GWERZ

While GWERZ earns kudos for carrying on the Breton tradition during the dark decade of the 1980s, and for capturing that scary airless quality that enervates even the most mundane number, this debut is otherwise rather dispensable. While the more progressively structured "Ar Plac'h Ifiernet" is the most accomplished piece, plenty of equivalencies in the better known acts can be substituted without hardship. Even among the current crop, SANGRE DE MUERDAGO more effectively exploits the shrill pipe infested arrangements by not overplaying them. I hasten to add this is all well executed, and am even glad to underscore "Ar Jouiz" as another highlight of shifting tempos operating with the established arsenal.

If you got this far, then GWERZ is probably worth at least a free test drive if you can arrange one. Otherwise, particularly on a prog site, this is for a very special listener indeed. 2.5 stars.