Hour of Ragnarok

Hour of Ragnarok: The Twilight Symphony is in my opinion both a grand new chapter of Graveland and a pinnacle of orchestrated pagan metal. Very atypically for Graveland, it bursts right out of the gates with a forceful and aggressive pace. You feel a sense of immediacy: the hour is here; we are already upon it.

Seasoned listeners of Graveland will instantly notice the live drums masterfully performed by M.Ahrin. They are in stark contrast to Darken's usually programmed drums. While I do enjoy Darken's programmed drums, they always felt a little awkward and “unrealistic” to me, despite carrying the tone and themes of his many pagan metal albums. Ahrin's performance however is very different, focusing primarily on “standard” metal blast beats and fills, but also retaining a considerable amount of bombastic quality that we expect from Graveland. As a drummer myself, I think the writing of the drums (presumably done by Ahrin) is impeccable. There is a lot going on here. The use of blast beats is expected, but the level of intricacy and ornamentation is just perfect for the complexity of Graveland. The new drums are the first and primary reason that this can be considered Graveland's new chapter.

Next we can discuss the orchestration. This is a staple of basically every Graveland album from day one, but certainly since Creed of Iron and onward. Darken basically pioneered this particular type of orchestrated pagan metal, steadily increasing the quality and orchestral realism on every release. On this album, he has truly become a master of this craft. The orchestration is top of its class in every respect: realism, composition, dynamics, presence (in the mix), diversity, and uniqueness. There are many metal bands who use orchestration. But you can just tell this is Darken. He has his own unique orchestral voice. Epic, bombastic, immense, and ancient. This is where the warrior's spirit shines.

Next, let's talk about the general song compositions. This is another aspect that gives it a fresh feel. The songs, while still epic, are a bit shorter than what we are accustomed to. They are generally faster. They are more economical. There isn't as much introduction and interlude time. This of course lends well to the theme of the album. A small (but truly trivial) point I would make here is a bit of abruptness between sections. Perhaps its the tempo changes or the general terseness of the songs, but I found it a bit jarring. (Perhaps this was intentional, as per the album's theme.) Either way, the song writing here is tremendous and innovative for Graveland. Certainly the almost sing-along (think epic marching song) “choruses” seem unusual for Graveland. Great! Have a listen!

The last new element involves the vocals. The majority of the album has Darken delivering his classic black metal rasp, a truly iconic sound. There is nothing new here, and there shouldn't be: this is Graveland. However, there are a couple of sections which use a new kind of sung vocals. This is very different even from the style of sung vocals we've heard on previous albums. I'm not sure if it's even Darken doing them, but they are live and very unique. They are mostly concentrated in the later songs, which have a bit more breathing room for “softer” pagan elements (see: Lord Wind). They are not used very often, but they and various other diverse folk elements add an ancient authenticity.

Finally, I will talk about the lyrics. It should go without saying that the lyrics should be followed as you listen to each song, as to fully absorb yourself in their character and intent. (It is, of course, basically impossible to understand anything Darken says due to rasp and pronunciation.) This to me was the crown on the top. I think all can relate to the sentiment of the age of ragnarok in which we are living. The lyrics provide (at least, to me) a cathartic release and mythological alignment of thoughts to our current era. I will not impose too much of my interpretation on them. But I think their messages are clear. Life is a battlefield. The ancestor's warrior spirit will guide you through all trials.

I've been listening to Graveland intently and following Darken since 2004. The one thing Darken represents to me more than anything else is consistency. He consistently releases music. He consistently improves his work. He consistently and heroically represents the ancient warrior values, always true and focused on the simple but massively important message.

Hail the ancestors! Hail Graveland! \m/

P.S. This was a review of the digipak release. I think this is well worth getting. The artwork is flawless and the quality is top-notch. It certainly completes the experience.