| | Full Review | Ratings (514) |
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| 0.0 | Jom | July 14th 08 |
A short history and geography lesson: Bavaria is the largest present-day state in Germany, where Pope Benedict XVI, BMW, and Levi Strauss call home. Where there was once massive bloodshed between medieval civilizations, peace reigns, and so does the beer. In 1516, the Duke of Bavaria instituted the Reinheitsgebot purity law, which stated - with pride - that the only three ingredients EVER allowed in beer are water, barley, and hops. In a land of sacred natural surroundings, medieval castles, baroque cathedrals, and small towns, Equilibrium need not travel far to draw influences into their work.
With 'Sagas,' Equilibrium's Nuclear Blast debut, the quintet exemplifies pride in their homeland. All their songs are entirely in German, as are their song titles, which illustrate a purer, poetically-aged, and more romantic version of the language. With lyrical themes revolving around Germanic folklore, the Bavarian landscape, and mythology, the folk/viking/pagan sound has been amazingly bolstered from the already-great 'Turis Fratyr.'
The album comes with three dramatic instrumental tracks. All three are highlights on the record, to be sure, but the album's closer, "Mana," is a 16+ minute juggernaut. Album opener "Prolog auf Erden" is absolutely stellar, sounding like fanfare to a joust. The album is dominated by harsh vocals, beautiful guitar arrangements (e.g. "Blut im Auge," "Ruf in den Wind," and "Verrat" are three prime examples, although the entire album is littered with them). The drumming is exemplary, but the album's greatest highlight is the orchestra and choir, which sounds like all of Bavaria is performing or singing.
All told, 'Sagas' is an absolute stunner. If you're looking for that folk/pagan/viking sound I touched on earlier in this sound-off, or want to seek out bands that sound like genre trailblazers Ensiferum, Finntroll, Turisas, or Eluveitie, you cannot possibly go wrong with Equilibrium's 'Sagas.'
6 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Santa Koopa | November 24th 21 |
GERMAN BLACK FOLK METAL KINGS!!
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| 5.0 classic | Vanquisher | March 5th 19 |
Arguably the best folk metal album. The mountain of cheese makes it even more enjoyable and fun. I could listen to Unbeseigt and Mana all day
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| 4.5 superb | Have you tried jamming HELCARAXE CONTRIBUTOR | September 3rd 17 |
This album is such a fun adventure. It drags you through swift, crashing waves upon vast briney seas, leads you on a moonlit path into lands of Tolkien legends, takes you on the back of a fucking eagle to ride the sky. It's epic and grand in every sense of the word. Goddamn.
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| 4.5 superb | Baeleron | September 19th 08 |
A step up from their previous album, this one is awesome almost all the way through. My only complaint is that unlike apparently every other person in the world, I find that Mana becomes a bit tedious after the first 5 minutes especially when the flute kicks into high gear. But thankfully the rest of the album is pure gold, and a strong candidate for album of the year.
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| 4.5 superb | AngelPhoenix | July 22nd 08 |
This album is basically perfect. Track for track, minute for minute, Equilibrium showers you with blazing riffage, exciting drumming, solid bass work, killer vocals, and as if that weren't enough, slap a gigantic helping of folk-influenced/themed orchestral sections that alternate between featuring in and blending with the instrumentation, and inspiring choruses/keys that lift the band's sound to a level attainable by few musicians. The first 7 tracks will be the most epic thing you've ever heard, and then the last 6 (the 16 minute instrumental closer being the crown jewel of this masterpiece) will blow that away. I've said enough. Get this. Like right the hell now.
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| 4.5 superb | myriadeye | July 15th 08 |
The only thing keeping this album from a perfect score is the "vocals" Death vocals are fine in marginality, but simply singing like they do throughout the entire vocals represents a lack of feeling/variety. Which is even more bothersome when the music is breathtaking and full of variety. I love change-ups the ability to go from Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Classic Rock, Speed Metal, and still containing a hell of a lot of melody is simply superb. I will say I wish there was a few more slower moments inbetween to build up suspense to the all-out speed endeavours. None the less though, still an above average/superior album for those interested in Progressive, Folk, Death, Forest, Doom, Thrash, Speed, and Classic Metal. The last song, the 16minute epic instrumental is worth purchasing the album alone and at a full body CD length this is beyond worth the money. Hopefully this band will be able to continue to expand and explore and continue there Progressive roots they have planted
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| 3.5 great | Zac124 | September 4th 25 |
| 3.5 great | Davey | March 23rd 24 |
| 5.0 classic | Masha2k | January 12th 24 |
| 5.0 classic | Glonk | September 19th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Lacking | November 27th 21 |
| 1.0 awful | doofy | November 25th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | KTPA2 | November 19th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | zackseb | January 6th 21 |
| 5.0 classic | Crayak | March 15th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | ariich | January 30th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | mEyck07 | December 21st 19 |
| 4.5 superb | aGit | September 22nd 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jadmin | September 6th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Jakob | August 27th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | HybridF | August 25th 19 |
| 3.5 great | Jeejee | August 22nd 19 |
| 3.5 great | thawey | June 17th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | latpac | December 21st 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | elch21 | December 8th 18 |
| 5.0 classic | qwex | May 21st 18 |
| 3.5 great | Fear | December 30th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Scoob | September 5th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Jhator | August 27th 17 |
| 3.5 great | Moge | April 26th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gurzgri | September 4th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nishe | August 3rd 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Dmax28 | June 25th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | Elynna | May 22nd 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | foldas | January 25th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | mEyck97 | November 29th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | ABlake | October 23rd 15 |
| 5.0 classic | beyn666 | October 8th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Wilk0 | September 3rd 15 |
| 1.0 awful | genetix | September 2nd 15 |
| 5.0 classic | TC1987 | July 7th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | kaca | June 8th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Dizchu | October 24th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | jmh886 | August 19th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | ngk44 | August 14th 14 |
| 3.0 good | Trey STAFF | August 8th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Arashi | April 25th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Shabz | April 24th 14 |
| 1.5 very poor | sirius53 | February 27th 14 |
| 2.0 poor | adr | January 16th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Headshot | December 31st 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | ErnstEf | December 16th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Nagash | September 6th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Tale | August 3rd 13 |
| 3.5 great | gegiu | July 17th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Xihaan | July 10th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | MRDi | March 28th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | bisuax | January 18th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | opatetn | January 4th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Keyblade | December 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hybza | November 4th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Duffluc | October 26th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | sevrior | September 30th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | RAGG | August 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | bohmoh | July 29th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Emyay | July 15th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | shanks | May 30th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | lak89 | May 28th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | leycec | May 16th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | TLX | April 17th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Thor | April 16th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Shvyin | March 1st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | SMK | February 22nd 12 |
| 3.5 great | MtMoon | February 19th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Themac | February 13th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Shuyin | February 2nd 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Zion | January 19th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Torgo | December 31st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | dnor | September 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | ABC | August 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Smaizi | July 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Teto | May 19th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | iZac | March 16th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Aether | March 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nacen | February 18th 11 |
| 3.0 good | itchy | February 15th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Murli | February 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Scoot | February 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | 32left | January 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | y77erb | January 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | MO | December 9th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | hmff | August 30th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | BlueW | August 8th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Ripped | July 19th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Isoas | July 1st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Yttg | June 30th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Niels | May 17th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Exxor | May 12th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Karwyn | April 10th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Hoenir | February 15th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zyhaal | February 3rd 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Markk1 | January 6th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | drewkar | December 28th 09 |
| 3.0 good | pride | December 2nd 09 |
| 2.0 poor | Ragez | October 11th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | blabony | September 12th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Set | September 12th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | R6Rider | September 8th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | geohero | August 23rd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | ikarus | August 8th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Warpt | July 3rd 09 |
| 3.5 great | OllieS | March 8th 09 |
| 3.0 good | Bleak | March 3rd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | arheez | February 6th 09 |
| 3.0 good | KILL | January 30th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | DusstYn | January 9th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Satana | November 29th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | tarcus | November 22nd 08 |
| 3.0 good | Kyle Ward EMERITUS | November 19th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | kVick | November 1st 08 |
| 2.5 average | Nauseum | October 12th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | JayVex | September 17th 08 |
| 3.0 good | JesseSD | September 15th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | lobby | September 1st 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wizard | August 23rd 08 |
| 3.5 great | Mikesn EMERITUS | August 21st 08 |
| 3.5 great | RedSky | August 11th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hewitt | August 7th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Windows | August 7th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nihilo | August 6th 08 |
| 3.0 good | ASberg | August 3rd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | soneast | August 2nd 08 |
| 4.8 classic | Ryan P STAFF | July 22nd 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Poet | July 21st 08 |
| 3.5 great | Sempel | July 19th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Zoo | July 3rd 08 |
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