Bleeding4Metal Forum
Zombies => Falconer => Thema gestartet von: Munkaboo am August 03, 2008, 12:49:26 Vormittag
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http://www.reviewbusters.net/music/review.aspx?id=1298
Final Verdict
Although I still feel there is room for growth and improvement, I found this to be my favorite Falconer release to date. The tracks ooze with soaring harmonies and catchy riffs making each one memorable on Among Beggars and Thieves. The forthcoming single, “Carnival of Disgust” has one of the most infectious melodies I have ever heard from the band. This is definitely one power metal album swelling with folk rhythms that you need to hear!
Rating
9 out of 10
I can't wait. Theres another review on www.cmj.com but I cannot access it.
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Nice. Although I personally don't see where he finds the room for growth and improvements...
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Nice. Although I personally don't see where he finds the room for growth and improvements...
Same here.
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Another one here:
http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/14127/tempidx/4/menuid/2
:suicidal_smiley:
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Man, I don´t like that review :tdw:
I think they should have compared Among Beggars and Thieves to earlier Falconer albums instead of other bands, there was no mention of earlier albums at all. And I don´t like the critique of Mathias´singing, his great voice is one of the things that makes Falconer my favorite band of all times. They wrote something about Mathias not having the vocal range of other singers in power metal bands....WTF?! :suicidal_smiley: Just because he does´nt squeal like a castrato all the time?
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Gotta agree with cynic73 there. I favour Falconer because Mathias doesn't sound like hundreds of other typical average Metalband singers where after a while of listening you can't make out a difference. It's called unique and it's great.
Oh and the CMJ Review (http://prod1.cmj.com/articles/display_article.php?id=70047722) is finally accessible.
Excerpt
... It could all be the foundation for a dramatic, off-Broadway rock musical too, with lead vocalist Mathias Blad fitting nicely in the title role, seeing as how he was a theatrical actor first and power metal crooner second. And it shows. Fans who fell in love with Blad's well-trained and solid tenor when he debuted with Falconer in 2001 will be more than happy with his performance on this, their sixth album. But while his vocals are pitch-perfect and effortless, they often lack the punch needed to equal the intensity of the relentless metal guitar. The vocals shine though on the tracks sung in their native Swedish—"Vargaskall," "Skula, Skorpa, Skalk"—and during the breakdowns when the band gives their sound over to Norwegian folk stylings. ...
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Another one here:
http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/14127/tempidx/4/menuid/2
:suicidal_smiley:
Something tells me the reviewer is a death/black/viking metal fan. They generally abhor anything that even remotely resembles clean vocals. So I'm not terribly suprised at this review. IMO, Blad's vocals are one of the best things about Falconer.
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I totally agree with all of you guys. Mathias is one of Falconer's many dynamic ingredients that makes me listen to them. I thought the world already had enough of all these silly persons who doesn't accept or approve Mathias' voice. One thing that puzzles me is why these individuals even bother listening to Falconer's material at all, let alone spend time to write pointless reviews about their stuff.
I mean, Mathias has been singing on four albums now. It's not much of a surprise that Falconer's vocalist does not sound like one of those 3000 usual Italian/German power/black metal singers who are all dressed up in tight leather and diamond decorated jockstraps.
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*pictures Mathias in tight leather and a diamond-studded codpiece. Brain explodes*
Well see...alot of metalheads think all metal singers should sound a certain way. For instance, when it comes to women fronting metal, alot of people think operatic vocals are incredibly out of place. I find that they work incredibly well with symphonic metal. But for some reason metalheads think metal singers, whether male or female, should all scream or wail or growl. Or at least sound like they've been drinking Jack Daniel's Whisky for 40 years straight.
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Some also think if you like metal then you should dress a certain way, I don't and get a bit of stick off some of the lads at the local rock pubs. Some people should open their ears... and eyes!
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@ AngelOfMusic: Exactly my thoughts also. (And maybe one day Mathias will wear a codpiece on one of the band pics. Just to see both our brains explode. :biggrin:)
@ Dirge: Now, you've just GOT to wear those all-over-print-tees with grinded corpses and blood spurts to like metal! ;)
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Found one more:
http://www.pitriff.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=1059
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:tup:
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One thing I have to say about Falconer: Stefan REALLY knows how to write for Mathias' voice. It's almost uncanny how well the music and Matty's voice go together. And I think it also presents a bit of a challenge for Mathias, because his vocals have to go all over the scales at times. It's very rare that you get a musician who knows how to write for a singer's vocal style, but when it happens, it is a thing of beauty. I think Falconer showcases Mathias' style exceptionally well.
Though I still want to hear Matty sing in musicals. :)
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Something tells me the reviewer is a death/black/viking metal fan. They generally abhor anything that even remotely resembles clean vocals. So I'm not terribly suprised at this review. IMO, Blad's vocals are one of the best things about Falconer.
However might this thought come up? *irony off* You can read this from all the comparison the reviewer draws and even from the very first sentence, when mentioning the heritage of Falconer...
Except for the ridiculous judgement about Mathias' vocal abilities the review is very good, though.
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Happy to see these good reviews. I know I will love the CD no matter what liking Falconer so much but it's impressive to see others, critics and reviewers, with postive opinions overall.
I too take exception with the Mathias comments. And it makes me laugh a bit because of all the discussions that the hardcore fans had here pertaining to the vocalist history of Falconer. Regardless of the singer I think we all liked a clean sound and felt it set Falconer apart. Although he knew early history, apparently he was unaware of this.
These reviews make the wait for my copy even harder!!
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These reviews make the wait for my copy even harder!!
:icon_exclaim: :icon_exclaim: :icon_exclaim: :icon_exclaim: :icon_exclaim: :icon_exclaim: :icon_exclaim:
SO TRUE!!!!!!!
WAHHHHHHH! :tocktock: :verwirrt: :pillepalle:
Need album! Now! Waahhhhhhhrrrrrrhhhhaarrr! :flush_2: :icon_lol: :verwirrt: :pillepalle:
More than two weeks to go.... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :silly: :wand: :wand:
I am now officially out of my mind because of anticipation.
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http://www.pitriff.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=1059
PITRIFF RATING – 8/10 – If Andy LaRocque keeps producing bands with releases that sound this good, he may become more respected for his studio wizardry than his guitar playing. Falconer may just have recorded a new power metal classic with “Among Beggars and Thieves” but only time will tell. For those of you who get and understand this music, you will undoubtedly be blown away by this release. As for those who are periphery fans of this style of metal, you might just owe it to yourself to check this out. The only negative review of this release is that Blad’s vocal may tend to get a bit too happy sounding for the average metal fan; however in my opinion Falconer is a breath of fresh air in an ever increasingly unoriginal genre.
How do these jerks get these copies yet I still cant listen to it. grrr
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many great reviews! but I really couldn't care less about what other people say about Falconer, I would still love it=)
except this retard:
Another one here:
http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/14127/tempidx/4/menuid/2
:suicidal_smiley:
I'm OK with him not liking Falconer all that much, but him comparing them to almost every single band in the genre (and like it's a bad thing) is so annoying! it makes me think he's incapable to describe their sound in any other way. me so frustrated!! X(
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There is obviously a review at this place: http://www.squealer-rocks.de/cdreview.php?var=1612
Can someone be kind and translate it? (I know it's really long, but Karsten promised that he'll buy a huge beer to anyone who translates it! If this someone shows up at any upcoming gig, of course.)
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http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2008/08/falconer-among-beggars-and-thieves.html
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There is obviously a review at this place: http://www.squealer-rocks.de/cdreview.php?var=1612
Can someone be kind and translate it? (I know it's really long, but Karsten promised that he'll buy a huge beer to anyone who translates it! If this someone shows up at any upcoming gig, of course.)
As you command, sire! :)
Here's a rough translation from your most favourite of Austrian Falconites, whose names start with "P" :P
*******************************************************************
The Falconer is back. With a good regularity, the Swedes, around songwriter Stefan Weinerhall, line up another piece of metal for the race for the crown of the melodic metal king. After opera singer (?) Mathias Blad returned to the microphone of the band with the last Album NORTHWIND, people again expected awesome songs like "Mindtraveller" or "Enter the Glade" from the first two albums, but that album could not deliver to those high expectations and rather came up with sugarcoated, half-baked pop metal songs. Only "Northwind" and "Himmel Så Trind" could please the audience. This time Falconer joined the ranks of "Beggars and Thieves", to find their old strengths again, but was this endeavor crowned with success?
The expectations, which were high after the grand but, for Falconer conditions, very (old school) metal-like sounding GRIME VS GRANDEUR, couldn't be any lower, two years after the disappointing NORTHWIND album. With mixed feelings one takes the CD, with it's dark colored cover, in one's hands and at least joyfully notices with the track list, that the excursion into swedish lyrics wasn't only an event of the last album or just reduced to bonus tracks like in the past. Even on the simple retail version of the album one can look forward to three songs in their native tongue. Enough of preface and into the player with AMONG BEGGARS AND THIEVES. The disc is rotating and with it the anticipation is rising.
I'm still sitting here with a light rapture, while typing thses words, because this album delivers what the predecessor only promised. From the first minute on, one is offered the usual, easy melodies, catchy choruses and driving rhythms, which we all love about Falconer, but not in this obtrusive, pop-like way of the predecessor, but with more capacity and volume, so that something particular really happens, which usually doesn't happen in melodic metal - the album gains momentum with each time it is played. From "Mountain Men", with it's irish folklore touch, to "Viddernas Man" which reminds one of „Himmel Så Trind“ and "Skula, Skorpa, Skalk", which really has some similarities with "We Sold Our Homesteads" from CHAPTERS FROM A VALE FORLORN, all the songs need several replays to fully develop, which is why one doesn't get fed up with them too quickly. But the difference between other melodic metal bands, with a folk touch, and AMONG BEGGARS AND THIEVES, as well as the glorious past of Falconer, is the vocal effort of Mathias Blad, whose golden voice suits the songs more than well! As usual, Blad performs flawless in all his variety, no matter if it's a duet with a female vocalist, as in "A Beggar Hero", "Mountain Men" or the epic, multi voiced "Dreams and Pyres", which reminds a little of SCEPTRE OF DEDECPTION, or the more wilder songs like "Boiling Led" or "Field of Sorrow".
Conclusion: With AMONG BEGGARS AND THIEVES Falconer are really back, even though it can't really measure up with the strong first two albums. The compositions seem a lot more mature and more diverse than on the predecessor from two years ago, which is why this album presents a quite unusual "über-song" that is "Dreams and Pyres". Those who buy the Limited Edition of the album may look forward to the two bonus tracks "Dark Ages" and "Vi Sälde Våra Hemman" (engl. "We Sold Our Homesteads").
*******************************************************************
Hope the translation was somehow comprehensibly written.
Attention: This is NOT MY OPINION on the album!!! I'll try to write up my review some other time as I'm still in the phase of getting into the songs. But I'm totally enjoying the ride! (F**k man, Boiling Led is such an awesome song!! That was love on first sight ;) Oh, and that dual solo on "Vargaskall", fu**in beautiful! Weinerhall-Hedlund = twinbladed guitar fury!!)
Greetz
Prab
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Now, THAT was a fast translation, fellow Prabster! Thank you so much!
It was a pretty good review as well, although "progression" is a word that few reviewers out there know jack shit about. :icon_rolleyes:
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Great job translating the german review, Prab! I liked the part about Mathias´ "golden voice"...I think it´s a good way to describe it!
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Two more reviews, the first one (http://www.rock-metal-music-reviews.com/album-review-falconer-among-beggars-and-thieves/) made me laugh to be honest ;D.
Second one is from here (http://www.metal1.info/reviews/reviews.php?rev_id=3014)
Exactly two years after the release of „Northwind“ have gone by and now FALCONER are on the start again with their concept album “Among Beggars And Thieves”. The title doesn’t leave a lot of room for interpretation, one prescribes oneself on the sixth album the life of beggars and thieves in Medieval Sweden. Where the Scandinavians with the previous album – and the return of singer master Mathias Blad – wanted to be in the fans’ good books, they want to continue their success story with the current one.
Now this success story seems to be tied to singer Mathias Blad since then, which has shown with the moderate success of the two albums („The Sceptre Of Deception“ und „Grime vs. Grandeur“) without his contribution. The cover as well should be worth a mentioning, was it designed another time by graphic genius Jan Meininghaus and leaves no doubt, where FALCONER wants to move.
The Falconers continue where they ended on “Northwind”: with singing guitars of the brand Weinerhall and Hedlund, with impressing rhythm work by drummer Larsson and bassist Linhardt and of course, as always, with the breathtaking voice of Blad, whose full-time job is musical-singer. Who has already experienced the guys on stage, knows that they are passionate and hungry like lions.
Reason enough to forget with the Opener „Field of Sorrow“ about a lengthy and tiring foreplay and immediately start with the main course. In familiar two-partedness the listener gets slammed with varied riffs, double-bass-attacks and in speed varying snars. No stunning, but a worthy start in promising 50 minutes FALCONER.
Especially notable is hat the quintet intensively dedicated itself to folk laden interludes – with success. Harmonic to such an extent you haven’t experienced the Falconers before, this much perfect you have never heard Blad singing. His voice moves “Among Beggars and Thieves” to unforeseen heights, provides it a matchless character and definitely contributes that the folk parts spark off and they stylistically come close to their debut more than ever. That they apart from Up-tempo-songs can be all quit and pensive, they demonstrate with „A Beggar Hero“, where Blad and an angelic female voice deliver a touching, accompanied by melodious acoustic guitars, duet. After they have paid tribute to calm minds as well, they continue with “Vargaskall” – one of two (on the Limited Edition three) tracks in Swedish language. [actually, it’s three to four]
The friends of big birds give their whole repertoire on “Boiling Led” its best. After a short introduction of acoustic and twisted six strings, it properly rumbles in the box. Because of the slightly chopped singing which is deposited by double-bass-shots and pushed forwards, the harmonic interludes and the simply brilliant licks, you are in high danger of a catchy-tune – attention! Also the taillight „Dreams and Pyres“ can’t excel this master stroke by Falconer, disappoints indeed a bit: the attempted pomposity only minimally functions (and that just because of the very forceful background-choir) and probably was mixed too quiet and therefore leaves no positive remaining impression.
What is to mentioned here as well is hat produced Andy LaRoque (Bolt Thrower, Evergrey, In Flames) otherwise did everything right and made the disc abounding with energy.
In general the disc is adhered with a slight till medium strength operatic touch which is certainly not to everybody’s taste. But with this, the negative critique was already brought forward because eventually “Among Beggars And Thieves” is until now the most consistent and impressive achievement after the surprising success of the debut album.
Mathias Blad brings out his special position as well as his being indispensable for the whole band and their success. Without a bad conscience you can recommend the purchase for friends of symphonetic Power Metal who don’t want to forego a certain rigour – two bonus tracks and the video to “Carnival of Disgust” serve as appeal to also get the Limited Edition.
Kitsch has never been as beautiful.
Rating: 9.5/10
Reviewer: Dennis Piller
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First review:
ROTFLMAO
He has a good sense of humour, this man. And he is absolutely right. Now everyone who appreciate Falconer's music will have to start roleplaying games and trade cards with wizards and fairies on them.
Second review:
GREAT review!
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Here´s another one I just found:
http://www.powerofmetal.dk/
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The first review sounds a bit like something my boyfriend would say aboute "A Quest for the Crown".
When I listen to it he starts singing on "Brave sir Robin". Hehe...
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The first review sounds a bit like something my boyfriend would say aboute "A Quest for the Crown".
When I listen to it he starts singing on "Brave sir Robin". Hehe...
You know what's funny. I do that as well ^_^.
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No shit, I got to get inspiration from somewhere........
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No shit, I got to get inspiration from somewhere........
LOL
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He he!
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Hahaha.. fan va roligt. I like youre source of inspiration! ;D
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Quest for the Crown...Monty Python and the Holy Grail. THE CONNECTION WORKS. lol
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unoffical review at a forum: http://deathdoom.freeforums.org/falconer-among-beggars-thieves-t413.html#440
Sent via the Myspace page.
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No shit, I got to get inspiration from somewhere........
What? I thought you get your inspiration through lyrics of some eastern european underground hip hop bands. At least you said so some years ago, remember? ;D :biggrin:
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No shit, I got to get inspiration from somewhere........
Haha!
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Someone who read the reviews in Sweden Rock Magazine? Just got it home today. They came second to last in Leader of the pack!! And only got 5/10 point in the normal review.
On the bright side, the have Man of the hour on the free CD that comes with the papper to subscribers, and there is a small interview with Stefan. :)
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I can only agree with one thing Sweden Rock Magazine writes about the album, and that's the silly misspelling of the metal lead. Should be "Boiling Lead" and nothing else. I thought Mathias even had lived in England for a while.
But apart from that, a marvellous album!
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I haven´t read SRM´s review yet, but I also agree about the misspelling of "lead", that´s about as new as painting your face or smashing your guitar on stage...but hey, isn´t metal supposed to be a little bit silly once in a while? ;)
By the way, welcome to the forum Vandroiy!
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Thanx :bangersmiley:
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Don't know if it's a new one. But it's rather short:
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/discography/index.jsp?pid=442108&aid=1167117
And here's one as well ("fairy metal" - that's a suiting expression! :icon_rolleyes:)
http://teethofthedivine.com/site/reviews/falconer-among-beggars-and-thieves/
Well...this one's original:
http://www.waytooloud.com/2008/09/02/falconer-among-beggars-and-thieves-2/
This is good (albeit I do not think that the original Falconer sound is not there):
http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=12410&lang=en
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And here's one of the worst reviews I've ever read anytime. It makes me wonder if the reviewer listens to anything heavier than Boy George:
http://www.corren.se/archive/2008/9/10/jvsw3qi2qig5e53.xml
At first, I thought of translating it. But this review is so unprofessional that I can't get myself to translate even the two first words of it. (Maybe someone else can? The album gets a 2/5, anyway.)
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Oh man, Correns review really is the most pathetic I have ever read! Why did they bother at all? I´m a bit ashamed for being so offended... :suicidal_smiley:
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Ok. I will try to translate it, but don't make fun of my english! Hopefully you'll understand it.
Too Meaningless.
The metalheads in Falconer with three fifths from Mjölby, knows their stuff. But it's too meaningless according to Correns reviewer, who gives the album 2/5 C.
What does Mjölby have to offer the world when it comes to folkmetal? The anwser is three fifths of Falconer, that's now releasing their sixth album. Unfortunately doesn't neither the ones that live in Mjölby nor the other members contribute with anything worth mentioning. Sure, they know their stuff, but it's horribly non-exciting. The vocals are something towards Power-Metal, but sadly it's totaly meaningless. The lyrics are evenly divided between english and some kind of made up old swedish that is so popular among bands in this genre. It is not good.
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It doesn't sound like Correns knows much about metal at all...
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some kind of made up old swedish
what the birdsh|t?
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some kind of made up old swedish
what the birdsh|t?
I think that the person who wrote that was aiming at that most bands dealing with the Middle Ages write about it with older words of their own language - a vocabulary which lies close to the poetry of the late 19th century - while the medieval people of course spoke a language much more separated from ours. The criticism is quite irrelevant though, as I think that it would be extremely narrow (and laborious) to write in real Old Swedish, and I think that the more formal and a little older words contribute to the feeling. Besides, I think that Stefan has managed to create a very realistic copy of the form and metre of a 14th-15th century folk song in "Skula, Skorpa, Skalk".
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It doesn't sound like Correns knows much about metal at all...
Very true!
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Well, since Corren, or Östgötacorrespondenten as it is really called, is a local newspaper for the part of Sweden where 3/5 of the band live, it is not surprising that the review they come up with is fairly uninitiated. The only reason that they are writing about Falconer is that they are a local band, not because they are into the general style.
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http://www.stormbringer.at/reviews.php?id=3032
I can't read it, but they gave it a 3.5/5 Sooo...I guess they sort of liked it?
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It seems to me that the people who listens to Falconer (Falconites and/or "common" listeners) like the album a lot more than the reviewers.
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http://www.stormbringer.at/reviews.php?id=3032
I can't read it, but they gave it a 3.5/5 Sooo...I guess they sort of liked it?
They said in short:
This is a good album, but the band cannot play metal, because they have a singer and a tempo that turn their metal into musical. They should therefore instead become a band making "heavy musical" (whatever that means). :icon_rolleyes: The concept of medieval injustice and beggars is an entirely uniteresting one and the Swedish lyrics sound comic. All these downpoints drag down a grade that originated in the band's skill of creating folky musical. At the end it is recommended to only a few and especially those who like musicals.
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http://www.stormbringer.at/reviews.php?id=3032
I can't read it, but they gave it a 3.5/5 Sooo...I guess they sort of liked it?
Oh, Ancient Minstrel was faster than me, but anyway ;)
Concept albums are always a bit… ehm… something to get used to I’d say. Of course, it depends on the theme which gets handled and how far the listeners are acquainted with it.
To be specific the current FALCONER disc is about stories about “Beggars and Thieves” in medieval Sweden. For me absolutely not interesting, for others maybe just what they are waiting for.
The execution of the concept I like a bit more. I might snap some FALCONER-Fans, but I ask myself why is this band playing Metal? Wouldn’t these guys be better in good hands in the musical-scene? The composition of history reminds me too much of a musical. As well as, or foremost the vocals are the salient point which lets me make up the thesis that the guys actually want to play metal, but with returning vocalist Mathias Blad, who has a great guy, they can’t. In my opinion, Mister misses a metal-typical voice. His voice sounds too clear, too nice and too soft. Because of this “harder musicals” are really the best solution. And therefore midtempo tracks dominate the folkloric background music, all quite “nice” and with a bit of imagination you can project a conversion to the stage in front of your inner eye. Rarely, the accelerator is floored, then even doublebass attacks have their appearance…a climax so to speak. The involvement of the Swedish language for some tracks grants a bonus. Strangely, these are the ones that appeal to me a bit more. Maybe, the concept works here!
All in all: Makes a change, something different, but maybe not for everyone, but certainly a great disc for musical lovers.
Interesting though that the reviewer said in the comments that he didn't know that Mathias is a musical singer.
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Allow me to say: Fucking idiots!!!!!!! To put it short, their opinion is exactly the opposite to mine. The musical/folk is exactly what makes it good.
PLaying "metal" with leather pants and spikes is done by a thousand bands allready.
Excuse my sort of scranky reaction............gotta let of some steam.
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Exactly my thoughts. Just don't listen to them.
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Those Austrians, bad reviews and imprisoning families in the basement.
A sadistic culture thay have.
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Those Austrians, bad reviews and imprisoning families in the basement.
A sadistic culture thay have.
ROTFLMAO
I think you should write a song about them.
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Hehe, yup they're crazy, they are!
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I hate Jakob Hasse! (c)
But he's right 8)
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The writer of this review seems to be a really intelligent individual:
http://www.revolution-music.dk/
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Those Austrians, bad reviews and imprisoning families in the basement.
A sadistic culture thay have.
sorry, but I hope you don't mean that serious.
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Allow me to say: Fucking idiots!!!!!!! To put it short, their opinion is exactly the opposite to mine. The musical/folk is exactly what makes it good.
PLaying "metal" with leather pants and spikes is done by a thousand bands allready.
Excuse my sort of scranky reaction............gotta let of some steam.
I can't say I blame you for your reaction. That was an aweful review. It isn't exactly congruent with a 3.5/5 score, either. And the reviewer sent it to the Falconer Myspace, too. What nerve, eh?
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Those Austrians, bad reviews and imprisoning families in the basement.
A sadistic culture thay have.
Okay, and now let's have the word of one of those sadistic and family imprisoning fellows, who has been contributing to this forum and also been a Falconite for years, shall we?
I understand Stefan's scranky reaction really well. I reacted a bit like that too, when I first read the Stormbringer Review (click) (http://www.stormbringer.at/reviews.php?id=3032). That's why I immediately wrote a comment to the reviewer guy. If you scroll down on that review, you'll see that short conversation, only four comments. Yap, that "Minstrel" guy is actually ME.
So, Avricha, has already translated the review very well! Ancient Minstrel's translation was - sorry to say that, I'm just being honest - fairly bad and invoking misunderstandings. I have the impression that his english skills are far more improved that his skill in german.
Let me just translate the four comments for you too. That will give you the whole picture.
An interesting review, Baphomet. Really legibly written and inspiring discussion.
Falconer and musical - two subjects that should not be separated from each other, as you've assumed correctly. Mathias Blad is a professional musical singer. I also think that his voice is "untypical" in metal, but that's what makes Falconer so unique, I claim. There are already more than enough typical falsetto singing power metal singers or raspy voiced singers (like the interim ex-Falconer singer Kristoffer Göbels) in this genre. I am totally aware that it's the just the reviewers personal view and opinion, but - do metal vocals necessarily have to sound "raw, evil and hard" (as opposed to "too clear, to nice and too soft" [as he had written in the review])?
Baphomet, one more question, what do you think of their first two cds "Falconer" and "Chapters From A Vale Forlorn"? I'm asking you, because I think that you were somehow rather surprised by those, seemingly unexpected, "doublebass-attacks". The first two albums perfectly prove that Falconer are definitely capable of writing fast power metal songs [as opposed to "soft musical like songs" as he wrote in his review].
Is this the first album of Falconer that you've heard or reviewed?
Don't get my comment wrong or even trolling, this is just about discussion.
Greetz
Minstrel
Hallo!
I didn't know that that guy is a musical singer. I have to agree to what you said, because this really makes FALCONER unique (pay attention to my conclusion).
No, metal vocals don't need to always be "raw, evil and hard"... that's why I posted this thesis and reduced the absence of a "typically" metal voice to my own personal view and opinion.
Yes, that's true, it's the first FALCONER-cd that I've listened to.
Regards,
Baphomet
Hi!
Wow, a quick answer! I like that.
I can really recommend those first two albums to you. They are without doubt among the strongest albums of this band. These "beginning" works of Falconer really add to the picture of everything they've released afterwards.
So, if you are interested in this genre and especially the music of this band, just check them out.
Song suggestions: "Mindtraveller", "Clarion Call", "Upon The Grave Of Guilt", "Portals of Light"
Greetz
Minstrel
ok, thanks for the suggestion!
That reviewer guy simply didn't know anything about what he was actually writing. He even agreed on checking out other stuff by the band (if he didn't give a shit, why would he even bother to answer to my comment or even thanking me for the suggestion?).
So, as everyone here can see now, we Austrians don't only imprisonate family and are sadistic, no! here comes the surprise: we also stand up for our most favorite bands, and confront reviewers who write bullshit.
Thanks for the attention,
Prab out
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Hmm, I did misunderstand that last part concerning the Swedish lyrics. But when I read Avricha's translation it was all (except the part about Swedish) the way I understood it, so if anything else was different it must be because I was sloppy writing down what I meant. For example that part with the hard musical, I noticed that I had formulated in a very strange way in my post.
But of course, my English is much better than my German.
(Now when I read that part about the Swedish lyrics again, I am surprised how I could misinterpret it so ...) :icon_rolleyes:
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The writer of this review seems to be a really intelligent individual:
http://www.revolution-music.dk/
Now here's a guy who actually listened to the whole album (or at least parts of it, which seems to be very rare among the reviewers).
I think this review points out just about exactly what I feel for this album...
Could you please translate it to English, monsieur Hasse?
(And I simply adore the word "pladesmed".)
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The writer of this review seems to be a really intelligent individual:
http://www.revolution-music.dk/
Great review!
And quite easy for me as a Swede to understand the Danish language when it´s written. It´s a totally different thing trying to understand a Dane when he/she speaks ;D (just thought I should attack the Danes a little, so the Austrians don´t have to take all the flak ;) )
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Ok, dit ord er min lov, ærede knægt!
This is a (very) quick translation of the Danish review:
(I don't know if I agree with you Stefan, I thought many of his senteces were a little strange... :))
This is how to do a power/folk metal CD. In 2001 Falconer were elected the new coming band
of the year by many of the biggest metal magazines. It's now 2008 and they are certainly
not newcomers anymore. If they haven't set a name for themselves by now, this record
will.
It's been a while since a record has made me smile so much. Everything works well, from the
extremely great melodies to the great production. And the mix by Andy LaRocque just tops it
off. And I can't even say anything bad about the vocals this time. Well, Mathias Blads voice
isn't very wide, but it doesn't matter at all, because at no time does he try to push his
voice or do something he can't pull off. He knows what he can do and he sticks with it and
his voice is well and can carry a tune, like very few singers. This is what characterizes this
record, one good melody after another, both musically and song wise. There is tempo, there are
cool riffs and delicious solos all the way through, it's one of those records which make me
totally ecstatic. It is so varied and nice, regardless if it's in English or Swedish it really
works - even though I have a preference for the Swedish tracks "Vargaskall" and "Viddernas mann".
If Falconer made bras as good as this record, even Pamela Anderson wouldn't have to worry
about her tits falling out.
The guitars, which are played by Stefan Weinerhall and Jimmy Hedlund are like angelic voices
to my ears. The sound and the mix are no less than fantastic. Wow to the sound of the drums
which really gets justice(?). What can I say besides, if you are into power metal and songs
about the medieval lives of beggars and thieves, you have to go to your local record store
and pick up this new album from Falconer "Among Beggars and Thieves", which for me so far
is the record of the year, no less!
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If Falconer made bras as good as this record, even Pamela Anderson wouldn't have to worry
about her tits falling out.
:schock: :biggrin: :lachen:
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If Falconer made bras as good as this record, even Pamela Anderson wouldn't have to worry
about her tits falling out.
:schock: :biggrin: :lachen:
ROTFLMAO
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Okay, now here (http://www.darkscene.at/index.php?m=review&i=3490) is another Austrian Review to smooth ruffled feathers.
It was published in the "Darkscene Metal Magazin" (http://www.darkscene.at/index.php?m=review&i=3490) which is a online webzine with very much a vaster readership than stormbringer ever had.
I translated it. They gave the album a 7,5/10.
Let's reconsider the comments about "those Austrians":
Actually everything is alright again for Falconer, after Mathias Blad rejoined the band. “Northwind” marked the comeback of the man with the charismatic voice, followed the thread of the first two albums and offered exactly that kind of solemn and beautiful metal fare, that once brought the band a multitude of following with the grand debut album. The incredible Meininghaus-artwork of “Among Beggars And Thieves” (a concept album about the medieval life of beggars and thieves) already makes one wish for the typical Falconer fare and then the content of the by now sixth album, which was very impressively produced by Andy LaRoque, will never disappoint anybody.
It starts outright with “Field Of Sorrow”, and this doublebass metal song with a folkloric touch of the highly melodic kind dashes ahead and pleases the listeners. As if the weaker albums of the past years never existed, Falconer offer their typical fare which is full of familiar impressions, grand melodies and delicate instrumentals. There is nothing completely new or surprising to be found here, but the real fans of the band wouldn’t care too much about that. They would rather rejoice in catchy tunes like “Man Of The Hour”, “Carnival Of Disgust”, which is already known through the video clip, another catchy song called “Boiling Led”, or in the long “Dreams And Pyres”, a song that combines all the strengths of this band. Despite all the known trademarks and despite the little bit corny, Swedish sung “Vargaskall”, Falconer manages to never ever become boring, obtrusive or overblown. It’s very seldom these days that such wonderful melodies, singing highspeed parts, groovy rhthms, acoustic passages and dozens of folky handcraft sound so evenly good. Above them all reigns the voice of musicalsinger Blad, who once again effortlessly manages to provide this splendid operatic charme to all those very romantic and solemn songs, which can only be done by Falconer with Mathias Blad on the microphone and which grants them exactly that last spark of unobtrusive easiness, beauty and sweeping power, which elevates the Swedes from all the rest of the genre.
