Nechochwen
Heart of Akamon


4.5
superb

Review

by noinoeso USER (11 Reviews)
April 29th, 2016 | 29 replies


Release Date: 2015 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Native american folklore is brought to life by a superb folk metal album.

Folk metal is a genre mainly known for its European representatives, which narrate the heroic stories of Celtic warriors and pagan gods. These epic narratives serve as a way to delve deep in the ancient history and traditions of cultures of days past. Nechochwen makes a transition of this way of making music into Native American culture, telling a story mostly left untouched in the genre of metal.

As if it was a campfire tale, the album begins with a calm acoustic guitar that bursts into an energetic combination of drumming, electric guitars and mad growls. This first song, The Serpent Tradition, establishes the dynamics of the album. A smooth ebb and flow of heavy and calm moments, combining traditional Native American instruments and acoustic guitars akin to nature with modern instruments constructed with steel and powered by electricity. This contrast of opposing forces goes in hand with the lyrical content of the album, which narrates the disturbance of Native American peace when colonizers arrive from the sea, murdering and capturing everyone in their path.

Songs like Lost on the Trail of the Setting Sun depict the horrors of the massacre of Native Americans. Beginning with a sound scape of screaming women and gunfire, and then progressing into the most aggressive performance of the album, Nechochwen accurately portray a heated and hopeless battle, as the sun hides and all that is left is gloom and despair. The same mood can be felt on Traversing the Shades of Death, a suffocating, impending piece that exposes a group of weakened people attempting to survive the looming darkness above them. And even the moments of respite seem bleak, such as the beautiful but tragic October 6, 1813, guided entirely by acoustic guitars, flute and clean vocals. A group of natives are pictured weeping for their fallen leader Tecumseh, hoping for him to rise again and give them strength in withstanding the onslaught.

The last 3 songs of the album make a switch in their theming, leaving the aggressive instrumentation and the bleak lyrics behind. As if the narration is suddenly lit by hope, the acoustically serene Skimota appears to be a contemplation of the divine, which oozes comfort and relief. Then, the energetic and upbeat instrumental Skyhook performs a grand transition accompanied by sounds of wind, as if an ascension to the heavens was occurring. The album closes with Kiselamakong, a song with doom metal influences, followed by a narration that contemplates the grandeur of nature.

Traditional and modern instrumentation alike, this album sounds excellent. Unlike the raw qualities of the black metal inspirations of this effort, the production is crystal clear. The exceptional drumming has a potent sound, while the electric guitars merge together with the rest of the instruments without taking them over. Acoustic instruments resonate gorgeously, and specially, the sporadic flute segments charm the ear. The vocals, that lie on this delightful musical bed, perfectly evoke the emotions of each song. Growls are fueled by anger and despair, whilst clean vocals are coated with melancholy and a faint glimpse of hope.

As this folkloric tale comes to an end, it is difficult to feel something different from awe. Nechochwen managed to combine opposites into a remarkable a record, that exposes a tale unknown by many. It is easy to forget that the country well known for its fast food, capitalism and commercial music has a rich and interesting cultural tradition at its roots. The quality of Heart of Akamon proves that there is still much to discover and create from this tradition.



Recent reviews by this author
PainKiller Execution GroundRadiohead The King of Limbs
Imperial Triumphant IncesteCold War Kids Robbers and Cowards
Gorguts Pleiades' DustSpacebag Pareidolia
user ratings (86)
4
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
brokendogleg
April 29th 2016


59 Comments


Great band, I drove twenty minutes to meet up with the main guy from Nechochwen, and bought most of their albums. Very talented guitarist, and nice to see someone from my area get some love. I thought people would like this album, if it had more exposure.

BandNewbac
April 29th 2016


2462 Comments


good album, one of the only black metal folk albums i can enjoy

Rastapunk
April 29th 2016


1584 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Yup they're on my wishlist on bandcamp. Good rev, pos'd

zaruyache
April 30th 2016


27750 Comments


Coulda sworn this had a review. Now I know I'm confusing it with some other folk metal album. :/

Pho3nix
October 19th 2016


1681 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Great record... important concept for sure. I wish it had more flute sections, but that might have been over the top.

lalchimiste
November 14th 2016


1131 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

this got overlooked so bad last year here agreed

MarsKid
Emeritus
January 20th 2017


21035 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

This is pretty amazing yeah

zaruyache
January 20th 2017


27750 Comments


Yeah! Still never rated but w/e it was pretty good.

MarsKid
Emeritus
January 20th 2017


21035 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Some of the better folksy parts I've heard in black metal

Pho3nix
September 28th 2018


1681 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

YES



Need to re-listen to this again, truly unique record

brainmelter
Contributing Reviewer
November 29th 2018


8416 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

rules

necropig
November 8th 2019


7440 Comments


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSQGPlpof70

Preview from split coming with panopticon

Pho3nix
November 8th 2019


1681 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Awesome

Atari
Staff Reviewer
February 5th 2020


28009 Comments


Pretty sold on these guys after hearing the new split with Panopticon

Elynna
January 26th 2021


1486 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

This is such a unique record, very engaging concept and the perfect hybrid between atmoblack and dark folk. Hopefully these guys are working on new material.

Pikazilla
January 26th 2021


31198 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Elynna with another tremendous bump woo woo

Elynna
January 26th 2021


1486 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Yessir! The band deserves all the exposure they can get.

Muzz79
February 10th 2021


3094 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

October 6, 1813

Pho3nix
November 12th 2021


1681 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

"After nearly 8 years since the release of Heart of Akamon, West Virginia's Nechochwen return, unveiling the title track from their impending album, Kanawha Black! Fierce melodies and heartfelt composition/riff stylings further cement the rich and powerful legacy that Nechochwen has nurtured since their inception.



Kanawha Black is a vibrant mix of uniquely black metal influenced aggression, up against moving classical instrumentation that unlocks an inspiring glimpse into what extreme metal CAN achieve.



Kanawha Black will be released worldwide by Bindrune Recordings in Spring/Summer of 2022"

Elynna
November 12th 2021


1486 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Great news! For anyone eager to hear the new track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOZnYPoL45Y



You have to be logged in to post a comment. Login | Create a Profile





STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS // CONTACT US

Bands: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z


Site Copyright 2005-2023 Sputnikmusic.com
All Album Reviews Displayed With Permission of Authors | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy