Acoustic Pagan Folk music is not a genre or style that normally comes my way, however after dancing a conga with men dressed as nuns to a superb set by Stille Volk at Hellfest 2013, my interest was suddenly aroused.
This leads us to the latest release, La Pèira Negra, which is album number eight from the French collective from the Pyrenees, who have been plying there trade since 1994.
‘Demetis Maudiçon’ opens proceedings with up-tempo plucking acoustic guitar that increases in momentum and is joined by a second guitar playing a metallic RIFF all underpinned by rumbling thump of a bass drum; it’s all very driving and urgent in nature until a crash of cymbals signals the arrival of the main bulk of the song with deep French vocals and various folk string and wind instruments adding texture.
‘Sous l’œil de la Lune’ follows up flutes and up-tempo guitar riffing and what I assume is a hurdy gurdy in the background (sounds like that instrument as used by Eluveitie), standard drumming patterns accompany the vocals and it’s all so far so folk until…the trumpets make a brief appearance for the first time of many.
Transpires that after 20 years in the game, Stille Volk are not ones to play by any rule book, for one although this de-facto “acoustic” music the energy and urgency is squarely rooted in heavy metal, with German folk metallers In Extremo being a strong point of reference plus they are willing to throw the kitchen sink at songs in search of something new.
Such as ‘L’éveil du Spectre’, which throws in a distinctive swing vibe and urgent driving tempo mixed with occasional psychedelic flourishes or ‘La Litanie du Pétrifié’, which goes for a big bombastic medieval vibe with flutes before throwing in crashing cymbals and trumpets to mix up proceedings.
La Pèira Negra is certainly different and fun to ensure that it is worth paying attention too, however it lacks any noteworthy hooks to secure repeated listens.
Oh and at the very end they throw in a Mercyful Fate cover of ‘Come to the Sabbath’ at the end for your enjoyment.
