Album Review: Wyrdstæf – Primordial Bloodlines
Reviewed by Emma Corbett
The beating of the drums evokes a Palaeolithic ritual, reminding us of whence we all came. The Shaman’s cries, delivered in otherworldly tones, feel as though they have travelled through the ages to reach us; absolutely something for fans of Wardruna and Heilung.
Sauntering into the intro, the drums brute-force the hairs on your arms to attention, raising goosebumps. A windswept beach emerges in the mind’s eye, the Shaman standing beside a fire, preparing for battle.
“Great Migrations” starts and finishes strong; a relentless slab of primitive black metal. A torrent of blast-beats and cavernous vocals fit superbly with its Palaeolithic theme, channeling raw aggression into the image of an ancient people traversing a vast, hostile frozen landscape during the Ice Age. There is an almost physical sense of movement, dragging the listener through the bitter cold.
“Hyperborean” abandons the black-metal assault for something far more ritualistic. Tribal percussion, ominous vocals and guttural throat singing create an eerie, primordial atmosphere, whilst the Shaman’s narration evokes a lost ancient tale passed through generations. Where “Great Migrations” captures the physical struggle of migration, “Hyperborean” feels like a lament for those ultimately lost to it. Just before the minute mark, the song erupts into life, propelling the listener through the ages.
Next comes “Parhelion”. Chants and howls summon a prehistoric atmosphere, stripping away thousands of years of civilisation and transporting the listener back to 12,000 BC, where ritual, survival and nature were inseparable. This feels the most primitive, a glimpse into a ritual lost to time.
“Primordial Bloodlines” brings the odyssey to its conclusion. Smooth guitar melodies give the track a gentle, swaying quality, evoking happiness and hope. After the brutality of survival, humanity may one day reconnect with its ancient heritage and remember who we truly are.
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