Scythia/Of Exile/2011 CD Review

Scythia are a band from Canada that has their previous album reviewed in this zine that plays a musical style that I would describe as being folk metal mixed with melodic black/death metal and this is a review of their self released 2011 album "OF Exile".

Drums range from slow to mid paced drumming with not much in the way of fast playing or blast beats, while the folk instruments and synths give the music a folk music feel added in with touches of psychedelia, as for the bass playing it has a very dark tone with riffs that follow the riffing that is coming out of the guitars and at times they sound very powerful.

Rhythm guitars range from slow to mid paced folk metal riffing that is very melodic at times and does not have the melodic black.death metal influences like the previous recording, while the lead guitars are very melodic sounding heavy metal guitar leads, as for the acoustic guitars they use finger picking and fell chords to bring a very dark medieval folk music feel to the music.

Vocals are all clean singing folk metal vocals with some occasional female vocals mixed in with some whispers and spoken word passages in addition the screams and growls from the previous recording don't make much of an appearance on this recording except for a couple of songs, while the lyrics touch on fantasy and mythology, as for the production it has a very heavy and professional sound to it.

In my opinion while I still preferred their first album I still feel this is a good album from Scythia and if you are a fan of this band, you will not be disappointed. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Spirit Of The Quest" "Voice Of The Sword" "For The King" and "Dies Irae II". RECOMMENDED BUY.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yKgWHAv4E8