Thanateros - 2022 - On Fragile Wings

(57:38; Echozone)

Track list:
1. Kybalion (Time To Fly) 2:14
2. Burn 4:44
3. On the Barricades 5:14
4. Coven of the Drowned 4:42
5. Passengers 4:18
6. Black Forest Calling 4:21
7. We Are the Ravens 6:20
8. Source of It All 4:59
9. Solitude 5:20
10. Fading 4:11
11. Nothing Lasts Forever 7:17
12. Running Up That Hill 3:58

Line-up:
Ben Richter - vocals
Chris Lang - guitars
Christof Uhlmann - violin
Christian Ryll - bass
Markus Felber - drums
with:
Johanna Krins - vocals


German band Thanateros has a history that stretch back more than two decades, but in their current guise they have only been active for a handful of years following a long hiatus. "On Fragile Wings" is their sixth studio album overall, their second since getting back together again, and was released through German label Echozone.

The music explored by this band falls in under the heavy metal category somewhere. We have the guitars and the rhythm section in more of a traditional heavy metal mode of delivery, although it could be argued that there is a bit of power metal and alternative metal tossed in from time to time here. In addition the violin is in use in liberal amounts, and in a manner that makes it a requirement to add the word folk to the metal here to boot.

The songs here will often very subtly ebb and flow between a somewhat more gentle and somewhat more intense orientation, mainly regulated by the placement and delivery of the guitars. Often with light toned clean guitars switching with guitar riffs but without any other major changes to the arrangement as a whole. Some of the songs will be rather distinctly driven by the bass guitar, others will have a more equal share between the rhythm section and the guitars as to push the song onward and forward. Atmospheric laden interludes, prologues and epilogues are a part of the total experience here too, and folk music oriented violin soloing is just about ever present here. The vocals also tend to switch back and forth between a distorted mode and a clean mode, but the vocals aren't given such a dominant placement in the mix here that this effect constitutes any major disruptions in mood and atmosphere, but rather acts as slight mood and atmosphere adjustments.

For those who get the charms of this album it will be a wonderful experience I suspect, but it does have a bit of a one dimensional aspect to it that will limit the amount that will feel that this is a must have album in my opinion. That the cover of Kate Bush' classic hit 'Running Up That Hill' sounds like a natural fit to the album and doesn't really stand out in any particular manner will, perhaps, be an indicator of that slightly limited spectrum the music on this album does cover. Excellent for those who love the particular orientation explored here of course, who will love this album to death due to just that. But for me this is more of a decent album of the kind I won't mind listening to from time to time, but not a production that manages to make an impact on a deeper level for me.

Those who treasure the combination of heavy metal and alternative metal with one distinct folk music element, and then in the shape of a very present violin in this case, will be the core audience for this album in my opinion. How much this production will appeal beyond that crowd I'm unsure of, but those who recognize themselves in the description given will have a good chance of finding this creation to be quite the enjoyable one.


Olav M. Björnsen, April 2022

Links:
http://www.thanateros.net/
http://www.echozone.de/