FUROR GALLICO debut album reviewed

I remember that moment when I reviewed the first demo of the band. I had already good views on that band, even I made some suggestions... The songs from the demo are in the album by the way. But now, I gotta review their first album. 

The cover art refers to the goddess Cathubodua. All elements are in: the goddess, raven, color used, warriors…  Plus, they have a song about the goddess. Also, its a good idea for their first album when I think to Ste’s definition of the bandname. By the way, the lyrics are in the album.

Now, about music :

Intro

The tune starts with soft drums. Rather a good tempo. Secundo and after 2 seconds are the strings instruments & third is windy one (0.15). Its all acoustic but melodies remind some typical arias… Somewhere, It reminded me Ensiferum for example, but it’s well a composed introduction. 

Voices enter after 44 seconds, spending sounds, and stop with the musical sentences at 0.56. Then the musical sentences begin the whole game again when the windy instrument started.

1.37 are drums & strings only. The drummer makes you understand at 1.52 that a change’s coming : Indeed, the strings speak full chords over each 2 seconds about. 3 full chords can be heard in all until the end : 

1.53 First chord

1.55 Second chord

1.56/57 Third chord (played as brutal as the previous ones but lightly fast less)

1.59 End

This is a good introduction for album. We can already notice they know tempo^^  hehe 

And those full chords introduce fine the next song.

Venti di Imbolc 

Imbolc is a celtic event day but I don’t know about the other words :p

Nor about the lyrics, except “fiesta pagana!” inside these but it doesn’t help me much…/

The drumbeats start & harder they are in our ears, after the full chords played in the previous song. The power of beats is well dosed. 

One hurdy gurdy enters 3 seconds after the track started, then violin, harp and the other strings instruments enter next.  Guitars follow the violin at 0.20 giving more power to that last. The drumbeats are slow, rather moderated but powerful they are. One singer appears at 0.33. His voice could remind Alphavarg one from the band Kromlek. Another vocal, clean this time, is present at 0.48 when the other’s away until 1.01. Next (1.15), the screaming is back! : ) And the music changes too, slower kinda.

1.45 are rhythmic guitars, no violin. - drummer beats less for short time but when he beats, he looks like angry! : )  He shows it well & much more at 1.53. since the beats are much more presents and rhythm.

2.04 violin’s family is back but the game from others is still here. Some clean strings appears too.

The growl’s back on the next 10 seconds. The electrics instruments shut down at 2.34, while the others on their way with the harpist, to come back at 3.01. Clean vocals, reflecting the chorus, are coming back at 3.30 about and the ten seconds next, the growl singing is back, for the last verse. 

I took some hours to review that one lol!. It was hard to follow every instruments and amongst the distortions & all... But the work from the recording appears great, so is the song and its composition!

Ancient Rites 

The song starts with Irish bouzouki that is followed by violin at the middle of its riff (0.04).

All the metal elements enter next at 0.08. Heavy chords, respecting tempo made of some heavy beats, making the entrance of rhythmic riffs for the next. Violin changes to another but faster game when the singer joins the tribe at 0.17. 

That last growls at 0.35 and of course, the violin has to shut up!! The riffs from the strings instruments change, making good balance with all basses on that part but violin replies back at 0.44 and the damned singer can’t stop singing! But did somebody make a very little mistake under the 53rd second or when the clean vocals are back for the chorus? Because it sounds kinda strange… if that second was off screamings, it could have been better IMO. Well, its not bothering, happily.

Backing vocals appear in this part, giving some more power to the leading one and the metal instruments are back in their heaviness, then coming back to the rhythmic riffs (1.10) when the raged voice comes in twice. Actually, the game from all the strings instruments is the same like under the whole beginning of the song.

At 1.20 about : What is that ugly pirate’s voice that has nothing to do in here ? :(

1.27 : It sounds like the tab for guitar here’s  made to sound close to one (repeated) part from violin (0.44), but of course, it’s very different : 

1st : guitar & violin aren’t same kind of instrument ;

2nd: the first note is played more times ;

3rd: the guitarist plays same neck hand’s game but not on the same frets everytime. It changes many things in da ears, indeed. ^^

The guitars change once more at 1.44. The picking is slow’n’fast but we can feel that it follows the beats. Again, It changes , turning lightly to heavy metal. Then power chords enter at 2.19, with harp.

