I wasn't sure what to expect with this album, but I took Sorg's recommendation and am quite pleased! Combine Kekal's aggression and (very well programmed) drum machine with very Antestor-ish vocals and keys with the "plunk out a melody" philosophy heard on Lengsel's Stille Dualisme, for example, and that should be a decent description of the Slechtvalk sound.
The keys do from time to time take on the majestic sound, but despite being used more or less throughout the entire album never become the focal point as in Sanctifica or Crimson Moonlight.
The lyrics here are quite a topic as well. Only 3 of the songs have them printed in the insert, but the vocals are pretty coherent. I must say I'm a little intrigued! Of the lyrics printed, you get quite a dark picture of this Shamgar. "My Bleeding Heart" is a stomach-churning tale of vampirism -- in the 1st person, no less, "My Eternal Beloved" is a lament of ill-fated love, and "Consumed by Flames" is, I suppose, an allegory of the God/Lucifer falling out. Couple that with Shamgar saying that he doesn't consider Slechtvalk a ministry (see the interview w/D_Lister), and one could begin to wonder what exactly we have here! At a closer listen, though, the lyrics that aren't printed are shockingly straight forward. "He gave up His life so we could live eternally in Heaven... Praise and worship to the mighty Lord, open your hearts and let Him enter". Wow, that makes most Sunday School songs sound like they've got a wishy-washy message (although seriously, what's "Deep and Wide" about anyway, and how does a six-year old figure it out?)! So I don't have any idea what went into deciding which lyrics got printed and what didn't, but that's what you've got.
Summary -- very good black metal -- not terribly unique, but somehow doesn't really sound like any one band in particular either. My advice -- pick it up!
8.5/10
Other coverage for this album
HM Magazine #89Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt"...A soft breeze rustled the leaves of the forest's canopy as night began to fall. A man, called Shamgar by some, wandered along a hunter's trail, almost overgrown by the forest's lush undergrowth, the sound of his footsteps muffled by the thick carpet of pine needles and leaves underfoot. Shamgar carried a falcon, named Slechtvalk, on one leather-gloved wrist. A small leather hood covered the…Art for the Ears 2000Reviewed by Marco PovervestSlechtvalk is the Dutch name of a certain falcon. To be precise, the Falco Peregrinus. A book I consulted says "no other bird of prey strikes its victims so much into fear, has such a raging speed and kills in such an advanced and fast manner". So, the Slechtvalk is a bird of extremes. Shamgar, mastermind behind Slechtvalk, was apparently inspired by this bird to name his latest project…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by D_ListerThere seem to be two sides to the black metal fence. Many people pick a side and then argue quite intensely that they are on the right side and those on the other side are wrong. (Ever read the Dr. Seuss book called The Butter Battle Book?) Those sides are simply put extreme or raw black metal and atmospheric black metal. The major difference is the reliance on keyboards or not. With Slechtvalk,…Dead Zine 2000Reviewed by SORGThis is an amazing release from the Dutch black metal band Slechtvalk! Falconry is a cd that is sure to stay in my disc changer for a long time to come! The overall style is "symphonic" or "atmospheric" black metal similar to bands like Antestor or Dimmu Borgir. The music is mostly mid-paced (with a couple of fast songs) and quite dark sounding. Slechtvalk mastermind Shamgar plays all the…Similar sounding releases
2000SanctificaSpirit Of Purity
2003Crimson MoonlightThe Covenant Progress
2002MegiddonIncidents Before the Time
1997GodFrom the Moldavian Ecclesiastic Throne
1999KekalEmbrace the Dead
1998AntestorThe Return of the Black Death
