Equilibrium-Erdentempel

Published: Absolute Underground #59 August/September 2014

EQUILIBRIUM is a german metal band that is called everything from folk to power to just plain epic. They're putting out their fourth and newest release this month. From listening to the back catalog I have begun to realize all their lyrics are in german. Nothing wrong with that but I can only speak in fake, angry german so I'll just have to guess what all the songs are about. I've also noticed that every album has had lineup changes in it and this one is no different having a new bassist and guitarist.
It all starts with an intro of under a minute but the one word you think of with this short start is epic.  "Was Lange Wahrt" just jumps right into it with gallping folk rythyms and fast-paced drumming. The nest few songs don't hold back or slow down much. I can best describe them as folk metal anthems. The arrangements remind of classical with the influence of a fantasy movie's original score.  #5 "Uns'rer Floten Klang" has almost an irish folk feel to it, almost the kind of party music you would find in an old pub. One that would fiti in with a night of happy drinking.  The seventh track is "Heavy Chill" and it's a hard one to describe, it's got the folk but it's mixed with some 80's dancey sound from some one-hit wonder. It basically made me think what the fuck? And the next track I could best descibe as whimsical and a little circus-like, not words that usually get anywhere near metal. The last four songs go back to a more epic feel. The songs just have an epic and ranging feel like ancient battles. Of course they could be songs about ice cream because I don't know any german. The last song "The Unknown Episode" is in english though and feels a bit like a love song...but still pretty epic.
If you are a fan of folk metal that I would have to say this is an album you need. The first half of the album is an epic pile of folk metal anthems that are exactly what I think the genre needs to be. Good pace, chanting lyrics and a good mix of traditional instrumental sound mixed in with metal guitars and fast drumming. There are those two tracks in the middle(#7and#8) that I just find kind of odd, before it heads back into the epic realm. All in all though I find this to be a pretty good album, the first have puts you in a great mood with visions of your favorite fantasy movies dancing in your head. If you're already a fan of this band, then get at it.

Michael F. Carnage

http://www.equilibrium-metal.net/