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teax:
01. Prolog Auf Erden
02. Wurzelbert
03. Blut Im Auge
04. Unbesiegt
05. Verrat
06. Snüffel
07. Heimwärts
08. Heiderauche
09. Die Weide Und Der Fluß
10. Des Sängers Fluch
11. Ruf In Den Wind
12. Dämmerung
13. Mana
Current members:
2001- Andreas Völkl - guitar
2001- Helge Stang - vocals
2001- René Berthiaume - guitar
2001- Sandra Völkl - bass
2006- Manu Di Camillo - drums
http://www.myspace.com/equilibrium
Let's cut the cackle and come to the horses: 'Sagas' of Equilibrium is an essential album for aficionados of symphonic pagan metal and then I think of those who appreciate bands like Turisas, Finntroll and Moonsorrow. Funny to think that the band once was gathered in haste to play only one gig in 2001. That concert went so well that they soon had plans to write some songs and continue the band. The rest is history: a successful demo resulted in a contract with Black Attack and the debut album 'Turis Fratyr' saw the light of day. This album was received very well, but contacts with the label turned into a bummer. Fortunately Equilibrium has found a new home in 2008; with a Nuclear Blast deal they can have faith in the future.
Equilibrium takes care of their fans: 'Sagas' has a length of eighty minutes and if you want you can get an extra DVD with seventy minutes live recordings, backstage footage and the story how 'Sagas' was made at the Helion Studios in Munich. Indeed, Equilibrium is a German band and they do sing in that language, but since vocalist Helge Stang - whose main influence is Kristoffer Olivius of Naglfar - mainly attacks us with black metal screams it may be not that conspicuous for the unsuspecting listener.
The music is very cinematic and graced with rich, voluminous arrangements. 'Prolog Auf Erden' immediately puts you in a vast landscape where glorious things are about to happen. The first name that crosses my mind is Turisas, but since the folksy melodies are often played by keyboards there are interfaces with Finntroll too. Yet Equilibrium adds a strictly personal touch to their epic songs. These are based on black metal - especially vocals - but they have an exotic tinge because of panpipe and percussion in 'Unbesiegt'. We also hear sounds of nature from time to time. A great part of the sound gets a special identity by the important contribution of panpipe-player Ulrich Herkenhoff (of Lord of the Rings). The use of real acoustic instruments really upgrades this album, which becomes truly epic from the instrumental 'Heiderauche' on. From that moment the songs get longer as well. 'Die Weide Und Der Fluss' and 'Des Sängers Fluch' are compositions with lots of input, many things happen. The first song has majestic choirs, the second one leaps to the eye by dark, low-pitched vocals and a beautiful atmospheric passage at the end. After the snappish sung 'Ruf In Den Wind' and the compelling 'Dämmerung', we have a stunner of eighteen minutes long, called 'Mana' in which Equilibrium really meets the expectations of their image of creating Lord of the Rings-like soundtracks. This instrumental gem is an ingenious piece of glorious epics. Panpipe, crows, choirs and finally even a violin solo of Agnes Malich sends shivers down my spine. We can conclude that 'Sagas' has lifted Equilibrium up to a higher level. I do look forward to their Heidenfest tour in November with other excellent bands as Primordial, Eluveitie and Finntroll!
01. Prolog Auf Erden
02. Wurzelbert
03. Blut Im Auge
04. Unbesiegt
05. Verrat
06. Snüffel
07. Heimwärts
08. Heiderauche
09. Die Weide Und Der Fluß
10. Des Sängers Fluch
11. Ruf In Den Wind
12. Dämmerung
13. Mana
Current members:
2001- Andreas Völkl - guitar
2001- Helge Stang - vocals
2001- René Berthiaume - guitar
2001- Sandra Völkl - bass
2006- Manu Di Camillo - drums
http://www.myspace.com/equilibrium
Let's cut the cackle and come to the horses: 'Sagas' of Equilibrium is an essential album for aficionados of symphonic pagan metal and then I think of those who appreciate bands like Turisas, Finntroll and Moonsorrow. Funny to think that the band once was gathered in haste to play only one gig in 2001. That concert went so well that they soon had plans to write some songs and continue the band. The rest is history: a successful demo resulted in a contract with Black Attack and the debut album 'Turis Fratyr' saw the light of day. This album was received very well, but contacts with the label turned into a bummer. Fortunately Equilibrium has found a new home in 2008; with a Nuclear Blast deal they can have faith in the future.
Equilibrium takes care of their fans: 'Sagas' has a length of eighty minutes and if you want you can get an extra DVD with seventy minutes live recordings, backstage footage and the story how 'Sagas' was made at the Helion Studios in Munich. Indeed, Equilibrium is a German band and they do sing in that language, but since vocalist Helge Stang - whose main influence is Kristoffer Olivius of Naglfar - mainly attacks us with black metal screams it may be not that conspicuous for the unsuspecting listener.
The music is very cinematic and graced with rich, voluminous arrangements. 'Prolog Auf Erden' immediately puts you in a vast landscape where glorious things are about to happen. The first name that crosses my mind is Turisas, but since the folksy melodies are often played by keyboards there are interfaces with Finntroll too. Yet Equilibrium adds a strictly personal touch to their epic songs. These are based on black metal - especially vocals - but they have an exotic tinge because of panpipe and percussion in 'Unbesiegt'. We also hear sounds of nature from time to time. A great part of the sound gets a special identity by the important contribution of panpipe-player Ulrich Herkenhoff (of Lord of the Rings). The use of real acoustic instruments really upgrades this album, which becomes truly epic from the instrumental 'Heiderauche' on. From that moment the songs get longer as well. 'Die Weide Und Der Fluss' and 'Des Sängers Fluch' are compositions with lots of input, many things happen. The first song has majestic choirs, the second one leaps to the eye by dark, low-pitched vocals and a beautiful atmospheric passage at the end. After the snappish sung 'Ruf In Den Wind' and the compelling 'Dämmerung', we have a stunner of eighteen minutes long, called 'Mana' in which Equilibrium really meets the expectations of their image of creating Lord of the Rings-like soundtracks. This instrumental gem is an ingenious piece of glorious epics. Panpipe, crows, choirs and finally even a violin solo of Agnes Malich sends shivers down my spine. We can conclude that 'Sagas' has lifted Equilibrium up to a higher level. I do look forward to their Heidenfest tour in November with other excellent bands as Primordial, Eluveitie and Finntroll!