Ahhh yes, Primordial. One of the very few bands within metal that have an instantly distinctive sound. The combination of metal with the 3/4 timing of Irish folk music works so incredibly well.
Early Primordial mixed the folk in with black metal elements peaking with Storm Before Calm which is essentially a black metal album. The Gathering Wildness is almost a complete opposite reaction to Storm Before Calm. Almost all of the harsh vocals are eliminated (save for Tragedy's Birth), and AA's clean/moaned vocals are instead the main focus of this album.
The songs have taken on a slower, more mournful tone on this album compared to the previous entries into the Primordial discography. You can hear the pain and remorse in the vocals and the melodies as they slowly recall past events in these seven compositions, with the greatest example being the epic The Coffin Ships.
The Coffin Ships is on my short list of song that I label "perfect." Every single note, every single line spoken/sung, every instant within the ten minutes of this masterpiece drips of tragedy. The way the riffs sway back and fourth reminds me of a ship at sea, and AA's vocals recall the story of ships that set sail from Ireland never to return. Such a tale can only be told by a band such as Primordial.
This album was the first time I ever heard the band way back in 2005. While I initially didn't like their style it grew on me over time. I still don't care for the opener on the album, but every other song is absolutely stunning, especially the aforementioned The Coffin Ships.
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