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Irish blackened/pagan/Celtic folksters Primordial have slowly but surely emerged from the underground as one of the most respected bands in their genre. They've always been adored by the critics, and 2007's To The Nameless Dead further widened their fan base and landed on many of that year's best-of lists (including number 2 on this site). That higher profile caused some issues within the band, but they've regrouped in time for their seventh full-length Redemption At The Puritan's Hand.

The opener “No Grave Deep Enough” is a slow build, eventually kicking in with blast beats and ominous guitars. Vocalist A.A. Nemtheanga alternates spoken word, singing and growls. The syncopated rhythms of “Lain With The Wolf” increase the catchiness factor exponentially, making the 8 plus minutes go by quickly. Like their previous albums, Redemption At The Puritan's Hand has long songs, with the shortest track still over 6 minutes. The length is irrelevant as long as Primordial can keep the listener engaged, and for the most part they do.

“Bloodied Yet Unbowed” is a majestic mid-tempo track, but the intensity changes from mellow to moderate to oppressive at different points. Nemtheanga's vocals are emotional and passionate throughout the album, but especially on this one. I also like that Pól MacAmlaigh's bass gets cranked up in the mix several times. To me, the only misfire on the album is “The Mouth Of Judas,” which is not engaging enough to warrant its nearly 9 minute running time.

Primordial rebounds to close out the album on a high note, culminating in the epic “Death Of The Gods.” Stylistically Redemption At The Puritan's Hand is similar to the band's recent output, using a broad musical palette that blends multiple genres.

Much of the album is immediately accessible, with the added bonus of additional sonic revelations with subsequent spins. It's always difficult to follow an acclaimed album like To The Nameless Dead, and while Redemption At The Puritan's Hand doesn't quite reach that stratosphere, it's a worthy successor.

(released April 26, 2011 on Metal Blade Records)



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