“Primordial haven’t produced a single bad note to date, not even a mediocre one”, wrote colleague O’Nolan, as the Irish warriors released their last album. Truer words were never spoken - and naturally they are also true of the new album. This is the logical continuation of ‘Spirit the Earth Aflame’ both musically and ideologically, and consequently both works stand together as coupled, passionate manifestations of rage and desperation, pride, fearlessness and a will to live. The lyrics this time revolve around the question of the role of the individual in history, and what could better match such a concept than this music, through every tone of which times long forgotten are conjured, yet at the same time seems to reveal the future...to name highlights here would be pointless, because what should one choose: the pulsating, defiant opener? The taut, dramatic ‘Fallen to Ruin’, which ends with a wonderful instrumental part? ‘Cast to the Pyre’, full of bitterness and resignation? The grim ‘What Sleeps Within’ with its Black Metal vocals? The ensuing powerful, yet dance-like instrumental? The ballad, ‘The Hosting of the Sidhe’, slightly reminiscent of Bathory’s more epic moments? Or ‘Sons of the Morrigan’, a mysterious, suspenseful musical interpretation of a Yeats poem? No, I can’t come to a decision, and so I mention the immense booklet and hope that my description stirs some to open themselves to this exceptional album.

Gabi Turner