Equilibrium – Rekreatur
In Heiligen Hallen
Der Ewige Sieg
Verbrannte Erde
Die Affeninsel
Der Wassermann
Aus Ferner Zeit
Fahrtwind
Wenn Erdreich Bricht
Kurzes Epos
'Rekreatur' is the new, highly-anticipated album by German folk legends, Equilibrium. This was always going to be an extra interesting album because of the exit of singer Helge Stang – who spent ten years with the band - and the entrance of new vocalist, Robert Dahn and new drummer, Tuval Refaeli. Despite the loss of two long-standing members, Equilibrium have maintained the level of quality everyone has come to expect of them.
The album gets under way with ‘In Heiligen Hagen’ which is amongst the best of the whole record and highlights what Equilibrium are all about. This and ‘Verbrannte Erde’ show off Dahn’s low, repetitive growls which Stang was legendary for. The band has strayed slightly wayward however with ‘Die Affeninsel’. Back in the day, including a song on an album with a title meaning ‘The Land of Monkeys’ and monkey noises playing in the background was strictly off the agenda for this band. And while still an excellent track, there wasn’t really any need for the comedy (?) and will probably perplex most fans. But this is nit-picking really.
The last half of the album are also excellent examples of the talent of this quintet and the epic thirteen-minute masterpiece that is ‘Kurzes Epos’ is simply breathtaking. Pound for pound, 'Rekreatur' shines in comparison to the band’s first release, 'Sagas' and actually just about beats Turis Fratyr to the best album spot. Every song is a small nugget of pagan metal genius. If this album’s anything to go by, Equilibrium are just going to keep rising to the top.
Reviewed by Ben Robertson
'Rekreatur' is out now on Nuclear Blast
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