Flood, war, earthquake, fire, a long winter – this is not yesterday’s news, but a legend from the medieval Völuspá: Ragnarök, the end of the world in Norse mythology. An oft-sung theme in various metal genres – and yet the German band Surtalog, founded in 2016, manages to elicit some frighteningly topical aspects from the ancient legend on their debut “Ragnarök – Schicksal der Götter, Tod der Menschen und Ende der Welten“ (Ragnarök – Fate of Gods, Death of Men and End of Worlds), both musically and lyrically.
Anyone expecting danceable pagan metal will raise their eyebrows in surprise when they hear this mammoth work. On their first album, the quartet under the creative leadership of guitarist and singer Surtuz manages to interweave a multitude of influences and styles so skillfully that a homogeneous, varied and sophisticated concept album could emerge. On the foundation of melodic, storming black metal in the style of Windir or Emperor, the band builds complex song structures that are sometimes reminiscent of Dream Theater or Opeth in their progressiveness. Fragile passages carried by acoustic guitars or epic choral interludes have also found their place on “Ragnarök” and thus contribute to reflecting the multifaceted nature of the subject matter.
And that is present beyond the “Fate of Gods”: in a time of conflict, omnipresent hatred, envy and resentment, Surtalog set the thousand-year-old text to music as the well-deserved downfall not only of the gods, but also of humanity, the “doom of this world”. Only their disappearance from the face of the earth makes a new beginning possible for a world that, in a perpetual cycle, does not seem to learn from its mistakes. This makes “Ragnarök” not only an entertaining and multi-layered metal album. But after 75 minutes of playing time, the last fragile acoustic sounds leave listeners pensive, doubtful… but cautiously optimistic.
It´s a concept album about the end of the world in Norse Mythology. Of its ten songs, the prologue and the five acts are black metal songs, incorporating progressive and other influences. The other four songs are non-metal with acoustic guitars, choirs, female and spoken vocals, loosening up the album.
Music for album was recorded, mixed and mastered from 2022 to 2023 at Nightside Audio (Troll, Eis, Minas Morgul) by Florian Dammasch. Band logo and album cover artwork was done by Timon Kokott (Pantokrator, Horn (DE), Illdisposed)
 |
1. Prolog – Weissagung (Prologue – Prophecy) 2. Praeludium ad Fortunam Deorum (Prelude to the Fate of Gods) 3. I. Akt – Hass und Missgunst (I. Act – Hate and Resentment) 4. II. Akt – Fimbulwinter (II. Act – Fimbulwinter) 5. Heimdalls Horn Ruft Uns Nun (Heimdall´s Horn Calls Us Now) 6. III. Akt – Die Letzte Schlacht (III. Act – The Last Battle) 7. IV. Akt – Weltenbrand (IV. Act – Burning of Worlds) 8. Die Leere der Welten (The Emptiness of Worlds) 9. V. Akt – Untergang (V. Act – Downfall) 10. Epilog – Neubeginn (Epilogue – New Beginning) |
Line-up:
Lukas “Surtuz“ S. – rhythm & acoustic guitar, vocals, orchestrations, songwriting, lyrics
Alex W. – lead guitar
Kolja “Centrox“ B. – bass, backing vocals
Nils “Phobos“ S. – drums, backing vocals
