Band: Suidakra
Title: Book Of Dowth
Label: AFM Records
Distribution: Rock Inc.
Release date: March 25th 2011
Review: CD

One of Germany’s best known and most influential Folk-oriented Metal formations, Suidakra, return with their tenth album in thirteen years of existence. In the past, the band has been signed to major labels like Century Media, Last Episode and Wacken and now Germany’s AFM have signed the band, with Book Of Dowth as result. The album was recorded at Gernhart Studio with Martin Buchwalter again, and it lasts for forty minutes. And as from the very first moment you’ll notice that Suidakra were able to perfectionise the sound they once created even more.
Personally I considered the 2009-full length Crógacht (review posted on February 22nd 2009) the strongest Suidakra-recording to date (far above the average past), but several other albums didn’t give me that ‘waw’-effect at all, unfortunately - which made me a lil’ anxious to dissect this new musical journey.
The Celtic-inspired Metal is of the Folk / Pagan-kind Germany is known for, but Suidakra have their proper approach. Heavy yet melodic riffing, a thunderous rhythm section and blackish screams interfere with harmonic and folkish elements. The Folk-elements are Celtic-inspired, coming with traditional instruments and mythological lyrics. The lyrical concept deals with the Fomor, a mysterious tribe of demonic beings. The history starts with the discovery of a lost and forgotten scripture at the excavation of Dowth, a Neolithic tomb in the Boyne Valley, Ireland.
The overall approach is rather fast, harsh and aggressing. The blackened Metal is comparable to the likes of certain Irish, Scottish (or British in general), German and Alpine bands, being melodious and harmonious at the same time. This (rather catchy) combination (brutality - melody) makes Book Of Dowth somewhat more accessible than many Scandinavian colleagues, and of course the ‘evident’ elements strengthen this opinion. Acoustic parts, the use of the traditional instruments and female vocals, some harmony chants, the well-balanced equilibrium between the different speeds and technical performing, the heroic / mythological / epic atmosphere (including the texts), the narrative constructions, the splendid artwork (by one of Belgium’s top-artists, Kris Verwimp), and so on, Book Of Dowth does not part from the core of  Folk / Black-tradition. Therefore the album will not disappoint any fan of Suidakra’s past efforts, or any fan of this genre in general.
Book Of Dowth gets released as well in a limited digi-package, which includes classical re-arranged versions of Rise Of Taliesin and When Eternity Echoes.
Not as strong as Crógacht, yet still one of the best Suidakra-registrations ever!

78/100

Ivan Tibos.