The Altan Urug Have Risen! A Review of Mongol’s Latest Album

Folk Metal: many thoughts and scenarios come to mind when you hear that term. Maybe you picture Medieval times, or maybe you picture Vikings charging into battle. However there is a theme that rarely sees the surface, and that is the rich Mongolian-Oriental folklore which has had a strong influence on nearly every Western civilization. The Mongolian Empire was arguably the fastest expanding and most contiguously large empire to ever see the light of day, responsible for opening strong trading routes between Asia and Europe. That’s also the source of the Bubonic Plague, so I guess without them Svartsot wouldn’t have had any material for their last album, Maledictus Eris . The Canadian band, Mongol, is one band that dives deeply into that theme, and portrays it perfectly! The second the album begins, you feel like you just went back through time, the to the days that laid mercy at the hand of the fierce Mongolian hand. This band is melodic, yet heavy at the same time, giving you one relentless ride. Der Metal Krieger had the honor to listen to and review Mongol’s latest album, The Altan Urug.

Band: Mongol
Album: The Altan Urug
Genre: Folk Metal
Label: Unsigned
Release Date: August 2012

For a little background, the Altan Urug were members of Genghis Khan’s imperial clan. It translates to “The Golden Clan” and they were held above all other members of the civilization.

There is so much to say about this album, it’s hard to begin. From the intro track “Das Ziel“, you immediately feel like you are deep in old Mongolian times. Going straight into “Kriegesmarsch“, the band unleashes its heaviness mixed with the folk melodies. The vocals borrow styles from Black Metal, while the instrumentation has clear elements of Death Metal and Folk. This brings a solid mix to the music. The folk tunes and metal melodies are equally mixed, giving it the nice balance to the music. Within minutes, I was headbanging along to the music, enjoying every second of it!

A track that I absolutely loved, was “Valkyrie Cry“. This track has some great atmosphere to it. The synths give it a nice atmosphere, while the guitars give it a punishing, heavy tune. This track exemplifies what I love about Folk Metal: a strong combination of extreme brutality, with a feeling of mysticism and fantasy. It’s heavy, as it is melodic, with a splash of darkness. What more could you want from this track? Maybe an epic chorus chant…oh wait, they were to include one. For fans at live shows, this is your cue to chime in, and sing along! Folk Metal is known for the high crowd interaction, and Mongol is definitely giving that vibe.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJxGwpDevcY]

An easy way to picture Mongol is to think of Finntroll incorporating Asian folk instrumentation. An interesting comparison you might say? Well yes, this is a very interesting comparison, but describes it exactly. Luke Barry’s use of the mandolin definitely brings a different vibe to the entire release. It puts a spin on folk metal, attesting to its mystical composure while maintaining the high degree of intrigue that the genre brings. It provides the brutality those of extreme metal look for, as well as very folkish for those who are into highly cultural music. The Altan Urug brings something for everyone to enjoy!

So you have just read the review, and have you gotten a hold of this album? If you are saying no, then what are you waiting for?! Why not add some more folk to your library, or just spice up the folk in your life? Mongol is a band who will be a part of history in the metal scene. Only a few bands have tried incorporating Oriental Folk themes into their music, so these guys are really pioneering a new sub-genre. Mongol is setting the standard, taking the first steps in starting this trend! Check these guys out and support folk metal! We support them and will continue to as this band rises to the top.

Rating:

BUY IT

The album is available for a mere $5! Now if you are aware of the current value of the dollar in both Canada and the US, you shouldn’t have to worry since they pretty hold the same worth these days. So yes…5$! Now you have no excuse

Buy it here: http://mongolcanada.bandcamp.com/album/the-altan-urug

Track Listing

Das Ziel
Kriegesmarsch
Pipe Dragon
A Light from the East
Valkyrie Cry
Eekum Bokum
Changeling
Tengri’s Pass
Warrior’s Voyage

Personnel

Brandon Knott – Vocals
Thomas Quiring – Rhythm Guitar, backup vocals
Luke Barry – Lead Guitar, banjo, mandolin
Dayton Barry – Keyboard/Accordion
Kenton Barry – Drums

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