Album Review: Siberian Heathen Horde by Welicoruss (El Puerto Records)

Russian/Czech Republic’s symphonic black metallers, Welicoruss, have released their 3rd full length studio album titled Siberian Heathen Horde.

Siberian Heathen Horde was released on the 27th of March via El Puerto Records. Welicoruss were founded in Novosibirsk, Russia in 2002 by vocalist and guitarist, Alexey Boganov, before establishing themselves in Prague, Czech Republic. Alongside Alexey Boganov, Welicoruss are Ilya Tabachnik on drums and Tomaš Magnusek on bass. Billed originally as a pagan metal band, Siberian Heathen Horde sees them plant their feet firmly in the symphonic black metal camp and the genre is much improved for it.

Welicoruss are a powerhouse trio and they really bring some huge symphonic black metal anthems with this new release. An album that isn’t necessarily going to shake up the genre, but will massively enhance it by injecting it with a big dose of top quality metal.

Siberian Heathen Horde has not only a really cool title, but also comes with 9 tracks and weighs in at around 47 minutes long. The album kicks off with the track Spellcaster where it should only take 60 seconds to have captured your imagination completely. The building drums, spoken word, growing choirs all create something dark but majestic before we launch into a fiery riff. Piano melody follows with a little hint of symphonic backing before the track explodes into life. Black metal vocals consume you alongside a catchy riff all backed by orchestral music to create quite the epic sound. Chuck in guitar solos, cleaner vocal passages and speed riffing sections and it clear Welicoruss have a lot to offer.

The title track, Siberian Heathen Horde comes next and starts with a little atmospheric building that sounds straight from a horror movie. When the music explodes into life it really gets the blood pumping. Quick drums, insane guitars and powerful vocals rain down on you. The chorus is an absolute anthem, again with vocals switching to a slightly cleaner sound. It sounds even better half way through when it is preceded by a sudden stop in all music. A clever move. Path of Seductions has a slower, more ominous feel to it as the vocals hit filthy levels coupled with explosions of drums. The symphonic sounds add so much to this track, really showcasing how the harder metal style can combine with the more graceful instruments to create a thing of beauty.

Frostbounded has a melancholic start with a single guitar over ice cold atmospherics. Distortion starts building as the track switches to an amazing groove with high pitched choirs in the background. This is amazing. What an intro to a song! The pace and ferocity grows over the angelic choir before it turns into the heaviest track so far with wicked drums and ferocious vocals. The chorus cleans it up a bit again but holds plenty of menace still. This is a glorious song and my favourite on the album so far.

Metaphysical comes next and features Rob Carson (Xaon). A lengthy spoken word intro starts things off before a brigade of squealing guitars take over and blast you with melody. It kicks in soon enough for a very heavy effort mixing perfectly the symphonic backing with ripping drums and pounding riffs. This is another special track chock full of progression with wicked harmonised vocals and guitars to die for. Tree of Nations follows and continues to showcase the band’s mastery of intros. The creepy chanted vocals work magic on you before your attention gets pulled towards the growing guitars and you get dragged on a journey full of twists and turns in a song it is easy to get lost in.

Crossroad of Life follows and is the first real respite. Being an instrumental, it really just showcases the symphonic side with some excellent, atmospheric sounds. The Prophecy follows and sees the band jump straight in, maybe treating Crossroad of Life as their intro. The guitars ring out with a traditional feel as the symphonic backing starts growing. As the track switches to almost clean vocals and a single ringing guitar line, you just have to appreciate how much creativity Welicoruss are putting in to Siberian Heathen Horde. The album ends with Hymn of Lost Souls. If you aren’t sold on this album by now, and you should be, this should tip you over the edge.

Gentle, and sorrowful,  piano melody leads us forward with a thread of symphonic backing before the drop of guitars and drums should see your jaw drop in awe. The vocals come in and drag the tempo up a fair few notches. The drums rip away, the vocals drip with venom all over a sombre but beautiful symphonic back line. It is epic, majestic and grandiose. The sort of music you only need to hear a few second long clip of for you to know your are going to love it. As the track fades out, you cant help but be impressed.

Siberian Heathen Horde is a strong album and one that should place high on the top lists of everyone near the end of this year. Symphonic black metal at it’s finest but it also doesn’t deserve to be lumped solely in that category. Welicoruss are expansive and don’t shy away from adding their own influences into the sound. As such it is hard to compare them directly to another band. They have their own sound. I personally really like the production. It has a bit of old school vibe at times. At others, it sounds crystal clear and clean. Enough so that it will probably irritate anyone looking for straight up traditional metal. There does seem to be a lack of a bassline at times, though it doesn’t suffer due to the symphonic backing where the bass may be hiding.

Genuinely though it is just a fantastic album, full of black metal anthems that deserves to be heard. Don’t miss out!

Welicoruss Links

Website – Facebook – Instagram – YouTube – El Puerto Records