For me “Among Beggars And Thieves” might even be the best Falconer Album since the glorious, but unrivaled, debut album and fans of the band will also be thrilled, just as well as friends of bombastic folk-metal art of the symphonic kind.
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Ok, I think you (the Austrians) are now granted forgivness..
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Yeah, that was a good Austrian review, but "Vargaskall" corny?
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OH, HALLOWED BE THE NAME OF THE SON OF THE STORM AND HIS POWER BELTS AND MAGIC RINGS!
(http://www.forum-gewerberecht.de/images/smilies/anbeten.gif)(http://www.forum-gewerberecht.de/images/smilies/anbeten.gif)(http://www.forum-gewerberecht.de/images/smilies/anbeten.gif)(http://www.fussball-sr.de/images/smilies/anbeten.gif)(http://www.forum-gewerberecht.de/images/smilies/anbeten.gif)(http://www.forum-gewerberecht.de/images/smilies/anbeten.gif)(http://www.forum-gewerberecht.de/images/smilies/anbeten.gif)
(http://www.supernature-forum.de/images/smilies/wm/wm0630.gif)(http://www.supernature-forum.de/images/smilies/wm/wm0615.gif)
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And then, finally, The Mighty Prabster went into chronic delirium. :icon_mrgreen:
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And then, finally, The Mighty Prabster went into chronic delirium. :icon_mrgreen:
Oh, I thank thee, noble Black Knight, for entiteling me as "The Mighty" :biggrin:
And Of course, I have to go into chronic delirium since we were finally granted forgiveness :icon_wink:
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Okay, then...some more of these silly reviews. Maybe if I print them on paper I can burn them in my tile stove.
(Once again, I hope noone else has posted these links)
http://www.tartareandesire.com/reviews/Falconer/Among_Beggars_And_Thieves/4097/ (This one may be the silliest of them all)
http://www.metal-temple.com/review.asp?id=3148 (Okay review, but hey - 3,5/5?)
http://www.metal-archives.com/review.php?id=200372 (Short but pretty good.)
http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=12410&lang=en (Okay. This guy has posted a link to a Youtube version of Clarion call. How very appropriate indeed, mate.)
I think I'm done reading reviews for this time. It seems to me like most of the reviewers think that:
1) Nothing has happened since the first albums (which sometimes seems to be tiresome, sometimes totally awesome and sometimes both at the same time.)
2) It's too much silly power metal (yeah, right! have these guys ever heard Power metal like Fairyforce, Dragontale, Windbreaker and/or whatever the f*ck those other high pitched, 260+ BPM fairytale bands are called? Falconer is not power metal.)
A quote from the lordsofmetal.nl reviewer wraps it all up I think:
"In the end this is a good album, of course, but the unique sound is now mostly created by singer Blad, whereas in earlier days his voice AND the music created the unique sound."
I think I'll go print a t-shirt with that quote on.
And then, on a moonlit night with a lot of spells and magic potions involved, I'll burn that in my tile stove as well.
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I have to agree with the last review. This is a stellar album, but I would not rank it as my favorite Falconer album. They have yet to top their first two albums, IMO. All in all, I think ABAT is a solid album.
The first review just made me want to punch the reviewer.
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Falconer is not power metal.)
I disagree, honestly. It's become almost a cliche to deny that your band plays power metal, because the term has become this bizarre taboo. But everyone who says that says something like, "well, we don't sing about medieval/fantasy stuff" or "well, we don't shred" or "well, we don't have a high-pitched vocalist" or "well, we incorporate too many styles to be pigeonholed".
You know what? They're all different types of power metal, just like they're all different types of heavy metal. Sonata Arctica and Evergrey sing about relationships, but I'd still call them power metal. Nightwish is operatic and involve many gothic elements, but the vocals and themes suggest symphonic power metal. DragonForce and Cellador incorporate thrash elements. Falconer has a baritone vocalist, but the melodicness, cleanliness, and speed are true to a form of the genre. The scope of power metal is wider than the narrow vision everyone seems to have.
Instead of all running from the term, bands should recognize that the fanbase accepts it and likes it (hence the continued survival of the label) and will use it to seek out other bands that mix metallic intensity with epic themes and melodic vocals.
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@ RedFox742: You got a point there, mate! But what I am after is that I think the reviewers compare Falconer with the kind of Power metal that I do not think they sound like one bit. Then there's always personal definitions and stuff like that. Personally I think Falconer is Symphonic Castrate Synthesized Hard Rock.
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They have yet to top their first two albums, IMO.
Is that possible? ::)
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Falconer is not power metal.)
I disagree, honestly. It's become almost a cliche to deny that your band plays power metal, because the term has become this bizarre taboo. But everyone who says that says something like, "well, we don't sing about medieval/fantasy stuff" or "well, we don't shred" or "well, we don't have a high-pitched vocalist" or "well, we incorporate too many styles to be pigeonholed".
You know what? They're all different types of power metal, just like they're all different types of heavy metal. Sonata Arctica and Evergrey sing about relationships, but I'd still call them power metal. Nightwish is operatic and involve many gothic elements, but the vocals and themes suggest symphonic power metal. DragonForce and Cellador incorporate thrash elements. Falconer has a baritone vocalist, but the melodicness, cleanliness, and speed are true to a form of the genre. The scope of power metal is wider than the narrow vision everyone seems to have.