Next is the previous part with singing. And at 2.45, we can hear violin, then chorus, and the end.

Some cool games (musically) and for everyone. Violin parts aren’t Celtic but very amazing they are, for listeners, and the player I guess. ^^  

Cathubodva 

I already reviewed its demo version but the raven intro is 1 second here against 3 on the demo.

Drums & guitars enter in the track, some nice metal sentences. Violin joins after 8 seconds, following the other string instruments and I think that if this violin could be another guitar with its respective part, it could sound SO HEAVY! \m/

The singing can start then. 

The violin appears better here ( 0.16/0.21) since notes aren’t dried but more like “waving” and, softer sentences over the singing. Then its riff from the beginning returns.

Also, it appears better worked at 0.36 where the (added) harp comes in. 

Still, violin’s very amazing, by the way! ^^ The chorus can be at 0.51. Raged instruments here but amazing to hear those in harmony! Well done! 

Clean vocals interfere with, calming the fury – introducing some long guitar notes, and come back ending those notes, giving place to the next verse.

Violin plays with tone here. Next is that riff described in the other review. Violins and harpist follow that riff at 2.03. The chorus returns, without violin & next, we can hear the clean strings instruments only, played strings by strings, then, a bit later are some heavy beats introducing the 2 clean voices & violin. This part is soft, also when screaming vocals replace the cleans (4.05), and the added distortion behind.

One minute after about is new riff for everyone, rather rhythmic and then, the song ends with its respective chorus. 

A bit shame that “too common” riff is still here but well, it’s ok. Instruments are so lovely.

The Gods Have Returned 

This song also feat. In the demo I reviewed and as I said over there, the tune starts with harp.

Then are whistles, and well actually, the folk and metal instruments.

The clean vocals enter at 0.44, slow drummer becomes fast, respecting tempo sure (happily! lol)

10 seconds after are the screaming ones. Well, not much changes beside the demo, here, only less violin on that part, which is shame…/ but I guess that was to make it sound more metal or something.

The “bathory infl.” part starts at 1.06. 

One big change makes the song much better :  THE CHORUS!

These long screamings so useless are cut! I mean : there are none!  And the "fight for our land" is scream, not growled. Actually, they corrected that part - from my review related with their demo : 

At 1.28 and while 11 seconds, that long screaming is useless imo & don't go with the lyrics unless the land is spending that scream ? ...but I don't think so... And the goal of that story is about to stand up, grab yr sword & face yr ennemies taking back yr land....not about to die like in "saw" movie.... It sounds really like that to me that screaming... (same for the other screamings present in the tune.)

then the "fight for our land" and the next from that chorus... doesn't sounds natural but more like an order without heart. Plus, its shame cuz the lyrics are good so is particularly that part... but its not sung with deep heart or at least i don't feel it... 

Well, he does scream long at the end of chorus. He may love that. ^^ But its ok here because his tone & the instruments while & after are fine with it. The break comes at 2.14. No distortion until 2.33. and voices join at 2.55.

3.55 is the screaming voice turn, for the last verse & chorus. The song is off the distortion at 3.53, letting the clean strings instruments to end the track.bI’ll consider that long screaming at the end of chorus & no other screaming like a good deal. But the feeling is still missing “fight cuz death will be by our hand” etc, what do you want me to believe ? But anyway, I think it will come with time! Good work on that tune! 

Golden Spiral 

Nothing is metal on that track but what a nice trio : violin, harp & that kind of military drums. 

Its soft, relaxing & charming while the full 2.35 of the song.

Curmisagios 

Hm is it bouzouki  with phaser effect or something ?

Metal parts enter after 5 seconds, and the next 5 seconds is violin turn. That song is rather for Korpiklaani fans!

Singing begins 20 seconds after the tune started. Its catchy. The fast drums, guitars & violin are very korpiklaani alike. But as far as I know, you never heard Korpiklaani in a celtic way with harp & stuff… This song is rather a good idea. It shows they can play many things, staying in their own style, at last. Good job!

Miracolous Child 

Violin & harp together are a nice wedding. And so the song starts with those. The metal elements join ‘em after 13 seconds. Rhythmic, power strings. The next one to enter is the big voice but actually, while the song, the singer plays with his screaming & big vocals… Violin balances fine everything.

