Gothenburg, Sweden based Progressive Rock/Metal, Nordic Folk and Doom band Dun Ringill returns three years after the previous one with a new album. It is an ambitious project, involving the release of a two-album double concept, the first of which is “150-Where the Old Gods Play Act 1.” Released on August, 04, 2023 via The Sign Records it contains 7 intense tracks ranging from 4 to over 8 minutes in length. Opener “Awakening” immediately immerses us in the band’s sound with massive guitar riffs and a solid rhythm section. The vocals are powerful and aggressive, interpreting the lyrics with pathos and adding a metal touch to the sound. Counterbalancing this are the choruses with clean vocals, giving a more melodic touch to the song, whose mixture of genres is well accomplished, developing an incisive and penetrating sound. Recently released with an official music video, “The Parrish” opens with intertwining guitars and moving over a slower rhythm section in a clear Doom style. The aggressive vocals give that metal touch to the sound, interpreting the lyrics with passion and taking us into dark and occult territories. The intensity increases as the song progresses, speeding up the rhythm and offering us an instrumental section with the guitar in evidence. With the return of the vocal for the last stanzas, the song closes. “The Devil Wears A Papal Tiara” is characterised by an intro with Nordic Folk sounds, and then develops into a track that combines Doom Metal and nuances of traditional music. The distinctive powerful and aggressive vocals take the sound into more extreme Metal territory, while retaining connotations of Prog and Folk steeped in Doom. An intense and impactful passage, which enhances the mixture of Folklore and more Heavy traits, alternating sung and instrumental passages with quality. The shortest track in duration, “Baptised In Fire,” which nevertheless exceeds four minutes, opens with a Folk intro, and then adds Doom and Metal to the sound. The mixing of different genres and styles is well accomplished, combining a rhythm section and Folk melodies with Doom and Heavy Rock, with the vocals adding power to the sound as always. An engaging track that will definitely be interesting to listen to live, and the official video released by the band is also remarkable. Folk rhythms combine with heavy sounds in “Nathaniels Hymn,” which, as the title suggests, is an anthem that is the perfect union point between the genres that make up the band’s style. An interweaving of instrumental sections with the lead guitar in evidence, vocal parts that give power to the song thanks to the band’s classic aggressive vocals and catchy melodies. The rhythm section sets the tempo of this track well, which like the previous one will have a great live performance making the band’s fans move and sing along. “Blood Of The Lord” is the longest track on the album, exceeding eight minutes in length. A distorted guitar intro plunges us into the sound of the track, developed over a solid and elaborate rhythm section, characterised by continuous tempo changes. The riffs and guitar work are beautifully crafted, while the vocals give the classic aggressive imprinting to the sound. The long duration of the song allows the band to range between the different genres and styles that make up their sound, between intense sung parts and elaborate and engaging instrumental sections. They move from Doom-soaked Folk to a short but intense acoustic section in the centarle part, and then offer a Prog-style instrumental section with an extended guitar solo. The album ends with “The Last Supper,” with a dark, modern doom style, showing a heavier side to the band’s sound. The rhythm is powerful, as is the vocal, fitting well on the heavy guitar riffs, which offers an intense and sophisticated solo insert in the second half. A track that best concludes this first chapter of the concept, leaving us wanting to listen to the second part of this work. A band that offers a sound with personal and original traits, finding a good point of contact between Nordic Folk, Heavy Prog and Doom, moving from more Metal to more Rock sections with quality. The proposal of a concept in two albums is certainly ambitious, but this first part is engaging and well composed and performed, making us want to listen to the following one as well. A recommended listen for all lovers of new Heavy sounds, between Doom, Folk and Prog with a personal style.
Tracklist
01. Awakening (05:58)
02. The Parrish (06:23)
03. The Devil Wears A Papal Tiara (04:38)
04. Baptised In Fire (04:24)
05. Nathaniels Hymn (05:34)
06. Blood Of The Lord (08:29)
07. The Last Supper (05:12)
Lineup
Thomas Eriksson / Vocals (Also in Intoxicate and ex-Grotesque and Doomdogs)
Neil Grant / Drums (ex-End Of Level Boss and RAAR)
Patrik Andersson Winberg / Bass (ex-The Order of Israfel and Doomdogs)
Jens Florén / Guitar (Also in Lommi and ex-live guitarist for Dark Tranquillity)
Tommy Stegemann / Guitar (ex-Silverhorse)
Patric Grammann / Guitar (ex-Southern Festival Train and Neon Leon)
[…] [REVIEW] […]