Sagas (Album)
Occupation
- Guitar: René Berthiaume
- Vocals: Helge Stang
- Drums: Manuel Di Camillo
- Bass: Sandra Völkl
- Guitar: Andreas Völkl
Production
- René Berthiaume
- Seref Badir
- Alex Ross
- Christoph Klatt
- Jay ester
Sagas is the second studio album by the German pagan metal band Equilibrium. It was released on 27 June 2008 under the German record label Nuclear Blast.
- 4.1 versions
- 4.2 Title List
Genesis
Mid- October 2006 the band signed a contract with the German record label Nuclear Blast and went to work for sagas. The original release was scheduled for the spring of 2007, but this was later postponed due to technical and scheduling reasons only on autumn 2007 to early summer 2008.
According to official figures, was begun in July 2007 with the recordings and studio work. From attention to detail and perfectionism of guitarist and producer René Berthiaume The work has continued until the spring of 2008. On 27 June 2008, the album was released under Nuclear Blast worldwide.
Background
Lyrics
In contrast to the previous album Turis Fratyr are on Sagas no textual references to Norse mythology. The songs, all of which are held in German, treat everyday subjects, like Berthiaume confirmed: " The stories that writes Helge, take place anywhere and not directly related to Norse mythology. "
Booklet
Due to a printing error the booklet for the digipack was printed too dark, so you can hardly decipher various passages of text. For this reason, the band, shortly after release of the album the complete booklet on their official website online.
The cover was designed by Benjamin King. The manuscripts in the booklet for greetings and credits have been written by Sandra Völkl. The cover and booklet artwork designed Helge Stang.
Music style
The style incorporates features of Epic Metal to Folk Metal to Black Metal or Power Metal. The band dubbed their musical style as Epic Metal. The folk influences of the album described frontman René Berthiaume in an interview with the Legacy magazine as follows:
" [ ... ] On sagas we do not limit ourselves to traditional folklore, which is now wasted by each second 08/15-Metal-Band, but also cast a look on distant continents. As before, the monumental film music provides important impetus for our sound. "
In his review in Rock Hard, the editor described " Bruder Cle " the music style as " bombastic [n ] Pagan Black Metal with lots of catchy keyboard melodies and German texts " and commented that the band lies "so perfect in metallic Zeitgeist".
In his review for the album emphasizes Jens Pohl, the majority of the music on " Sagas" suggest especially in the notch of the song "Met" from the previous album, which given the success of similar bands like Korpiklaani, Finntroll or Alestorm was not a miracle. However, this was considered as a negative criticism:
Duration
Originally the instrumental piece of Mana Berthiaume was composed with a duration of about 18 minutes. In order to release the album, according to the recommendations of the label, in one piece, Mana was reduced by about two minutes.
Achievements
Sagas reached the 30th place in the German album charts and was able to say in these three weeks long. Sagas is also found in Switzerland almost in the top 100, ranked 99
Metal Hammer journalist Birger Treimer writes about the new album:
" Equilibrium know how to create atmosphere and an album that can hold over 80 minutes at an extremely high level, without getting bored. And this is extremely rare. The three years of creative life sagas therefore pay more than made up, because Equilibrium thus outdo yourself "
In contrast Webzine metal.de the album over its predecessor was seen as a slight disappointment:
"Equilibrium [ ... ] convince sagas as punchy and clear as before on Turis Fratyr acting but overall much more spontaneous and more majestic than complete works. -, Cinematic ',' epic 'and' bombastic ' are keywords that apply to the sagas, as well as adjectives the way ridiculous ' or' annoying ', which in almost eighteen -minute instrumental, Mana ' at the end of the album once again summarize the vomiting be repeated. Ultimately Sagas no letdown [ ... ], but on the other hand, this album is not what you have, after three years of waiting might expect - less is sometimes really is more. "
Scope
Versions
The album was released as a limited edition digipack with soft cover and a bonus DVD, as well as a double LP and Mailorder edition ( in a tin box, with patch and certificate, limited to 500 pieces ).
Title list
Homeward was written by René Berthiaume, Sandra and Andreas Völkl, the rest of the songs were written and arranged by René alone Berthiaume. The texts were written by Helge Stang.
The two pieces Heider Auche and Mana are exclusively instrumental.
Guest musicians
- Kurt Anger Power - Guitar
- Herkenhoff - Pan Flute
- Muki Seiler - Accordion
- Agnes Malich - Violin ( Augsburg Philharmonic Orchestra )
- Toni González ( vocals) and his band Karlahan ( folk metal band from Spain)
- Gaby Koss - Vocals
- Jörg Sieber - Photos