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Review: Dagorlad - Herald Of Doom
Dagorlad
users.skynet.be/dagorlad
Herald Of Doom

Label: Shiver Records
Year released: 2008
Duration: 54:50
Tracks: 10
Genre: Death/Black

Rating:
4.5/5


Review online: May 17, 2008
Reviewed by: Sargon the Terrible
Readers' Rating
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Rated 3.67/5 (73.33%) (18 Votes)
Review

I have waited so long for this one. I first heard Dagorlad on Metalgospel's Mp3 roundup waaaaayy back in like 2003, when they released an MCD of 3 songs as a demo to try and get label interest. For some reason this band spent years utterly unable to attract a record deal, despite that they did all their own recording and didn't really need anything but distribution. Finally, after 5 years, they release the full album, and it was well worth waiting for indeed.

Dagorlad play an interesting blend of styles somewhere between Summoning and Bal-Sagoth, though not quite as grandiose as that would suggest. Dagorlad's sound is much more based on Death Metal with heavy, catchy riffing and low-pitched vocals. They break things up here and there with clean-chanted parts and some very well-done keys for atmosphere, but the basis of the music is rock-solid guitar riffs and heavy but catchy songwriting. "Silver Cross Brotherhood" is probably the most memorable song here, but the title track, "Dwarves", and "An Army Of Skeletons" are pretty damned good too. There are no weak songs on here, and Dagorlad keep the songwriting varied and complex without losing momentum. The album is consciously epic, and with the keyboards and fine moments like the climactic "The Final Battle" they manage to pull it off very well indeed.

I love this band, as their music does not sound like anyone else's. Heavy without brutality, complex without being technical, epic without being overblown, Herald Of Doom is an intensely satisfying album. For those who like their fantasy metal heavy, epic, and dark. This was worth the long wait.

More about Dagorlad...
Review: Herald Of Doom (reviewed by Bruce Dragonchaser)
Review: Herald of Doom (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: The End of the Dark Ages (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Interview with AOD and Philippe on October 29, 2003 (Interviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
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