Tarcza Swaroga

Short Review:

This release sounds like Graveland on amphetamines (not a bad thing).

Long Review:

Remember how, back in the day, one could listen to a recording for a couple of minutes and say, with some certainty, "This was recorded in Gothenburg" or "This was recorded in Tampa."? It's getting to the point where it's becoming easier and easier to say, "This was recorded in Poland."

Slavland's Tarcza Swaroga contains your typical Slavic pride, folk-influenced Pagan Black Metal, replete with sounds of the battlefield, swords being whisked from scabbards, and passages performed on numerous acoustic folk instruments such as bazoukis, flutes and even bagpipes. The primary difference between this release and those of all too many Polish hordes is that this one is EXCELLENT!

There is plenty of blasting Black Metal here; this is an extremely heavy release. But it's tempered with an abundance of disparate elements ranging from chanting that doesn't sound corny, to epic folk derived melodies that are so energetic they fairly pounce out of your speakers. Each song contains a plethora of surprises: rhythmic change-ups, heroic chord progressions, and very impressive lead guitar flourishes abound. From beginning to end, this release holds one's attention and never devolves into sameness. There are so many ideas pouring out of this release that it takes repeated listens to absorb them all. This is a record I have no trouble listening to two or three times in a row.

The production on Tarcza Swaroga is perfect, maintaining that crucial balance between density and clarity. If you are a fan of Falkenbach, Kvist or even Drudkh's more folky moments you'll certainly appreciate this amazing release by Slavland.