Dalriada – ‘Őszelő’ (2021)
Rating: 9.8/10
Release: 9 April 2021
Label: H-Music Hungary
Dalriada out of Sopron (Hungary) is celebrating with their new release “Öszelö” their 15th years Anniversary as a band. If you only count the full-lenght releases you come to an output of 12 albums including their brand new live album “Hazateres – 15 ev Dalriada” (released on the 09.04.2021) during their creative period. For sure Dalriada is the most famous Folk Metal export out of Hungary and the great folklore out of their country is just made for mixing it with Metal. Looking back in time Dalriada always delivered with great songs as examples “Nyaruto”, “Napisten Hava”, “Igeret”, “Aldas” and of course their smash hit which should never be missed at any Folk Metal Party “Hajdutanc”. As typical Viennese I have of course Hungarian relatives and already spent a lot of times in Hungary and therefore I can connect so deeply to their music. Of course I can not charge the Hungarian lyrics, as this language is properly the most difficult to learn. However this is not really necessary in order to feel and understand their music. Looking now that their latest release “Öszelö” I really need to state that Dalriada presents an album, which is worth to celebrate their 15th Anniversary. Already the first track “Ezer elet, ezer csillag” got me immediately with their typical outstanding fusion of Hungarian Folklore and Metal, clean male and female vocals, epic chants and a folky atmospheres. The album continues with the very strong track “Rakoczi zaszlaja” with a refrain which invites you to sing a long with them. The two vocalists Andras Ficzek and Laura Binder present themselves in absolute top form. One of my next highlights is the song “Öszelö”, which is starting with some humming male chants, which lead you to a mid-tempo track, whose melody partly comes a little bit melancholic. With the track “Öszi Enek” you receive again everything you can await from a Hungarian Folk Metal track including great growls from Laura Binder, which can easily keep up with Marsha from Arkona. The album is including 10 tracks and you will find no fillers on this release. Every track stands out for itself and for me Dalriada is internationally seen one of the most underrated bands in this business and at least for myself should play in the same league as Korplikaani. Furthermore “Öszelö” is the most mature album of Dalriada so far and is as well showing the big varity of the band. I sincerly thank Dalriada for their great dedication to the genre and I am looking forward to the next 15 years of their history! Köszönöm a nagyszerü zenet!
Tracklist
- Ezer élet, ezer csillag
- Rákóczi zászlaja
- Dúvad
- Őszelő
- Betyár-altató
- Földanya
- Huszáros
- Örökség
- Őszi ének
- Ezer csillag