One Listen Review
1st Listen 2 Sept 26
Reviewed 4 Sept 26
Wyrdstæf – Primordial Bloodlines
Ordovician Records
Released 4 Sept 26
Wyrdstæf are not a Scandinavian band, no matter what the spelling of the name would suggest. No, they are an ‘atmospheric blackened tribal metal’ band from the UK and Primordial Bloodlines is their debut full length album.
Released through the excellent Apocalyptic Witchcraft (I do recommend checking out their website for excellent bands and albums), Wyrdstæf have released an album that is an incredibly challenging listen. Five songs long, the album lasts around 32 minutes and, if you listen to it on the likes of Spotify (buy don’t Spotify), it may make your reach for the skip button – but more on that later!
Primordial Bloodlines opens with ‘White Spring’, featuring a fire crackling, chant vocals and a pure tribal approach that puts you in mind of Sepultura’s seminal Roots album. It is an intriguing intro that leads into the best song on the album. ‘Great Migrations’ is the blackest metal track on the album. Blast beats abound, and the dirty grunt vocals are deep and impressive. It is heavy and it appears to set the tone for the rest of Primordial Bloodlines.
‘Hyperborean’ then follows, reverting back to a more tribal metal sound. It’s a slow build before you are then slapped with a catchy riff that really gets the head nodding. It is an
enjoyable song, and, so far, the album isn’t that challenging.
The final 2 tracks are both over 9 minutes long. Not always a bad, thing, it can often give bands the opportunity to expand ideas, and let the song grow into itself. Alas, ‘Parhelion’ is not that type of song. Instead it is the slowest of slow-burns, the opening section with people walking, with tribal chanting lasts 4 minutes. It is not until 8 minutes in that the guitar slides in, and it is too little too late. The album’s momentum was utterly destroyed for me.
The final track, ‘Primordial Bloodlines’, is another long song. Subtle drums and relaxed guitar give an almost shoegaze vibe, and it even flirts into ballad territory. Clean, soft vocals again impress, and the main riff begins to kick in 4 minutes into the song, but it is still reserved.
Wyrdstæf have created a very interesting album. Again, I feel I need to explain the concept of these reviews. I review albums based on 1 listen and the likelihood of it making onto my burgeoning playlist. People consume music different nowadays, Spotify (buy don’t Spotify), Apple Music and YouTube make it too easy for the listener to skip tracks, or just dump the album altogether, moving onto the next recommended listen.
Primordial Bloodlines may encourage a skip over the final 2 tracks, which is disappointing, as 2 tracks are pretty much outstanding. This is worth you checking out, but I would probably only add a couple of songs to a playlist.
As ever, you should check it out for yourself and make up your own mind.
The DevilsHorns 
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