Briargh

By Diogo Ferreira on Sep 1, 2011 in Cd Review | 0 comments

Album: Krigas
Label: Lower Silesian Stronghold
Tracks: 7
Release Date: 2010
Lenght: 42′ 47″

Riff Score: 7.0/10

Briargh brings us the melodic side of Pagan Metal with the “Krigas” record.

Briargh is a one-man-band raised up by Dux Briargh and he hails from Spain. Last year, 2010, he released his second full-lenght record, “Krigas”. There is the stereotype that what is Pagan must be Black Metal, but this record comes to show us a different point of view about that kind of thought. I don’t call it Black Metal just because there is growls or just because there is a heathen tematic. Well, it is just Pagan Metal. And another thing: Pagan Metal or Pagan Black Metal does not arrive only from the Eastern Europe and here we have a band that comes from the Western side of Europe.

The record begins with crackling fire and thus starts “The Call Of Gea (A Lost Cry)” track, the longest song of the album. By the way, this record features some nature elements, like water flowing in the second track, “El Hijo de los Ríos”. This track lead me to another subject: this song is interpreted in spanish – most of the Pagan bands care to sing in their mother tongue, at least one song.

I don’t think I can say that this “Krigas” album has Folk elements, but an accoustic guitar is used for several times and this is a fact that lead me to the folkloric fields. For an example, the “Egvna” track reminds me of people dancing softly around the fire. Well, the flute (or some instrument that sounds like it) is also not forgotten and there we have one in the song that finishes the album, “Fallen Solemnity”.

About the vocals, it is something that was quite well worked: you can listen to growls, some muttering and also some prophetic emphasis as Dux Briargh is telling a tale. In the end, do not expect too much aggressiveness… While listening to the record, I found some profound parts due to the guitar – the melodic vein of Briargh is the guitar riffs and few solos. This sonority had put me running in forests and looking at the sky. Briargh brings us the melodic side of Pagan Metal and I’m looking foward for upcoming records.

By: Diogo Ferreira