Tengger Cavalry – ‘Ancient Call’ (2014)
Rating: 7.5/10
Release: 1 February 2014
Label: Metal Hell Records
This is a warning for all the losers who are still under the impression folk-metalbands come a dime a dozen. You’re all gonna be crushed by Tengger Cavalry. This Mongolian army will drive their horses towards the enemy and completely run them over. So, yo better adjust your opinion. Tengger Cavalry isn’t the ordinary folk-metal, they don’t use European folk-elements, but true North Asian folk. You can hear the lovely tunes of your local Chinese restaurant, but now you going to fear them. In the hands of these proud and fierce warriors this music is a deadly weapon.
Like their previous albums you can hear the horsemen, they seem to write these songs while they’re on horseback. A lot of the songs has this nice galloping rythm. And what’s so nice about these band is the use of the typical instruments for their region. You simply can’t deny the Asian atmosphere. The sound of the local Morin khuur, the Asian equivalent of the fiddle with it’s weeping sounds, and dombra give the music a very different style. And they blended this all with nice metal.
I love the heroes on horseback of Tengger Cavalry, they underline exactly what I like about folk-metal. The use of universal metal, blended with the local folktunes and played on authentic instruments. Bands like Amocualli, Aranda Arakuaa, Arkona, Fejd and Eluveitie, all bands which use the folk of their own region and blend this with metal. This are the true folk-metal heroes, I simply bow for them.
Tracklist
- Dance with Wolf 01:15
- Galloping Towards the Great Land 04:08
- Battle Song from Far Away 05:58
- Hymn of the Earth 05:01
- Echo of the Grassland 02:07
- Brave 06:12
- Summon the Warrior 05:10
- The Battlefront 02:55
- Chant of the Cavalry 03:54
- Legend on the Horseback 05:11