(Celtic Folk Metal) [WEB] Aeterna - Легенда Начинается - 2018, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Lyrical themes: Western/Northern European and Middle Eastern myths & legends
Есть в музыке и сонме мировых легенд мотивы, живущие вечно. Это легкие, танцующие на кончиках пальцев ирландские рилы, магические переливы кельтской арфы, четкая ритмичность скандинавских песен. Это жажда любви и странствий, соленые брызги моря и черный флаг пирата, мрачные тайны средневековья, яркий свет мечты и непреложная над всем этим истина - за все надо платить…
AETERNA (лат. «Вечность») – это folk-metal проект, основанный на мотивах и легендах старого мира. Это Вечность, отраженная в кратком миге современности, где мифы и предания оживают спустя тысячелетия, а сказочность звучания флейты, скрипки, ирландского вистла, волынки и кельтской арфы легко сплетается с тяжестью модернового звука нового времени.
Состав:
Анастасия Муханова - вокал
Алёна Дубровина - флейта, вистл, волынка, кельтская арфа
Анна Аберле - скрипка
Павел Михалёв - гитара, вокал
Сергей Арсентьев - бас
Влад Ардалионов - ударные
Тексты на русском языке - Мария Михалёва
Звук - Макс Малый
Обложка альбома - Евгений Шульц
Дизайн - MAYHEM PROJECT DESIGN
Тюмень, Россия

It rekindled my spark - 85%
Dragonforza, April 30th, 2018
Folk metal was my first love. I loved the serenity along with something more powerful. My first love was Eluveitie but as they have a high turnover of personnel and a more active revolving door than Leeds United Football Club, my love waned. But enough about them, this is Aeterna, and I want to explain why it's revived my love once again. I came across the band by pure luck as I have friends in the city they're based in. I didn't know what to expect. Some records just don't provide enough texture or substance. Folk metal is a fine art, you can't half-ass it, for lack of a better phrase. However, I was immediately drawn to the maturity and indeed substance.
The listener will be introduced to a solid tone from the start as we fly past the standard intro. The songs typically are not particularly fast although they certainly don't drag either. Crucially, the folk elements blend well with the heavier stuff and the record definitely presents itself as a labour of love and care. The sound is able to channel a lot of power along with the melody that the folk elements bring. It really is a job well done. Even the bass is well cared for, and I really like its involvement in "Летучий Голландец".
Obviously, it does draw a few parallels with other bands including the one which I reminisced about, "Гамельнский крысолов" particularly resonates to me here. Die-hard folk metal aficionados may pick out a few others but the band brings a lot more to the table and unquestionably a lot of talent too. There are some excellent guitar solos to be heard in "Полюшко-поле", "Пустынный мираж", which seems to differ from their Celtic roots, and the finale "Ad Astra Per Aspera" which is a beautiful instrumental to finish on.
Overall, the listener might need an advanced Russian level - and Swedish in "Vänner och fränder" - to understand the themes to their fullest extents. But that won't stop the listener from enjoying it. Folk metal fans will definitely find something to enjoy. There's even a version of Game of Thrones which is well elaborated and gets a thumbs up from me. For sure, this is a keeper, and all that's left to say is 'Спасибо!'

Alena Dubrovina - Tin whistle, Flute, Bagpipes, Harp, Vocals (backing)
Pavel Mikhalev - Vocals, Guitars
Sergey Arsentyev - Bass
Vladislav Ardalionov - Drums, Percussion
Anna Aberle - Violin
Anastasia Mukhanova - Vocals