Welsh Black Metal by Arawn
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Release date : September 2007
Reviewed by Anthony Morgan
Welsh Black Metal proves to be the second demo from one man Black Metal project Arawn, the brainchild of Welsh multi-instrumentalist Bleiddwn-y-Nos. Fresh from a split with now defunct Thrash act Sycorax, the young individual gave birth to Arawn during the latter months of 2006 at the tender age of seventeen. Arawn's inaugural demo Call of the Cyhyraeth saw the light of day in March 2007, and less than four months later comes its follow up Welsh Black Metal.
A mid paced funereal keyboard arrangement introduces “The Cambrian Fog”, an eerily icy way of opening proceedings. It recalls the impassioned, sinister connotations apparent in the slower passages of classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach's works, promoting an ethereal atmosphere. Epic, it possesses a great, meaty hook; much in the same way that second track “Welsh Black Metal” does. Third track “The Ancient Enemy” reveals a somewhat different influence in the keyboard department, shedding the more overtly menacing aspects to be found elsewhere on the demo in terms of keyboard arrangements. A starker, vulnerable impression appears in certain aspects of the demo, and that is the inpression of a man whom is not at one with the world as such and wishes to register that plight. Having said that, it does not ask for sympathy or pity but only wishes to express those inner feelings. The altogether brief acoustic parts (especially prevalent in “The Ancient Enemy”) wield much the same vitality, painting equally vivid images. In this sense, these folk type influences suggest a person collecting their thoughts and feelings. In that, they're almost trying to draw sensible conclusions from them.
A ghastly, infernal charm lies in the voice of Bleiddwn-Y-Nos, heavily masked in a veil of gravelly, deep throated utterings. To dub it a screech or a scream would be inappropriate, and that's because neither tag quite fits. It's rather difficult to describe in all fairness, although for this reviewer it visually conjures images of Count Graf Orlok from the 1922 horror picture Nosferatu.
The raw, savage brutality that Black Metal unashamedly births also rears its monstrous head, thrashing away in all its grim triumph. The supreme power of live musicians will infinitely improve this primitive barbarity which the songs genuinely promise when the time comes to cut future re-recordings. Meanwhile, a skilled producer will greatly enhance the melancholic, sombre introspection both the acoustic and synthetic aspects and lend it yet more emotional prowess. Financial constraints currently prohibit this, though when a record label sees the massive potential then figuratively speaking the world will be Arawn's oyster. An imminent deal with an indie Metal label is certain, the cards glowing too brightly for success to be diminished. Sooner or later, expect a label press release to announce the signing of Arawn to their roster. Some other Black Metal groups should leave a distinctive brown smear in their sweat grimed shorts at this moment, since here lies a group that creates music infinitely more interesting than the mostly uninspired efforts churned out nowadays.
