Trollech

Trollech - Dech Pohanských Větrů
Self-Released, 2000
Genre: Pagan Black Metal

1. Introllech
2. Opět Vidím Lodě
3. Lesem S Jarním Úsvitem
4. Píseň Pro Zemi V Lůně Starého Kontinentu
5. Hagalz R
6. I See the Ships Again










Trollech is another project featuring Lord Morbivod, this time the music is supposed to be more folk themed. While they eventually manage to pull this off quite well, “Dech Pohanských Větrů” seems to rely on using “clean” guitar passages. I’m not sure this really gives it a “folk” feel, but it does give a different dimension than Stíny Plamenů.

This is not the blistering Black Metal found on Stíny Plamenů but that’s because Lord Morbivod’s involvement does not include guitar playing. On this release he only performed Vocals and programmed the drums. The guitar work is all courtesy of Asura Godwar Gorgon Ray and he clearly has a vastly different style of play. I suspect these projects sort of poke a little fun at the Black Metal genre just by looking at the album cover. I think they take writing the music seriously, but things are not too serious over in their world. I think Trollech and the other projects involving Lord Morbivod are generated by serious love for the music, but not so much the image of the genre. Trollech seems to be clearly influenced by the great Viking Metal bands of Norway, such as Einherjer and Enslaved. However, as with Stíny Plamenů things feel a little more upbeat and aren't nearly as harsh and dark as the usual Viking Metal bands. The only time things get dark is during the song “Hagalz R” which is only a little over a minute long and consists of one riff with nothing but blast beats. However, that one riff is one of the darkest on the demo. The demo closes with an English version of “Opět Vidím Lodě” or “I see the ships again.” This was interesting, but they never printed the lyrics in English… so there was nothing for me to read.

For a cassette this actually turned out fairly well. The booklet is pro-printed , but doesn't have much in the way of art or pictures. The lyrics are printed, but being all in Czech, I have no idea what’s going on. I don’t think Trollech is as story or character driven as Stíny Plamenů so I figure they probably sing about nature and forests or something like that.

“Dech Pohanských Větrů” isn't a case where the demo is some of the bands best material. I don’t consider this something every Trollech fan must hear, unless you're a die-hard collector and need to hear everything by a band like me. You can really just skip to the later releases where the music is much stronger and a degree more original.