Album Review: Primordial - Where Greater Men Have Fallen

There is usually a gaping chasm between the bands and albums that get critical acclaim, and those that get popular acclaim. Part of that stems from the way that critics think about music, which evolves into a pseudo-intellectual statement of one's own musical literacy. The other part is that quality rarely equates to popularity, so many records that get acclaim from people who live an breathe music are likely to go straight over the heads of the masses. Some bands are able to win on both fronts, and one of the more unusual cases has been Primordial. Their last several albums have seen the band growing ever larger in the landscape of metal, all the while topping as many critic's lists as any other band. They are that rare breed who have managed to make intelligent music that still connects with the fans.

And despite that, they are also a band I have heard startling little of. Their brand of Celtic-by-way-of-black metal is something I wouldn't normally go out of my way to listen to, so I had yet to be indoctrinated into their ways. I say that so as to explain why there will be no comparisons to their landmark “To The Nameless Dead”.

Just a few seconds into the title track, and one thing is clear; Primordial is epic metal in the truest sense. Everything about their music is huge in scope and execution. They don't need gimmicks to make themselves seem important. Their music is heavy in was that extend beyond tuning low or cranking amps, which is more than can be said about the myriad bands who try to be epic without knowing what it means.

As the track rolls along, I never found myself thinking about the fact that there is barely a riff contained in the song, once it gets going. The guitars are mostly a wash of chords behind the vocals, but the songwriting is so strong that it fits together wonderfully. Nothing is missing, because that's not what the song called for. It's a knowing use of restraint, for the sake of a larger whole. Combined with a certifiably unique vocal performance, Primordial immediately sticks out from the crowd. There is simply no other band like them.

Whether that is a good thing or not depends on your taste, as the vocals are a sticking point that will turn off many listeners. The tortured howling that fills these songs is not for everyone, though I'm not sure any other style would fit this music as well. It is not an approach that I would have expected to like, but by the time the album was over, I couldn't help but feel that they are perfect for what Primordial does.

More than anything, though, Primordial wins by way of their songwriting. These are simple songs that do tend to drag on a minute or two longer than they need to (eight minute songs should have more ideas in them), but the evoke such a strong mood, and eventually wear you down with the subtle melodies, that in the end you have to come away impressed. The hooks are there, but shrouded in the mood just enough that they take attention to find. When you do, songs like the title track and “Come The Flood” become strong compositions that need to be heard again.

At first blush, Primordial might sound like black metal without the screeching vocals, but there's more here than that. “Where Greater Men Have Fallen” is one of those albums that reminds us that epic is more than being loud. Epic is a state of mind, a way of writing, and by that standard Primordial is as epic as metal comes.