SUIDAKRA
Eternal Defiance
AFM (2013)
Rating: 9.5/10
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Germany’s SuidAkrA return with Eternal Defiance, their 11th full-length studio album. The band is known for bringing folk flavours (banjo, bagpipes etc) into their extreme metal sound and the new album prominently features a number of these elements, only losing its heavy touch here and there. This is my first experience with SuidAkrA’s music and to say I’m a little embarrassed about that would be an understatement.
A concept album, Eternal Defiance, takes place in Syria in 1271. The last crusader stronghold is being stormed, and three crusaders head deep into its bowels. When they reach the inner sanctum they discover a “terrifying relic” that changes everything.
A fascinating story, told in mini-comic book form instead of traditional printed lyrics, takes place in the album booklet. It would suck if I gave away too much here, so suffice it to say, if you love historical fantasy then you’ll dig this for sure.
Eternal Defiance is a little bit of everything. The band utilize the big guitar solos and galloping bass that traditional metal staked its claim on, but they also have a penchant for the more melodic side of death metal, and of course the folk influences (particularly Celtic ones on this album). The vocals are almost entirely inspired by extreme metal, saving only for the operatic female vocals that appear sparingly.
‘Dragon’s Head’ features bagpipes alongside absolutely brutal drumming and melodic, driving guitars that remind me a bit of late-90s Hypocrisy. It marches along like a war anthem, taking a short break in the middle to set a more medieval mood before returning to its earlier brutal form. ‘March Of Conquest’ starts out with the twin guitar attack and groovy rhythm section that makes the Norse and Pagan metal bands so easy to like. It is ably backed by songs like the mandolin-laden ‘Defiant Dreams’ and the overt aggression of ‘Inner Sanctum’, during which mainman Arkadius practically spits the lyrics.
While there is no shortage of aggression here, it’s the breaks that make this album so strong. The beast gets boring and predictable without the beauty, and the beautiful parts here are surprisingly powerful. The gorgeous ‘The Mindsong’ features Tina Stabel’s vocal work, and her voice, piano work and melodies really add a different flavour to the album at the ever critical midpoint. It refocuses your mind for the rage that is yet to come. The gentle acoustics of the final track, ‘Damnatio Memoriae’, offers a bit of respite as the gruff vocals present a character that has been through hell and yet survived it all.
The digipak edition of the album also features the traditional folk tune ‘Mrs. McGrath’, which is a fun romp and really would likely have fit into the album proper just fine musically. A studio video for ‘Inner Sanctum’, and an animated video for ‘Storming The Walls’ are here as well.
I have been mentally trying to box in SuidAkrA’s sound for a few weeks now and I just can’t do it. It’s not as ferocious as Turisas or as straightforward as Amon Amarth or as wild as Finntroll or as gothic as Midnattsol, yet if you are a fan of any of those bands, you’ll love this. As for me, I’m sold on SuidAkrA. Eternal Defiance is a great album from start to finish and easily one of my favourites of 2013 so far.
Mark Fisher
