October Falls - “The Womb of Primordial Nature” Review
October Falls. The Womb of Primordial Nature. 2008. 4 stars.
This album marks a dramatic departure from the calm neofolk sound of October Fall’s previous work Marras (2005). With The Womb of Primordial Nature, October Falls has matured into a full-fledged black metal band. While the beautiful acoustic guitar passages are still well intact, they now interwoven with electric tremolo riffs, distant growls and rapid percussion. The transition is a tremendously successful, as the shifts between folk and metal aesthetics are organic, fluid and well produced.
Like its more tranquil predecessor, The Womb of Primordial Nature features great musicianship and a powerful woodland atmosphere. However, with the inclusion of the more aggressive metal assaults, that atmosphere has been pared down, leading to a precarious balance between peace and violence. While the oppressive throes of nature are thematic to this release, I found the folk/metal dynamic to be a little less even than it could of been, leaving some of the darker, electric riffs sounding repetitive and draining. That being said, the composition of this record is undeniably epic, with the majority of its untitled tracks stretching well past the 8 minute mark. Given the amount of room October Falls left themselves, they still could have had a little more variety in their songwriting.
Despite its flaws, The Womb of Primordial Nature is still a stunning effort that artfully conveys the harsh changes of the seasons. While it may not possess the same well-roundeness appreciated by its folk-metal bretheren (standard bearers Ulver and Wolves in the Throne Room come quickly to mind), this album is still highly satisfying. If you are a fan of black metal, in any of its many forms, you should check this out.
December 1st, 2008 at 4:02 pm
[…] October Falls. The Womb of Primordial Nature. Full Review This album marks a dramatic departure from the calm neofolk sound of October Fall’s previous work […]