Moongates Guardian
Let Horse Be Bridled, Horn Be Sounded!
More Hate Productions
This is Russian duo from Kaliningrad/Russia and this album is based on original poetry of J.R.R Tolkien. Also, the band used some movie fragments in songs from Peter Jackson`s original trilogies if you like this kind of film-music connection. Alexey who is responsible for all vocals on the album tries to recite Tolkien`s poetry sort of but I do not think it turned out that good. This type of literature needs specific set of skills, like declamation and just fluent English to fully enjoy magic of words. If you do not have it, you are going to trash poetry, likely. Except those spoken, unfortunate fragments, all Alexey`s black metal vocals are much better performed to the music.
This is epic, monumental metal album. Moongates Guardian, unlike other one or two man bands, chose a studio for recording this album and it pays off. All instrumental work has been done by one person with a name Skilar. Even, knowing that they did not work with real orchestra all songs sound like they do. Percussion and drums have that classical music feeling into it and orchestrations are as powerful as metal elements. I am under strong impression that so much goods songs like The Dragon Is Withered, The Wind Was On The Withered Heath, Tom Bombadil can be done so great by just two persons. The Lord Of The Rings cover of Blind Guardian even if sounds differently, it`s pretty well done and fits to sound of this particular album. I would say that guitars are more melodic death metal but music altogether with symphonic/classical elements is just epic and black metal which also are vocals. From start to the end it`s easy to keep track to their music because they build up interest for you and to the band, through fantasy of songs and atmosphere. If I had a horn I would blow into it and tell you that this band will be a constant surprise in good meaning.
Line up:
Skilar - All instruments
Alexey – Vocal
Tracklist:
1. Let Horse Be Bridled, Horn Be Sounded!
2. I Sit Beside the Fire and Think
3. The Dragon Is Withered
4. Elbereth Gilthoniel
5. The Mirror of Galadriel
6. The Lord of the Rings (Blind Guardian Cover)
7. Beren and Luthien
8. Tom Bombadil
9. The Wind Was on the Withered Hearth
Review by Slawek Migacz
Added:02.01.2018
This is epic, monumental metal album. Moongates Guardian, unlike other one or two man bands, chose a studio for recording this album and it pays off. All instrumental work has been done by one person with a name Skilar. Even, knowing that they did not work with real orchestra all songs sound like they do. Percussion and drums have that classical music feeling into it and orchestrations are as powerful as metal elements. I am under strong impression that so much goods songs like The Dragon Is Withered, The Wind Was On The Withered Heath, Tom Bombadil can be done so great by just two persons. The Lord Of The Rings cover of Blind Guardian even if sounds differently, it`s pretty well done and fits to sound of this particular album. I would say that guitars are more melodic death metal but music altogether with symphonic/classical elements is just epic and black metal which also are vocals. From start to the end it`s easy to keep track to their music because they build up interest for you and to the band, through fantasy of songs and atmosphere. If I had a horn I would blow into it and tell you that this band will be a constant surprise in good meaning.
Line up:
Skilar - All instruments
Alexey – Vocal
Tracklist:
1. Let Horse Be Bridled, Horn Be Sounded!
2. I Sit Beside the Fire and Think
3. The Dragon Is Withered
4. Elbereth Gilthoniel
5. The Mirror of Galadriel
6. The Lord of the Rings (Blind Guardian Cover)
7. Beren and Luthien
8. Tom Bombadil
9. The Wind Was on the Withered Hearth
Review by Slawek Migacz
Added:02.01.2018