Hailing from Ukraine, one of the leading countries when talking about heathen, pagan or epic Black metal (cf. the convinced Vacula-roster!), Erih return with their second full length, smartly called II, after 2012’s Erih. Like many bands from out there, the lyrics are in their mother tongue, so don’t ask me what they are all about specifically, but believe me if I say that is has nothing to do with joy and happiness… The ‘Music’ speaks for itself…
II lasts for forty six minutes and opens with the intriguing intro Last Sunrise. This World Will Swallow You goes further where Last Sunrise ended, but soon it shows Erih’s true face: a blend of furious and merciless Black Metal, heathen and forceful Pagan Metal, and epic and / or acoustic-influenced Folk elements. All those aspects are quasi ad random mixed together, in order to try to create a firm and cohesive result. There is quite some variation on top of it, especially in tempo and structure, and it might be somewhat disturbing from time to time, as if Erih are still searching for an own face, a specific direction they want to go. The individual excerpts sometimes are very attractive, and this goes, I think, for both heavier as well as acoustic pieces. But sometimes it is confusing how sober and integer parts get brutally interrupted by forced assault, and vice versa. And this goes for all hymns on II, which makes it rather difficult to search for an enjoyable experience. No, I am not saying that this material is bad. But seen the quality of Vacula’s signings, some might be little disappointed. What’s more, as a matter of fact, the (hidden) piece at the end of the album (recorded live) lacks of that un-constructive data, and despite the totally f*cked-up sound (once again, it’s a live rehearsing thing, so you can’t expect an expensive professionally-mixed thing here), it might sound more convincing and coherent than the studio work.
In general, I do not dislike the sound, for being unpolished and unclean. The mix, however, is beneath acceptance, with an inferior balance in between the different elements (like some mechanical drum patterns, that sound way too prominent / pronounced from time to time). But maybe that’s my copy only, and therefore (yet not only therefore; also in general) I think it is of minor importance.