Instead of all running from the term, bands should recognize that the fanbase accepts it and likes it (hence the continued survival of the label) and will use it to seek out other bands that mix metallic intensity with epic themes and melodic vocals.
That is exactly how I feel too! I have been fighting for this opinion in many situations, but mostly the bands themselves, as you say, deny their music being Power Metal, as Power Metal has become an insult.
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I rest my case.
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Symphonic Castrate Synthesized Hard Rock
My dear Black Knight, WHY of all possible words, do you include the word "castrate" to describe Falconer's music? ??? :biggrin: :schock:
Well, I ususally describe Falconer as a "power metal band with folk influences". I think that does justice to their music.
Of course, a lot of people think of high pitched wailing sounds sung by men with to tight pants or whatever - but - SO WHAT?!
Just because a bunch of people decide that a particular word is "not trendy" or "not true" enough, doesn't change the meaning of that word/term one single bit! Power metal is metal with powerful and really energizing riffs and melodies. Falconer's music IS powerful and energizing, plus they've got some really interesting folk melodies and influences going on.
And that mix sounds more than awesome to me, period.
I love "ABAT", it's a wonderful album really! Still, I love "Falconer" and "Chapters" even more. I'm not sure, if Falconer can ever top those albums, but I'm also not sure, if that's even necessary or even possible. I don't think Stefan spends time thinking "damn, how do I top a killer song like "Mindtraveller" or "Clarion Call"", I rather think, that he just plays what he thinks and feels sounds the best at the moment.
I really dig the more "heavy" and "raw" sound of the first album, that adds a lot to the heavyness of that album.
But, as always, I'm more than eager to know what Stefan and the guys will come up with the next time around! Let's say, in 2009? 2010? :)
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Symphonic Castrate Synthesized Hard Rock
My dear Black Knight, WHY of all possible words, do you include the word "castrate" to describe Falconer's music? ??? :biggrin: :schock:
Couldn't think of a more silly word at the moment. :biggrin:
I love "ABAT", it's a wonderful album really! Still, I love "Falconer" and "Chapters" even more. I'm not sure, if Falconer can ever top those albums, but I'm also not sure, if that's even necessary or even possible. I don't think Stefan spends time thinking "damn, how do I top a killer song like "Mindtraveller" or "Clarion Call"", I rather think, that he just plays what he thinks and feels sounds the best at the moment.
I really dig the more "heavy" and "raw" sound of the first album, that adds a lot to the heavyness of that album.
But, as always, I'm more than eager to know what Stefan and the guys will come up with the next time around! Let's say, in 2009? 2010? :)
You said something really clever there, Prabster. I could not have said it better.
(although I think these albums are equally good (abat and the two first). but they are quite hard to compare, so I won't try that out.)
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Hey, a metal board where people have reasonable, thought-out discussions.
I'm stunned.
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They have yet to top their first two albums, IMO.
Is that possible? ::)
I have complete confidence in Stefan's songwriting abilities that it is, indeed possible. :)
Now, as to whether or not they'll top The Clarion Call...that remains to be seen. But I am a bit biased, seeing as that is my favorite Falconer tune. ;)
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Hey, a metal board where people have reasonable, thought-out discussions.
I'm stunned.
Yep, that's the way it works in the glade of Falconer. :icon_wink: I have actually noticed that it has much to do with the band itself whether its board is a platform for serious discussions or only a combination of insults and fanboy-behaviour. The more extreme a band gets, the lower the level of the discussions. Thrash and Gothic Metal can also be included. Black, Death, Gothic and Thrash bands generate hate and bad language in forums, while Power, Heavy, Folk and Progressive Metal bands give a calmer discussion climate, for some reason ...
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It's always hard for a band to make a record to top their earlier albums, if those were good ones. If I'd play all Falconer's albums to someone who never heard them before and asked them to rate them, I don't think they would favorize the old albums, I guess the results would be quite varying.
Anyway, after some though I would myself rate the new album as one of the two best Falconer albums. And the other one, is for me, the first album. But I guess that's because of nostalgic reasons. I've listened to Falconer all through their career and I guess you always cherish earlier records for reasons like that. They bring back old memories, and a common expression in Sweden is "det var bättre förr!" ;D (It was better before). I think it's human to think back and remember older days, and maybe those memories become a little glorified with the years. I think that way of thinking applies to music too.
By the way, I also think "Northwind" gives "Chapters From A Vale Forlorn" a good run for it's money too. I can't decide which one is their third best and which is the fourth. I only know "Sceptre Of Deception" is the fifth in my mind, and "Grime vs Grandeur" is without doubt on last place.
I want to finish this with a contribution of my own judging of the songs from the new album. Take care!
FALCONER - Among Beggars And Thieves
1. Field Of Sorrow 8,5/10
2. Man Of The Hour 9/10
3. A Beggar Hero 7,5/10
4. Vargaskall 8,5/10
5. Carnival Of Disgust 7,5/10
6. Mountain Men 7/10
7. Viddernas Man 7/10
8. Pale Light Of Silver Moon 8/10
9. Boiling Led 8,5/10
10. Skula Skorpa, Skalk 8/10
11. Dreams And Pyres 7,5/10
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Found this totally by accident.
http://www.411mania.com/music/album_reviews/86128
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Vandroy seems to be a quite clever man who just explaines the "judging albums by sentimental means"
Couldn't have said it better myself.
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Vandroy seems to be a quite clever man who just explaines the "judging albums by sentimental means"
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Exactly my thoughts as well.