Record Label: Independent
Year: 2022
Rating: 9/10
Fear Gorta and Tales of the Undead is Dratna’s debut album. The multi-instrumentalist of English origin mentions that the inspiration for this album is based on themes from Irish mythology with famous queens and goddesses of Ireland, Irish vampires, nature and his own personal pain.
The Lament of Deidre is the song that introduces us to this album and is characterized by the piano notes that stand out from the sound atmosphere that Dratna creates, evoking nature. The drums mark the beginning of Spirit of Mughdhorna, a song that combines the aggressiveness of the guitars with some symphonic elements that reinforce this sound atmosphere created by the English-born multi-instrumentalist. It should be noted that the vocal interpretation is not an element that dominates the instrumentation, but that it complements itself and transmits this sensation of pain through heartbreaking voices.
Fading Light of the Hibernal Solstice shows a more aggressive and dark sound that is highlighted by the execution of the guitar and the drums that subtly invite us to headbang, as they raise a rhythmic base that is appreciated by the ear. In the intermediate to the final part of the song, a change of sound is shown for a more melodic one. The Abhartach Slay the Revenant continues with this loaded dose of fast and rhythmic guitars that has this characteristic essence of Black Metal but that merges with other genres creating a musical proposal that is far from the standards, as is the case with the inclusion of acoustic elements.
Cath MaigeTuired – The Second Battle of Moytura presents us from its first notes with elements alluding to the war that is accompanied by symphonic and acoustic elements that create this feeling of nostalgia that breaks abruptly when the guitars and drums evoke the essence of the old-school Black Metal.
Cailleach Béara Ballad of the Winter Goddess offers a kind of breather within the album as it is an instrumental song whose sound seems to move away entirely from Black Metal where the acoustic guitar stands out along with the keyboard notes.
Fear Gorta – The Phantom of Hunger begins with a very Black Metal style sound where the guitars together with the drums create this feeling of tension that increases with Dratna’s vocal execution. The inclusion of characteristic elements of other musical genres such as Heavy Metal and Folk Metal is achieved in a spectacular way and does not clash with the sound proposal of the English musician.
The guitars introduce us to Ode to Clíodhna, which constitutes the final part of the album with a rather aggressive and accelerated style in which some folk elements are identified, such as wind instruments. A great closing that left me wanting more.
Fear Gorta and Tales of the Undead is an album that I have been surprised by how well structured it is, as well as the fact that it appropriates the Black Metal school that, in fusion with other elements such as symphonic and folk music, can create songs with their own identity. It is always admirable when independent artists explore this creative ability and can express it to the world.
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