Artist: Hiraeth
Title: Tales Of Resistence
Type: EP
Label: Self Released
Righty… this was actually released in September last year and I did give it a listen but events overtook me and it was kind of sidelined but somehow I realised I kept going back to it particularly over November and December. Which is odd but also very good. I mean you don’t do that for nothing do you? I was also nudged by someone whose opinion on music I very much respect and… realised this really deserved some love.
Hiraeth are a new Welsh four piece who I guess you would describe as atmospheric black metal with a fine streak of anti-fascism in their make-up.
The self named track ‘Hiraeth’ has a rich, deep intro. Melodic deep notes that flow smoothly into the main theme. It is that music that immediately has you thinking of hills and valleys, of harsh weather and yet also so welcoming. The word is one of those ‘no direct translation from the Welsh’ words. It is an idea condensed into those letters, a feeling of loss and yearning to return home whilst the loss of your culture and the fading of history cuts deep which, I suppose, binds well to the title of the EP. With harsh vocals and compelling spoken word it is a beautiful song indeed; unflinchingly facing the harsh nature but finding such beauty within it, and the singing of souls that have passed rising from every root and rock. It has a lovely flow to it, a smothness to the melody but that grit of Welsh black metal still driving it.
‘Crogen’ ups the epic pagan sound more than a little with a riff that just builds in your gut and pushes you onwards. It has fierce vocals; superbly emotional they are full of fire and descriptions of battle and strife. It’s rough in the best sense; restless and feet planted in mud as the arrow flies and the sword bites home.
‘The Rider Rhiannon’ turns back to the melodic, deeply atmospheric touch of thethe first song. The drumming powers it forward, the guitars keeping the proud and strong melody firm. There are those moments when we get those high, trilling notes reaching up over the riff, sunlight on metal, light on the plains as the wind passes. Maybe. But it has that gorgeous sense of motion to it, of freedom in just being there in that moment. I always feel I hear a strange melancholy to melodies like this, or perhaps its just that they can reach so far into me that I am unsure what to do with the emotion. A midsection twists into an almost prog moment of intertwining instruments before the main river returns and onwards it flows.
There is a Venom cover here too, ‘Countess Bathory’. A chance to show their roots maybe, a moment to let the feral beast off the leash. Its a fine cover too. Raw and nasty and perfectly in keeping with the original and yet still ot being out of place here. There’s also an instrumental version of ‘Hiraeth’ which is just marvellous, showing how strong their songwriting and musicianship really is for the first song on their first EP to be able to stand on its own.
I honestly have huge hopes for Hiraeth, and can only wish them well as this is a fierce and thoughtful addition to the incredibly healthy Welsh scene and to these islands in genral. Fans of the windswept and atmospheric, you need to look this up swiftly.
Gizmo
Walking The Liminal Space 