Ilbeltz - Auskan Gabiltz Olatun Gainian (1598 Potrobizargorri I) (2010)

I speak no lie nor tell any tale when I say that I've been waiting nine years for this album. Ilbeltz, the Basque country folk metal band, first came to my attention back in 2001 through their split release with fellow countrymen, Adhur and Aiumeen Basoa, and during these past nine years I've constantly played that split release, never once getting sick of it, but deep down inside longing for more than those three songs that Ilbeltz had on that split. About six months ago, 'Auskan Gabiltz Olatun Gainian (1598 Potrobizargorri I)' was self-released and when I found out about it I stopped everything I was doing and instantly ordered it. A week or so later it arrived, and finally, nine long years of waiting had been fulfilled. I was absolutely enthralled with what I heard coming out of my speakers.

For those that don't know, The Basque Country is a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. Euskara, their language is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories, of these, 614,000 live in the Spanish part of the Basque country and the remaining 51,800 live in the French part. This is key to point out, because Ilbeltz's music very clearly shows influence from their native culture and music, in fact they even write all of their lyrics and song titles in Euskara. The lyrics themselves are based on, 'Xenda bi ez duk lizentzi' a novel wrote by Ilbeltz mastermind, Ibai Mendinueta. The novel centers around the adventures of a Basque pirate named, Potrobizargorri, and although the English translation for each song is provided in the booklet, I haven't read through them yet as I feared it might slightly ruin some part of this album for me.

Musically Ilbeltz could be described as simply folk metal, but I'd seriously be short changing them if I left it at that. Essentially they are about 15% black metal, 10% heavy metal, 25% progressive and 50% traditional Basque folk music. Although just five songs appear on this album the shortest is eleven minutes, while the longest is sixteen, clocking in for a grand total of nearly seventy minutes of music between the five songs. This may sound like an insane stretch, but Ibai is quite talented at writing interesting instrumental parts during these songs and most of these instrumental sections are within a folk/acoustic style, which usually segue back and fourth from the metal and progressive parts. The singing is performed in mainly a cleanly sung manner, but additionally usage of a backing choir is present, as well as several guest vocalists who sing in a variety of other ways, even a few black metal styled screams.

Naturally for a folk band several instruments are used on this recording. From the usual heavy metal set up we also see the presence of various flutes, accordion, oboe, acoustic guitars, violins and several traditional Basque instruments, all of which make their appearance during both the metal, prog and folk moments of this record.

While I do love this album in its full form, I must admit the lead off song, 'Subak Ixeinttu Itxasotako Udek' is absolutely mesmerizing. It has in my opinion the perfect mix of black metal blasting dissonance mixed with melodious heavy metal riffs and absolutely gorgeous folk melodies. In fact the last four minutes of this song are quite honestly four of the most outstanding minutes in music I've ever heard. Interestingly each of these five songs have moments like this which for me are just absolutely breathtaking in their execution and magnificence.

It's a rarity to hear music this good, but when you do hear stuff like this you know you'll take it inside and not let it go. I've been following Ilbeltz for nine years now and although they only have two releases during all these years I can easily say I'll never let this band go. They mean that much to me. Auskan Gabiltz Olatun Gainian (1598 Potrobizargorri I) is absolutely exquisite folk influenced metal art!

In the end I find no fault in this recording whatsoever, except for the fact that the band is unsigned, which I realize isn't from any wrongdoing on the band, but it's just unthinkable that such a great band is going unnoticed by the masses. If any justice truly existed in this world, Ilbeltz would be huge, they would tour with bands like Moonsorrow and Finntroll and they would completely destroy them too, but instead Ilbeltz is almost completely unknown in the folk metal genre...

As a final word, all I can really say is this is one of the finest folk metal recordings I've personally heard, as it does exactly what you'd expect folk metal to do: It blends folk music and heavy metal perfectly. Watch the video below and see what you've been missing out on.