Dyrnwyn – ‘Sic Transit Gloria Mundi’ (2018)
Rating: 8.5/10
Release: 23 October 2018
Label SoundAge Productions
Over 3 years ago, I reviewed the first EP from Italy’s Dyrnwyn and heard a promising 6 tracks entitled “Ad Memoriam”. 3 plus years later sees a debut full length now entitled “Sic Transit Gloria Mundi” (“Thus Passes The Glory Of The World”) for their new label, the always epic Soundage. Released in October, the album has 9 tracks at almost 47 minutes of all new material. I knew there would be some changes as it sounded like stability of lineup was an issue and I see at least 3 new members in the band since the EP…..original vocalist Thanatos was replaced by Daniele Biagiotti for a few years who has now been replaced by Thierry Vaccher for the album recording. Guitarist Rick Deckard has been replaced as well as flutist Michela Luciani with Alberto Marinucci and Jenifer Clement respectively. So how do these changes affect the Dyrnwyn sound? Not dramatically as they still have the folky heavy battle metal sound from the EP with some definite improvements in a number of areas. First off, sound quality is far superior with a thicker, fuller overall sound in every area, vocals, lead, rhythm and folk instrumentation with great separation and discernibility. Secondly, the song writing has gone more into a riffier/catchier direction, which made me think of some other acts as potential influencers…..Skalmold, Ensiferum, Amon Amarth and Moonsorrow… nothing wrong there. I would also say there is a lot more folk instrument action throughout whether the flute of Jenifer or the keyboard stylings of Michelangelo Iacovella making it happen…. Horns, Accordion and some strings I would say fill in some of that folky space. There is also some nice acoustic guitar (“Cerus”, “L’Addio Del Primo Re”) thrown in as well. I think the overall best part of the album is that it has a nice cross section of metal styles at play…..melodic black metal, folk metal, power metal. Dyrnwyn can weave in and out of all of these styles without hesitation and makes for an enjoyable listen. I am presuming that given the lyrics which I presume are either Latin and/or Italian, the tracks are based in the history of Ancient Rome, much like acts suck as Ex Deo and Ancient Rites amongst others. They even managed to drop a nice 2 minute instrumental in here too (“Si Vis Pacem….”) and thankfully not as an intro. I just looked at my top 10 debut albums list for 2018 and I think I was 1 shy….until now. A great debut with hopes the lineup carries on for more future releases.
Tracklist
- Sic Transit Gloria Mundi 06:22
- Cerus 04:27
- Parati ad Impetvm 05:15
- Si Vis Pacem… 02:16
- …Para Bellum 06:30
- L’addio del primo re 05:32
- Il sangue dei vinti 05:09
- Feralia 05:22
- L’assedio di Veio – CCCXCVI A.C. 05:57