who tells a story, you will hear it, but this obviously is the intro to the title track and also the last song “Finis Terrae”. The song itself begins slowly, but after two and a half minutes the ‘loud noise’ really gets loose, but quickly after this it stops and it appears to be a very peaceful song. You can close your eyes and quietly move with the music.
Something which is very typical of the CD is the rapid alternation of many different realms, so it is rugged, so the feast is courageous, and then becomes quiet … all within a few minutes.
For me a strong album which offers enough variety in each case, which may perhaps a little less if they think to make another album. The resignation of the violinist left me with a litte fear for this album, but Kromlek proves me wrong. A must for fans of melodic metal with folk dipping, you’re more of the pure folk with a touch of metal, you may skip it.
Tracklist
- Iron Age Prelude
- Nekropolis’ Fall
- Angrlio
- The Cocoon
- Mantikor
- Manjushri aus mir
- Moitvrvs immortalis
- Ad Rvbiconem
- Bastion
- Creation’s Crowning Glory
- Metropolitan Roots
- Egophaneia
- Finis Terrae