Search - Suidakra :: Caledonia

"This is the dawning tempest"

D. Knouse | vancouver, washington United States | 05/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an epic concept album about an ancient race called The Picts who once inhabited the lands now known as Scotland, and their fight against the encroaching Roman legions. On this album Suidakra play a fantastic mixture of Thrash and Celtic Folk Metal with dashes of Black Metal thrown in for some added spice. The production is first-rate and powerful, each instrument can be heard and appreciated in full. You can even hear the crystal clear ting-ting-ting-ting of cymbal taps and the creative, forceful bass-lines. Exemplary! In fact, there are driving hooks and fluid transitions from speed to acoustic sections everywhere. The guitar-work is especially noteworthy as it either sooths the soul during the slower portions, or stampedes forth and steamrolls the listener into a state of ecstatic euphoria. The vocals vary from cleanly sung and accentuated to gruff snarling, frequently switching back and forth during the same song and adding yet another dose of variety to the already dynamic songwriting. Even for those not entirely sure about diving into Folk Metal territory for fear of any sort of cheesiness, fear not! "Caledonia" is a Heavy Metal extravaganza that incorporates equal parts double-bass-blastbeat-grooving-Thrash and intricate acoustic passages that are just as inventive and thoughtfully crafted as the speedier sections. I could wax rhapsodic for hours but all I really need say is that I am completely enthralled with this entire album. Excellent! Running time: (50:02)



1. HIGHLAND HILLS (8:01)

2. A BLACKENED SHIELD (5:15)

3. THE EMBER DEID (part II) (3:15)

4. EVOKE THE DEMON (5:27)

5. FORTH CLYDE (5:31)

6. RAMBLE (2:57)

7. DAWNING TEMPEST (5:13)

8. THE DISTANT CALL (3:34)

9. ON TORRID SAND (3:52)

10. THE IXth LEGION (5:44)

11. FAREWELL (1:14)"