Review by Rick Eaglestone for MPM
Ireland’s Promordial return with their tenth album How It Ends
Opening title track How It Ends opens with the question – is this how it ends? How it all goes down: culture, language, history, society – humanity – who knows?” says vocalist A.A.
Nemtheanga. “Regardless of who you are or were you get one chance at all of this, and it’s asking is this the end of your town, state, nation? Myths, traditions, relationships, and I suppose it asks the question, who reacts, who rebels – how does it end now for them?” so immediately this creates the tone for what follows on.
Ploughs to Rust, Swords to Dust is a slow burner full of purposeful drum patterns and dominant basslines with rich dark element to it which is highlighted in the guitar work. This is followed by We Shall Not Serve which even after many listens, I find myself coming back to time and time again, I really like gruff vocal delivery embedded with a swirl of atmosphere.
Traidisiunta sweeps in with an underling melody with a slower folk like sway, it’s short instrumental structure really compliments Pilgrimage to the World’s End which is rich in its storytelling arc.
Providing a newer soundscape which I feel really highlights the bands Musicianship is Nothing New Under The Sun the pounding rhythms which combined with varying vocal styles make for complete aural bliss, the sheer amounts of subtle elements are noting short of creative glory.
The combination of Call to Cernunnos and All Against All with its ominous tones ring through clearly into the rolling, brooding tones of Death Unholy Death before the album concludes with final offering Victory Has 1000 Fathers, Defeat is an Orphan and as Festival Season really never dries up I can this in particular becoming a live favourite.
Overall, the album is complex yet brimming with conviction.
How It Ends” Track listing.
- How It Ends
- Ploughs to Rust, Swords to Dust
- We Shall Not Serve
- Traidisiunta
- Pilgrimage to the World’s End
- Nothing New Under the Sun
- Call to Cernunnos
- All Against All
- Death Holy Death
- Victory Has 1000 Fathers, Defeat Is an Orphan
Line-up:
A.A. Nemtheanga: Vocals
Ciarán MacUilliam: Guitar
Michael O’Floinn: Guitar
Pól MacAmlaigh: Bass
Simon O’Laoghaire: Drums
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8/10
