PRIMORDIAL is a band that not only put Ireland on the map of dark metal music at a time when our eyes were missing that side of Europe but also brought nostalgia to a genre where anger was the driving force. From the second wave of black metal in the ’90s, they initially ventured into this genre but later evolved into a more melancholic yet epic sound with Celtic influences. Similar to that, A.A. Nemtheanga‘s vocals developed a poetic yet aggressive tone, a voice that sometimes sounds like a prayer and suddenly turns into one of the deepest growls you have ever heard. As one of the biggest metal music acts hailing from the Emerald Isle, PRIMORDIAL takes inspiration from Celtic lore and Irish history, with special attention on the Great Irish Famine period, thus, lyrics tend to be tragic and critical towards social inequalities. “Where Greater Men Have Fallen” was released on November 25th, 2014, via Metal Blade Records.
This band’s style has wandered in between two worlds: melancholy and hostility. On the one hand, they transmit a sorrowful air that makes you question your existence, and suddenly, they give a blasting punch of energy to bang your head. This intertwining makes it difficult to categorize the band into one genre. Perhaps they are pagan metal or maybe melancholic black metal, and this juxtaposition is what has afforded the band a long-lasting career. Most of their fans agree that PRIMORDIAL highest achievement was “To The Nameless Dead” (2007), a partway album in the spectrum of gloomy metal music, with the perfect combination of bombastic tunes and mournful deliverances. “To The Nameless Dead” received overwhelming praise globally back in the day, therefore it became a hard task to fulfill the same impact in their following releases. Nonetheless, PRIMORDIAL did manage to succeed in the challenge, with one album being completely different from the other in terms of conceptuality and sounding. We shall acknowledge in this review the contribution of one of their heaviest yet melancholic albums, “Where Greater Men Have Fallen,” which saw the light exactly 10 years ago.
“Where Greater Men Have Fallen” starts quite strong with its homonymous song, a first piece that follows a powerful cadence at the beginning, however, right in the first seconds, the song comes to heavy aesthetics with aggressive drumbeats and a strong shout by Neamtheanga, announcing that the album has officially started. The album delivers an energetic intro in a dark ambiance that tells the story of fallen heroes and forces that have destroyed innocent lives, along with heavy guitar riffs that transport the listener to warfare scenarios. As this album’s homonymous song, “Where Greater Men Have Fallen” pays tribute to its name. Next, “Babel’s Tower” is a moody piece made of long-lasting riffs and profound clean vocals that scream for mercy. “Babel’s Tower” is slow-paced and all-around nostalgic, finishing with a powerful guitar solo, which is exactly what we needed to take a deep breath before the stamina explosion came our way. “Come The Flood” is as aggressive and somber as it can get. Full of praying voices, deafening drumbeats, and lingering guitar riffs that introduce us to a world where light and darkness fight each other.
There is a saying that a brutal song is not complete without a sequel. Hence, “Come the Flood” is accompanied by “The Seed of Tyrants.” The drums from the last seconds of one song to an otherworldly voice that shouts the word “Traitor” at the beginning of the other make it a brutal cycle of demonic chants. “The Seed of Tyrants” might be the most interesting delivery on the entire album, as it is a full-on heavy track. This piece has everything a black metal banger needs: a brutal beginning, rapid drum grooves throughout the song, deep screams, and guitars that match the speed of the drums. After such a peculiar piece, “Ghost of the Charnel House” introduces us to a moodier environment. Through an almost acoustic tone, “Ghost of the Charnel House” goes by slowly but surely, with a vibe of relaxation that serves as an interim before getting closer to the album’s end. “Ghost of the Charnel House” is that slow-paced piece that every dark album needs to make it a more enjoyable experience.
“The Alchemist’s Head” returns to the usual black metal aggressiveness as it is full of harsh growls and dense drumming tempos, a classic combination in PRIMORDIAL’s repertoire. It has a very stoner vibe as, at one point, the overall sound turns to a circular rhythm where guitar riffs go on and on at the same speed, giving a psychedelic effect. “The Alchemist’s Head” holds an ethereal aura like no other PRIMORDIAL song. It is not the heaviest piece, but it is one of the most memorable songs in this album. “Born to Night,” the following track, gets us ready for the imminent end that is coming closer. This track starts very gently, in a cadence of guitar strings that goes on for around 4 minutes until reaching an electric bombastic pace. With a merciful voice, Nemtheanga sings in a praying mood that implores relief for those who have fallen in tragic deaths. His intense voice personifies the character of any heartbreaking ballad, and “Born to Night” is no exception.
Finally, the album has reached a final stage with “Wield Lightning to Split the Sun,” and surprisingly, the lyrics here are more positive than the previous ones. “Wield Lightning to Split the Sun” is one of the most famous ballads of this band, and when you hear it, you understand why. This song has a compelling personality, and as a ballad that praises better days in the world, it leaves you with a hopeful feeling. “Wield Lightning to Split the Sun” comes as a surprise after the whole album talks about warfare, dead people, blood, you know, the usual in metal music. But a little optimism does not kill any album, right? PRIMORDIAL succeeded in concluding this work with a ray of light. “Wield Lightning to Split the Sun” comes in a lengthy pace in both drums and guitar riffs until it reaches the deepest vocals of the album, which, together with heavy guitars, come to a stage of pure silence. This was an energetic yet peaceful formula to finish an album.
Overall, “Where Greater Men Have Fallen” is an album that exemplifies the melancholic yet heavy juxtaposition of PRIMORDIAL’s sound. This is probably one of their heaviest works to date, and that innovation in their music encouraged us to retrace their contributions to the metal music world. “Where Greater Men Have Fallen” left a powerful trace in PRIMORDIAL’s career, assuring that no matter the conceptuality of each album, they keep it real to their sorrowful glow.
Written by Hector Sanchez
Tracklist
- Where Greater Men Have Fallen
- Babel’s Tower
- Come the Flood
- The Seed of Tyrants
- Ghosts of the Charnel House
- The Alchemist’s Head
- Born to Night
- Wield Lightning to Split the Sun
Lineup
Alan Averill Nemtheanga | vocals
Pól MacAmlaigh | bass
Ciáran MacUiliam | guitars
Michael O’Floinn | guitars
Simon O’Laoghaire | drums
Label
Metal Blade Records
