Album Review: Dawn Ray'd - Behold Sedition Plainsong
Reviewed by Robbie Magurie
The very fact that you are reading this would suggest you have either a slight interest in Black Metal or are intrigued to hear what the new release from one of the UKs most exciting extreme metal bands has to offer. You could have stumbled across this review by mistake of course, in which case, feel free to stay and read on.
Like all genres within heavy metal there are many sub divisions and variations of a particular style attracting all manner of people, with far ranging beliefs and ideals. Black Metal is no different and of all the styles it is often the one that courts most controversy. This unfairly tars a lot of wonderfully creative bands under the extreme Black Metal banner who have a positive message to spread, with the same brush. Dawn Ray'd are a band who very much want you to hear their message through their art. In doing so you may feel passionate enough to feel impelled to stand up and make a change.
The album, 'Behold Sedition Plainsong' is the follow up to 2017 'The Unlawful Assembly' and features 11 cuts of predominantly harsh blistering Black Metal with a folk undercurrent. The art of lyric writing and the importance of the worded accompaniment is so relevant and key to this release. The spiky vocals, whilst rightfully sounding devilishly gut wrenching, thankfully do not prevent you from making out many of the lyrics. Words that when read in isolation, read like poetry and indeed evoke emotion and reaction. There is a clever use of language and in an imaginative way, a very strong message is conveyed.
'Raise the Flails' slowly and delicately eases the listener into the album. A duo of violin and guitar play out a harmonious exchange. These in turn make way for the contrast of the vocals to set the lyrical theme for the album...
"Pull the trigger, Bend the bow, Wield your mighty lances, it's time for new tales of resistance."
The marauding stomp of 'The Smell of Ancient Dust' immediately demonstrates the deftness with which the violin can be used alongside brutally heavy music. The guitar has a slick sharpness to it, however, old school Black Metal fans longing for a return to the early days of the pioneering bands will lap up the rawness of the production. There is a definite tone and feel that allows the song structures with their clever subtle tempo changes the space to let the energy be achieved fully.
It's no wonder Dawn Ray'd have been making a name for themselves. They deliver countless icy and concise riffs over the barrage of brutal drums which at times push the heaviness to extreme levels. Lead single 'To All, To All, To All,' has a ferocious tempo and darkness that makes way for a gentle, soothing mid section played out by all three musicians displaying their gift of creating beauty within such hellish heaviness. The anti capitalist message is driven home with the final words...
"I hate this, work is the shackle, debt is the cage."
Very Powerful.
Sometimes strings are added by musicians to metal for a quirky touch and often sound misplaced and inappropriate. The violin present here blends seamlessly with the contrasting battering ram that the drums and guitar are creating. Indeed it sounds as integral to this, in essence old school influenced Black Metal album, as the blast-beats and harsh vocals do. Without the soft stringed passages which add a depth and contrasting beauty this would almost certainly be a far inferior album.
Highlight of the album 'A Stones Throw' continues the art of storytelling and is a stunningly hypnotic song. It has moments of delicate and clever melody in both the male voice and the music. It is folk infused at heart and has a surprising warmth despite the chill of the story being told. That is where this albums strength lies, in the ability to create imagery, feeling and reaction.
'Behold Sedition Plainsong' does not rewrite the Black Metal rule book but then it doesn’t have to. It is a fine example of well crafted, powerfully executed Black Metal album with a conscience and desire to influence change.
Whichever way your beliefs fall and your values, there is no denying that Dawn Ray'd must be applauded. It is refreshing to have a Black Metal band so confidently using the opportunity they have, who are passionate about activism and making change. Anti-fascism, anti-capitalism and environmental issues are all worthy causes worth fighting for in their eyes. Dawn Ray'd are using their folk inspired furious traditional Black Metal voice to actively encourage people to make the society in which they live a happier and fairer place which has got to be a good thing right?
Dawn Ray's release 'Behold Sedition Plainsong' via Prosthetic Records on 25th October.
