EP REVIEW: Sword Of Virné – Chronicler Of Ardul
Washington’s CHRONICLER OF ARDUL may only have a couple of releases under their belt so far, but already the one-man act is showing signs of being a potential symphonic black metal powerhouse. The band’s first EP, Myrewood, although a little rough around the edges, showcased some impressive and effective songwriting that’s much more energetic and chaotic than all but a few bands in this style, and was surprisingly fully formed for a band so early on in their career. Now, their latest EP Sword Of Virné provides a somewhat sharper take on the sound of its predecessor, and serves as a far punchier and more bombastic affair as a result.
Durmad, The Ambitious, with its dark, symphonic sound, quickly establishes this record’s bombastic and dramatic credentials, with an expansive intro centred solely upon lively gothic pomp, before launching into a slick, melodic piece of black metal with polished leads, dense gutturals and monolithic drums. This portion of the track is significantly rougher around the edges, and doesn’t quite deliver on the promise that its grandiose opening moments hint at, but the music is still undoubtedly extremely sharp and well arranged. The Forge is knitted together more seamlessly, with the majesty of the orchestration being matched by the muscular guitars and tight drumming, and the harshness of the vocals sitting more comfortably in the mix. The thicker, more rhythmic sound allows the varied vocals and keys to act as the focal point, making their merits even more obvious to the listener.
Sword Of Virné sees the magnificent gothic flourishes rise much more prominently to the fore, and it’s a stylistic choice that works perfectly with the rest of the music, notably the soaring guitar hooks and the much more bellicose vocals. The drums keep a machine-gun precise pace that lends this an even more focused and ferocious sound, and it’s a lean and powerful approach that is mirrored by every other element, turning this into one of the record’s most impressive efforts. What Ambition Reaps, a short but incredibly effective instrumental track, strips away the metal backdrop entirely and devotes its entire attention to the huge, fantastic orchestral touches that have made each of these songs sound so thoroughly palpable. It’s a great way to bring this album to a close, and blends together components of classical, folk and goth to create something brilliantly brooding and immersive.
There’s a lot to love about this brief yet brilliant EP; the music on all fronts is extremely impressive, striking a fine balance between the epic and aggressive, with the orchestration being a particular highlight that is reminiscent of acts like SOPOR AETURNUS & THE ENSEMBLE OF SHADOWS in their best moments, drawing the listener further and further into the music. The one glaring downside is the disparity between the way that these fantastic moments and the metal centric ones are mixed. The crispness of the symphonic elements stands in stark contrast to the murkier, more subdued quality of the guitars and drums, especially on the first two songs. It’s a relatively minor gripe that leaves a slight blemish on what is a singularly sharp and imaginative EP that manages to strike a delicate balance between visceral intensity and accessibility. Both EPs are fleetingly short, and hopefully it won’t be long until CHRONICLER OF ARDUL finally unleash their first full album, as there’s a songwriting talent and style present here that is just begging to be explored in greater depth.
Rating: 8/10
Sword Of Virné is out now via self-release.
Follow CHRONICLER OF ARDUL on Bandcamp.