VIRSTELE PAMINTULUI

Negura Bunget's 'Varstele Pamantului' is one of those rare albums which comes along from time to time which makes you completely re-think your perceptions of a particular musical genre. Whilst classified as extreme metal there is so much more to this album than violent guitars and pummelling drums. This is an album which transcendences any one genre of music and becomes something really unique and inspired.

Describing the music here is difficult - there are definitely plenty of extreme metal moments, make no mistake about that, and those sections are utterly glorious and crushing. But I wouldn't call metal the defining style of the album. What really dominates this record is the tribal, almost Neanderthal instrumental moments, demonstrated perfectly on the album opener 'Pamint' and carried on through the rest of the album. There is European folk, gypsy music, tribal drumming, Scandinavian black metal, modern post metal... A real fusing of styles.

The music here is raw, ethereal and deeply atmospheric - images of camp fires, foreboding woods and pagan rituals swirl around my mind as I listen to the music. The production is primitive, but I sense this is a stylistic choice rather than due to financial reasons. The music on this record wouldn't sound right with polished drums and crisp guitar lines - the muddiness of the production is all part of the listening experience.

This is an album which needs to be heard - but it needs an open mind and enough time to sink in. When I first heard this I didn't really "get it" - I needed half a dozen listens. I am thoroughly glad that I gave this record the time it needed, and I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys heavier progressive music. This has since become a treasured record in my collection. For its uniqueness and musical creativity I can't give this anything other than 5-stars.