Nuclear Blast
Released on june 20th 2008

Tracklist “Sagas”:
Prolog auf Erden (Instr.)
Wurzelbert
Blut im Auge
Unbesiegt
Verrat
Snüffel
Heimwärts
Heiderauche (Instr.)
Die Weide und der Fluß
Des Sängers Fluch
Ruf in den Wind
Dämmerung
Mana (Instr.)

“Sagas” is the second album from the german group Equilibrium. The style of the group is a mix of folk, pagan, symphonic and black metal. For this album “Sagas” real acoustic instruments have been used especially bagpipes, played by Ulrick Herkenhoff (who has played for the movie « The Lord Of The Rings –Return Of The King »), also the violin with a solo interpreted by Agnes Malich, from the Augsburg’s Philharmonic Orchestra.
« Sagas » begins with a superb intro « Prolog Auf Erden », all in musical evolution with changing in rhythms and in atmospheres which lets presage good things to come for the rest of the album… which is the case and is up to the intro!
The tracks are sometimes dark, other times more joyful, musically some passages are very heavy and melodic, other times more delicate and atmospheric. A huge work in orchestrations has been done because the symphonic passages are just simply superb. The typically folk passages are also well done like in « Wurzelbert » with the using of accordion and keyboards and a fast rhythmic. There is a good harmony of the instruments and the use of “real” acoustic instruments can only bring a plus to “Sagas”.
For the album the vocals are exclusively in German and it not disturbing… which even gives a more pronounced pagan/folk aspect. The tracks are much worked, very rich in harmonies and in orchestrations. Some tracks have keyboards soli which are very well done and the riffs are always melodic. The rhythmic is often fast, even very fast. The tracks are well varied and I really had pleasure to listen this album several times… besides the album is still in my computer… which is not always the case. Vocally the black vocals are efficient and well at place. The track on which I stayed perplex by its intro is the forth one « Unbesiegt », I would have nearly seen a little train of the famous brand of café in front of me… track which has become excellent after!!!
It is difficult to take out one track rather than other one as they all are good ones and all as well done one from another one. The instrumental « Prolog Auf Erden », « Heiderauche » and « Mana » are very beautiful, rich in orchestrations but also in feeling, especially « Mana », a nearly 18 minute track with changing in rhythmic and in atmospheres, very rich musically, in orchestrations with chorus… what a sublime track for the ears… what a creation! Worth the best epic movies… the album could not have finished so well.
If a lot of albums of the genre are well done I put without any problem this one above all of them. “Sagas” is a real success because the composition work is huge!!!
I just can recommend it to you at its release; at least it has bluffed me!

Line up:
Helge Stang (chant) (vocals)
René Berthiaume (guitare) (guitars)
Andreas Völkl (guitare) (guitars)
Sandra Völkl (basse) (bass)
Manuel Di Camillo (batterie) (drums)

Contacts :
http://www.equilibrium-metal.de/
http://www.myspace.com/equilibrium