Ancient Rites - Fatherland (1998)

Back in '99 Metal Blade Records released a compilation titled, 'Blackened IV,' which was meant to be a black metal compilation, though some artists were not exactly that black in sound. I bought this comp. shortly after its release and it introduced me to bands, such as; Opeth, Thy Serpent, Thorns, Enslaved and Ancient Rites, all of whom I instantly adored and continue to do so even today.

Normally I'd probably review something older from a band that's been going at it since the 80's, but since I'm not a huge fan of Ancient Rites earlier material and since I don't own it anymore it would seem only logical to start with their third album, 'Fatherland.' The earlier material was fairly rough in character, a lot more black-ish, but generally a bit more simplistic and dull in my own opinion. On, 'Fatherland' the band seemed to finally find a style that worked for them.

Its a bit hard to exactly place Ancient Rites genre, but most people lump these guys into the viking or folk metal genre, which I suppose works since the music is epic and has many folk qualities, though these guys never sounded like any other band to me. Therefore, calling them something a bit more elusive and not clearly defined, such as, "Epic Metal" might work, but whatever.

'Avondland' opens the album with a short but mightily impressive symphonic intro that sounds like something taken straight from an epic film of some sort. This leads into the bands anthem, 'Mother Europe,' which is a stomping, fist pumping, head banging number with some seriously awesome vintage metal undertones. 'Aris' has numerous folky parts to it, while the title track is a massive seven minute epic for the ages and by far one of the best songs these guys have ever wrote. 'Season's Change (Solstice)' is another grandiose headbanger with some superb guitar work and catchiness throughout it, as well, '13th Of October 1307' is another folkier metal song with a flute running alongside the other instruments for most of its duration, while, 'Dying in a Moment of Splendour' is another colossal majestic metal masterpiece. 'Rise and Fall (Anno Satana)' & 'The Seducer' are two of my true favorites though since they are fast, powerful and hard hitting head banging songs, the latter of which features of Mika of Impaled Nazarene as guest vocalist. The album finally closes with another symphonic outro called, 'Cain.'

'Fatherland' is an album to own in physical format since the booklet has notes on every song from band mastermind, Gunther Theys concerning and lyrics and giving explanations on what inspired them and what they are about. In this case most of the songs are about European history/pride and ones homeland in some way or another, which marked a difference for the band at the time since previously they had just wrote about Satan, blasphemy and evil stuff on the earlier material.

I'd imagine some people would see this release as their sell out record since their style changed drastically, but as I already said this is where things got great and have been continually impressive through subsequent records, 'Dim Carcosa' & 'Rubicon.' If you've somehow never heard these guys and fancy epic, folky and tremendously awesome heavy metal then do spend some time with these guys releases.

"Hail to you... Death! Hail to you... Kuolema!"