01.Lost
02.Psychopatica
03.Winds Of Decay
04.The Ascension
05.Evil Seeds
06.God Of The Gallows
07.Hate Quest
08.Lucifer
09.Reanimated
10.The Sludge Soup
11.Sect Of Sleep
Jarden Schlesinger (Guitar/Vocals)
Thomas Haxen (Bass)
Pelle Buch (Drums)
Sylvatica started as a folkish black metal project in 2009 by friends Pelle Buch and Rasmus Kaibe, who, while listening to Svartsot, in a drunken haze decided that they wanted to start a folk metal band. Realizing that none of them could play flute, and they needed a guitarist, they called Jarden Schlesinger the same night and he was added to the "line-up" after that, and the flute was scrapped.
The first Sylvatica release was the song 'Mjölner og Mjöd', which quickly became a local hit in their hometown Nyborg, even though it was very poorly recorded and mixed, by Kaibes bigger brother, they started getting a name for themselves, and after a couple of line-up changes they recorded their first Demo EP 'Sagn og Sagaer' in late 2010 with the new line-up, consisting of Jardén Schlesinger and Jannik Ravn on guitars, Thomas Haxen, replacing Kaibe, on bass and Pelle Buch on drums.
Jannik left the band in the summer of 2011 just as they were about to record a new EP 'Mosemanden'. For gigs they band took in guitarist Thor Stokholm, who filled in for a few shows untill they found a permanent replacement in Martin Hamann, though he would also leave a year later.
Now sticking to a three piece unit for recordings they have since been signed and now unleash their debut album, they continue to play live with the addition of Richardt Olsen on guitar.
Expecting 'Melodic Death Metal' i was rather surprised to hear the opening track 'Lost' being a symphonic piano instrumental, this lead into a 7 minute mini epic called 'Psychopatica', very much a Viking Metal sounding song, super fast drumming, furious riffery and demonic vocals, throw in an acoustic breakdown and unexpected timing changes and this is way more than what it was billed as.
The next few songs continue with this style, folk melody played on guitar with power metal precision.
'God Of The Gallows' is a slow dark and brooding piece, again nice use of acoustic guitars and simple powerchords to start with creating a doom/black metal feel, when it kicks in it is very reminiscent of classic Satyricon.
After this we return to the folk/viking influences, some thrash metal riffs lurk within 'Reanimated' complete with the slow chord structure a la Mustaine.
'Sect Of Sleep' starts with more beautiful acoustic playing, the song builds with a very catchy riff running throughout.
Rating 9/10
For fans Of: Amon Amarth, Satyricon, Turisas, Ensiferum
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