October Falls - The Womb of Primordial Nature

July 1, 2009

Reviewer: M.J.

A thousand lifetimes, that has streamed to waste; casting the shadows, the deep abyss rising; towards the womb of primordial nature.  Thus proclaims M. Lehto on his second foray, in two years, into the metal arena; melding his neo folk past with contemporary black metal ferocity. His first metallic leanings, which appeared on the 2007 EP release The Streams of the End, were a happy surprise among his legion of metal fans who had embraced his prior mellower releases, Tuoni EP (2003) and Marras (2005). The Streams of the End only whet appetites for the full length, The Womb of Primordial Nature, which continues masterfully in the same blackened metal/folk vein.

M. Lehto hasn’t completely abandoned his neo folk roots as he continues to release albums exclusively in that genre as evidenced with the release of the EP Sarastus, in 2007, shortly after releasing The Streams of the End. Most fans will tell you that they are pleased that he is pursuing both paths. On The Womb of Primordial Nature, this emerging Finnish marvel who writes all of his own songs and lyrics, plays a range of instruments and handles all vocal duties. Bassist V. Metsola and Moonsorrow drummer M. Tarvonen were enlisted to join him in the recording process.

The Womb of Primordial Nature, comprises of four rather long songs (simply titled: I, II, III, & IV) and comes in just under forty minutes. Lyrically and musically interconnected themes dominate throughout making this seem more like a concept album instead of four separate tracks.  Production is sharp and clear which is atypical of most black metal releases (though, commonplace in neo folk recordings) so it’s a bit jarring at first but quickly appreciated for highlighting all the nuances where the instruments blend and at times, breathe on their own. All four tracks follow a similar arc of opening with the strumming of an acoustic guitar and later joined by the full band and then again, alone, without accompaniment as each song ends. This form is complemented with soaring melodic harmonies that are executed with more than just perfunctory musicianship. M. Lehto whispers, rasps, croaks and screeches with the best of any BM vocalists and in true BM tradition, is buried in the background of the mix allowing the instrumentation to take center stage. 

Lyrically it’s all doom and gloom as if the four horsemen are heralding the Apocalypse and mankind is seeing its demise to be replaced by other species and nature in general. Wolf imagery surfaces both on the album cover and booklet as well as in the lyrics…These beasts among the men, the wolves of the doom. 

Overall, this is a stellar effort and hits all the right notes with aplomb. It is a worthy addition to any metalhead or rock music aficionado’s collection. More progressive and doomy than most black metal, October Falls strives to find its place in the metal realm and is sure to be mentioned very soon in the same breath as Rapture, Agalloch, Katatonia, and Opeth.

A crimson sunset, turned to raging, harvesting darkness

Ascent - The wolves of tomorrow
Reborn - The wombs of primordial nature

Release Date: August 26th, 2008
Label: Moribund Records

TRACK LISTING

1.   I
2.   II
3.   III
4.   IV

Total playing time: 38:11

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