Panychida - Moon, Forest, Blinding Snow

‘Paganized metal’ is the coined term for the Czech Republic’s Panychida, whose folkish tightrope walk between black and Viking metal. No matter how you choose to label it (and we know damn well we will all label it…something) it’s really a concentrated effort that’s worthy of high praise and more than a passing half-hearted interest. It seems Folter Records, much like Heavy Artillery, takes pride in signing some damn good bands to its roster that will, most assuredly, only grow stronger.

From the beginning of Mìsíc, les, bílý sníh ~ Moon, Forest, Blinding Snow we hear a blasting assault of very Pagan-sounding metal that might, to the untrained ear, appear as your standard fare of black metal fused with haphazard folk elements, but au contraire my friends; this is not your silly mallcore friend’s black metal band. There is a fullness and a sincerely epic tone and feel to the music; at certain points it actually feels like you are witnessing a battle or skirmish, particularly evident in “O Orile I Zmiji”, which fuses the perfect amount of disorder and blind organization to compile this jaunt through a mountainside. While I am a staunch proponent against these non-Scandinavian bands casually dismembering the lineage of these people’s history and backgrounds when they have no ties to it, exceptions are happily made here and there. Panychida is one of them.

I will admit to not being overly impressed with the occasional ‘guttural’ tone to Vicak’s vocals, but his raspy shriek is just what the Odinist ordered. It’s very run-of-the-mill, yes, but when it fits the bill you just go accept it and appreciate it, and Vicak does his part nicely. Performing a brand of Pagan metal along the lines of Mithotyn’s Gathered Around the Oaken Table Panychida captures the scenic beauty of the topic(s) and doesn’t run away with it blindly screaming and flailing about, relegating it to parody sooner than later. It’s the subtle efforts and timely arranging of flutes, acoustic instruments, horns and other programmed elements that provide an undiluted look into the past. It’s a real forthright album that doesn’t need pretention or overused sound blasts that just sound too inorganic. The huge mural of sound you fashion inside your mind’s eye is as pure and true as it can get, and cheers to Panychida for caring enough to pay attention to detail. The “Black Wings of Death” is a pretty impressive Running Wild cover as well, making me long for the days when I bought Gates to Purgatory and Branded and Exiled on cassette way back when. With excellent production, this album has a notch or five above others of similar creation.

While nodding gratuitously to the old school, the new era has dawned (and in most cases should have eclipsed itself long ago) and Panychida covers the vast sky above with a musical canvas worthy of dimly-colored watercolors that simply don’t run.              

Release Date: October 20, 2010
Label: Folter Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Red Moon Rising
     (The Drink Offering)
2.  The Fire Worshipper
3.  Veliji dini
4.  Alatyri
5.  Flaming Forests
6.  O Orile i Zmiji
7.  The Story ( … of a Murderer)
8.  Ryhope
9.  Kracunu
10.  Moon, Forest, Blinding Snow
11.  The Myth of the Eternal Return +
        Black Wings of Death
       (Running Wild cover)

Total playing time:  49:56

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*Comments:

Reviewer: Chris

March 24, 2011