Band: Slechtvalk
Title: A Forlorn Throne
Label: Whirlwind Records
Distribution: Gordeon Music
Release date: July 12th 2010
Review: CD

The Dutch battalion Slechtvalk (peregrine) exists for ten years and is one of the most successful bands from Holland within the (Viking-oriented) Black Metal scene. Originally Slechtvalk were formed by Shamgar (also in Haardvuur (grate fire), Duister Maanlicht (dark moonlight), Coalescence, Unsummoning a.o.) as a solo-project, but after the first album, he recruited some members (nowadays with e.g. the brothers Seraph and Grimbold from defunct Salutary), so Slechtvalk became a fully lined-up band.
Throughout the years, Slechtvalk recorded a handful of highly acclaimed albums, and after the band signed to Whirlwind Records, a compilation got released too almost one year ago.
In mean time, after having played live in support of bands as Månegarm, Suidakra, Eluveitie, Skyforger and Endstille, the band recorded the fourth full length studio album, which was mixed and mastered at Fascination Street Studio (Bloodbath, Gwyllion, Amon Amarth, Closer). The album features a guest appearance by Månegarm’s Erik Grawsiö and lasts for over an hour.
Opening track, Tamers Of The Seas, is a nice introduction to this band’s new album. Melodic Black Metal with different tempos (from very slow to ultra-fast), a glorious Pagan-oriented atmosphere, spherical keyboard lines, rhythmic drum patterns and a wide variation on vocals and melodies, that’s the core. It goes for most hymns, this diverse approach of Dark Paganism. The whole gets closer to Viking Metal than Folk Metal, even though Paganism consists of some elements that are not that uncommon within the Folk-scene either (harmonious and clean voices, ) and therefore the band’s musical direction is more closely related to a band as, let’s say, Borknagar or Thyrfing than Ensiferum or Tumulus.
One of the surpluses this band has is: the natural, atmospheric and ambient sound they create. I feel closely related to Nature, Mother Earth, every spiritual or neo-godly being around me while listening to Slechtvalk’s fourth studio full length. Well, actually I’m not filled with divinity, to be honest, but with some fantasy…
Also the variety is great (see above for some examples): the tempo, the melody, the wide range on vocals, the differences in musical approach, the influences from different angles etc.
Or: a must for every fan of Lowlands-oriented (the Netherlands + Flanders) Viking Black Metal stuff!

91/100

Ivan Tibos.