GUTHRUM : THE FIRST ODE TO MANY
Mynadd Du Records
UK folk metal prospects, particularly those for whom detailed historical wanderings are a pleasure rather than a chore, have caught my attention to an unprecedented degree recently, following the formation of Dudley-exploring project Ansculf, and so I was extremely pleased to chance upon Guthrum, an act closer to my own stomping ground, which is equally determined to evoke the flavour of Albion’s colourful heritage. A solo project, belonging to Mark Wood and building on previous experience under the banner of Bard of Hessle, Guthrum makes its initial assault with “The First Ode to Many”, an EP which simultaneously impresses and teases by managing to squeeze an enviable amount of quality into only a few tracks.
Opener “Erstwhile” is a rather atmospheric scene-setter in a style we’ve come to expect, with the ringing of church bells competing with a female soprano, before natural sound effects and a pretty, haunting clean acoustic and whistle combination work to a simple crescendo. From here on in, though, nothing is ‘normal’. “Foel Grach” is a mighty, pummelling, cavernous black metal monster, its churning, aggressive rhythm guitar work surprisingly modern in its polish and structure, but its intense howl of a lead imbued with just the right folkish patterns to convey the past’s whimsy alongside its ferocity. Still, with this muscular assault, Guthrum ascend from ‘good folk metal’ to ‘good METAL’, which few acts of this variety routinely achieve.
“The Anthem of our Late and Great” is another presence-packed composition, with warmer leads and a tasty turn of pace, again referencing the most modern black metal in its busy sound, but staying dangerous, and maintaining a fearsome momentum into the grander, slower sections. The warmth of the introduction bleeds back through in the later leads, revealing a good ear for structure, and in all the scope of the writing and the production is far-reaching. These central tracks feature Elliot Vernon of Windrider, and his sober, strong black metal vocal delivery adds to the sense of threat. Finally comes “Primoris Cruor”, another pacy track with a gorgeous melody which emerges in an extremely catchy way, brining movement, melody and a little touch of shred, but still maintaining the folk premise and aura.
Just to prove me wrong at the end, the opening church bells build back in, neatly framing the whole EP and giving the sense of a window to the past closing, as if a moment of reflection next to a medieval church spawned the whole imaginative, powerful outing. The introduction no longer seems generic, but is an inherent part of the EP’s creation. I can’t say enough good things about “The First Ode to Many“; its coherent blending of nostalgia and tradition with an unconventionally heavy and vast approach is uniquely well-suited to evoke more facets of the past than folk metal bands have been accustomed to touching upon, resulting in a really fresh listen.
85/100
ELLEN SIMPSON
