Two bands from Czech, TROLLECH and HEIDEN, met for a split CD, a release type apparently getting more and more popular. I still can remember the quite good last album by the first band, but I never listened to any release by HEIDEN yet. So I’m ready for any surprise regarding the second part of this split ;)
TROLLECH contribute the first four of seven songs. Kicking of with, Naturia, it takes a bit getting used to it, as it’s full of breaks and somehow contradictory melodies. Track two and four (Elf A Duch Lesa, Podpozemský Vír) feature the “Forest Black Metal” I expected by this band: Fast and solid guitar play, busy drums and some folksy tunes worked in. Framed by these two songs, Burning Glades is a little slower, seldom reaching above mid tempo speed and providing a more sinister and gloomy atmosphere. A nice first half of the split, and I think 7 out of 10 points are ok for the hobgoblins *g*
HEIDEN already have some CDs out. And regarding what they contributed to this split, I am not very sorry I don’t know them. The guys form Brno come up with several appealing tunes and partially powerful sound (Koma, Paralelní, Hvezdopravci). Not bad, but throughout all the songs somehow stereotype and with a vocal work you can either love or hate. I didn’t love it, though. When HEIDEN really surprised me once, in the seventh and last track, it was simultaneously the point when I stopped the player: Near the end of Star Wanderers you can hear some kind of stupid technoid rhythm as in the worst charts song you can imagine. Call me narrow minded, but that was too much. Not more than three points for the HEIDEN part of this split.
Those, who like one of these bands (I can’t imagine someone likes both of them referring to how different their styles are), might buy this one because of being a fan and probably because of the nice artwork and cover. Anyhow, I wouldn’t have bought it although I liked the first half.