0.50 about is new riff. Violin is like a plane somewhere…. And riff from other strings instruments is another rhythm.

1.35 : the tones of the fast picking guitars is between basses & violin one. Well balanced again. The violin is off that moment but coming back to 1.44 about. Then the riff changes once more. We could hear some harp before the guitar solo (2.12). Metal parts away for short time for acoustics, harp and violin a bit later… Distortion join them again, slowly at 3.29. Then, the clean vocals come with some new power chords & distortion (4.11). 

5.11 is a brutal cut between those raged instruments & harp, that is playing the intro of the song.

5.24 LOL! Mr scream returns …with brutality! Well it’s a little surprising…  (mainly when we follow deep  the harpist, then violinist) but we find in here the previous elements of the song. 

The singer ends the song.

Medhelan

The tune starts with clean guitars. The celtic instruments enter at 0.12. The violin ends its part, being softer. Brutal beats are next, introducing “celtic metal”. Nothing really changed from the demo but the singer starts his part after one minute. Them all change to a sharp way at 1.26 for chorus.

Then are fast riffs’n’beats (1.49), coming back to the main celtic metal riff. Next is chorus again.

…And the main celtic riff’s back. Acoustic appears at 3.37 and distortion at 4.00. The folk instruments get a new part here. Things change once more (4.46) and make deeper the song with these folk instruments. Hehe The beats are still lovely. <3 Clean vocals & the back ones join at 5.27, shutting down the electrics instruments.  The intro’s back ending the song.

Bright Eyes 

This one is 100% Celtic folk. BUT what a lovely lead whistle here!  <3 

Acoustics makes rhythm. New game happens at 0.13 until 0.24. The whole is played once more.

Then are some beats, all alone. But new game from the lead enters, then he comes back on its first musical sentence. After it sounds like a short exchange of parts flute/strings.

1.40/2.04 : is part of the celtic trad ”Morrisson’s jig”. The tune ends with its intro part.

Very very nice!! :D CONGRATS !!!!!

La Caccia Morta 

The song begins with flute, harp & drums. Next is violin. Nice game. The drummer appears harder than demo at 0.57 while the others aren’t speaking. Second part is here with harp then clean singing and the other folk instruments. Chorus sung clean, appears at 1.25. 

Then, 1.51 is screaming voice turn, with the metal instruments, the other instruments are still around. Well, actually he mixes scream/growl. And now he sings chorus at 2.14 from the song. Next is new riff & everything good to headbang on. :)

The song turns way faster going to the end but it sounds like the things are better dosed. Maybe due to the recording…. I don’t know. 

4.01 : Things are more brutal too but the singing at the end is scream instead of growl. That’s a bit better….

Banshee 

Beautiful harp starts the song, then violin & then…. Beautiful  Celtic metal. <3

Singing starts at 1.04 over a nice metal-ish riff. Nothing celtic here but whistles are after that part. Well actually, the ones whom are missing the good old eluveitie songs will like that one.  Riffs are catchy : Distortion like pipes or whistles… All in all, this song is very Metal, very Celtic. 

The Glorious Dawn 

Irish bouzouki  & drums are the first instruments coming in here. Good melody. The electrics instruments & violin are the next, coming all together. The entrance of the singer is after 50 seconds.

1.18: is new musical game, very metal, but the harp is also here. The next part is getting prepared at 1.53 althought the clean vocals sings it from 2.04 to 2.52.

Previous game is back for short times. 3.19 : the instruments insist on something, opening for (3.56) some “power” vocals. Next part is a guitar solo.

The clean vocals come back at 4.32 but they sound like angry. Then is a nice break where all the instruments are in.  5.35 : we are back on the intro but the cleans and backing vocals enter this game, very nice, and good idea ending the tune. Distortions appear in this last part for some moment, to disappear again. Beautiful song!

To conclude :

The songs are very well composed. We can understand a bit better the lyrics sung but still, some works need to be done.  I appreciated the efforts done on songs that I already knew with the demo. These songs sound better like they are now, indeed. ^^

Drummer, violinist, harpist & whistler made my day! My hearty congrats!!  

This is a great album! And I’m almost sure the Eluveitie, Korpiklaani, Bran barr, Folkstone, …
Folk Metal fans will enjoy that release!

Furor Gallico is the revelation of the year!!!