What an uninspired noise… That’s what I thought after the first seconds of the new TROLLECH got fired out of my speakers.
But in the course of listening to the album with the unpronounceable name Skryti V Mlze I was taught better. However, the listeners patience is tried a little until TROLLECH stop to averagely imitate bands like Dark Funeral or Marduk and play what themselves call „Forest Black Metal“.
Just as a side note: TROLLECH like to pose on band photos bizarrely dressed up and painted amidst close to primeval forests or even better while standing in a pond. I guess their aim was to look very evil and so on, but when I look at those photos I am merely amused ;)
Ok, back to Forest Black Metal: This style can be characterized by a notably reduced speed, compared to the beginning of the album. Instead, much more value is placed on melodies and folkloristic influences, but also still the war club is being wielded. Especially the second half of the album is very convincing to me. The more primitive songs from the beginning of Skryti V Mlze are completely missed. Bands like old Bathory or once more one of my favorites Windir seem to have given TROLLECH some direction. At least both names come to ones mind listening to the album with its epic, sometimes overflowing melodies and acoustic sections. TROLLECH skillfully vary their pace here, a driving track like Ljesi with its sweeping riffing in the centre part is followed by Z Kotle Popijej, a more moderate song with an almost exuberant mood. And immediately after this one, the wrapped-in-melody sledgehammer goes to work again. Anyhow, my favorite song is the very epic and with almost seven minutes longest track Vsem Bude Skryto Tajemstvi. It does not only implement all the above mentioned stylistic devices, but additionally entwists them with beautiful guitar solos. Very suiting to the music is the in the true sense of the word trollish and only in Czech language performed singing.
What additionally has to be mentioned is the excellent production. It is miles ahead their previous releases. And of course, the engagement of a human drummer has paid off a lot.
Skryti V Mlze is a very varying album with a high entertainment factor. However, in my humble opinion, TROLLECH should have focused even more on the Pagan area, where I think their strength is to find (the second part of the CD is simply outstanding!), than on old school black metal influences.