Elffor ‎"Heriotz Sustraiak" Cassette (Bonustrack)

Recorded at Kakasiku Studios anno 2012. Cover art by Igor Mugerza. Heriotz sustraiak is Basque for "Deadly Roots".

Eöl: Synths, vocals
Fran: Drums
Jabo: Guitars, bass
Hildr Valkyrie: Backing vocals

Available for the first time on cassette, the ELFFOR’ sixth full-length album. Released originally in 2012, this edition of Heriotz Sustraiak contains 5 songs and offers over 60 minutes of keyboard-driven epic, symphonic and atmospheric Black Metal. Limited to 100 copies.

After only two years the Basque solo project Elffor returns with its new opus called “Heritoz Sustraiak”, this project created by the keyboardist Eöl is a well established and highly respected band in the scene, not only in the Basque Country but also internationally. Initially this was a pure dark ambient project profoundly influenced by The Dark Ages but it slowly started to add metal elements which have gained prominence in the sound of the band. Anyway, the magnificent keys of Eöl continue to play a major role, evoking the pure darkness and sorrow of the medieval times.
“Heriotz Sustraiak” doesn’t differ too much from the previous album called “Frostbitten Pain”, which confirmed the reinforcement of the black metal influence, this evolution is especially noticeable in the drums which are now more intense and fast. It is also a reaffirmation of the interest of Eöl to create longer compositions (five in the previous album and now only four), but in this case the new creation is a step forward. In the new compositions the balance between the heaviest parts and the most atmospheric ones is reinforced and improved in comparison to the songs we listened to in the previous cd. Consequently I consider this new work as a more inspired one and one the best works alongside “Unblessed Woods” and “From the Throne of Hate”.
Each composition of this album is easily distinguishable because they are focused in different elements of Elffor’s trademark sound, it’s like a compilation of what you can expect from this brilliant project. The opening track called “Barrumbe Beltza” is probably one of the best songs in Elffor’s career, it’s a long and epic track, very atmospheric with the traditional astonishing keys but in this case accompanied in the beginning of the composition by the evoking and wonderful voice of Hidrl Valkirie. The track is the perfect balance between the old and the newer and heavier stuff, an absolutely flawless composition. “Hiladakoen Basoetan” is just the opposite, this track is tremendously fast and furious with the smashing drums of Ametsgaizto , they keys though being present play a slightly less important role in this case and are overshadowed by the guitars and drums. The added barbaric choir sounds incredibly good and reinforces the intention of Elffor to evoke a putrid atmosphere of death and violence. The third and homonymic composition brings back the old atmospheric stuff with these great ambient keys in the first half and it slowly adds more metal elements. After this calmer track the final composition “Kateek Loturik” summarizes perfectly all the elements of the album, it’s like a combination of the first two tracks and it perfectly flows between the fastest sections to the most atmospheric ones. It is also enriched by some acoustic guitars and another barbaric choir which perfectly suits the macabre medieval spirit of Elffor’s music.
In conclusion, I can only say that “Heriotz Sustraiak” it’s a highly inspired album, being the perfect bridge between the old and new Elffor and it brings all you can expect and want from this project. Moreover, the album comes in an excellent and impressing digibook (which is actually bigger than the usual one) and with the excellent artwork created by the Basque artist Igor Mugerza.

Sample: 

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