YAV' «By the Freedom's Echo» [2010] new
Imperiumi.net 2010-11-17
Mark: 5.5/10
Hevin ja äärimetallin sekoittaminen toisiinsa on ideana vähän niin ja näin, mutta tällaiseen yhdistelmään on päätynyt venäläinen Yav' kaikesta huolimatta. Debyyttilevy By the Freedom's Echo tarjoaa vajaat kolme varttia omanlaistaan näkemystä sinfonisesta hevista black metal -kuorruttein.
Heviksi Yav' on kovin keskinkertaista, mutta paikoitellen mukavia melodioita sisältävää perusmenoa. Black-vivahteet sen sijaan aiheuttavat lievää hämmennystä ja vaikka niitä vähän määrällisesti onkin, ne tuntuvat pikälti levyyn väkinäisesti istuvilta. Yhtyeen syntikkakuviot ovat melkoisen dominoivia ja tuovat mieleen paikoin dimmuborgirmaisen (näennäis)sinfonisuuden.
Heikoimpia lenkkejä levyllä on sen ärhentelevä ja rähiseva laulutyyli, joka tuntuu olevan täysin väärässä bändissä. Se ei oikein ole black metal -henkistä ärinää, eikä toisaalta heville ominaista puhtoista antia. Ulosanti tuo mieleen enemmänkin jonkin asennemetallibändin kiukkuisen aggressiopuuskan, mutta tämän levytyksen kohdalla tyylivalinta tuntuu yksinkertaisen huonolta. Mukana olevat puhtoiset hetket ovat sentään hippasen parempaa menoa.
Soundit sentään levyllä ovat hyvät ja jälki on huolitellun kuuloista. Yav':lla on eittämättä hetkensä, mutta kokonaisuutena By the Freedom's Echo ei vain puhuttele. Serpent
YAV' «By the Freedom's Echo» [2010]
Metal Music Archives 2010-11-15
Mark: 3/5
Yav’s debut album ”By the Freedom’s Echo” didn’t convince me in the beginning, but multiple listenings - which is something that I fortunately do with every album I review - made me find the band’s own identity and realize that the album is a rather good take on heathen folk / black metal, not a mere copy of others, even if the influence of other similar Eastern European acts is still very clear.
Technically, the album is very well done. The interplay between rhythm and lead guitars works like a charm and all in all, the whole ”By the Freedom’s Echo” is executed with fairly precise professionalism: the drums are handled very tightly - even the fastest bursts of double kicks - and basically the compositions just flow because the album sounds like its creators weren’t hindered by any lack of musicianship. Production deserves a mention too: it verges on something fairly polished yet still retaining an enough raw touch (though I wouldn’t mind if it was a bit rougher) so the album is easy to enjoy.
Yav’ is often labelled as symphonic and this is indeed true, so that some might be put off due to the very melodic nature of ”By the Freedom’s Echo”, but usually the synths are mixed relatively low. It is only the occasional fast keyboard melodies, similar to Goatmoon’s ”Alone”, that really rise distinctly to the listener’s ears. Otherwise, guitars - as well as flutes - are in more prominent role in Yav’s both uplifting and wistful melodies.
Tracks like ”Ïàòðèîò / Patriot” and ”Ïðîáóæäåíèå / Awakenings” are of high quality and the rest of the album doesn’t come far behind. I’m not the biggest fan of cover songs and this album provides two of them, but I’m unfamiliar with the original versions and these covers fit well to Yav’s style, so I’ve got no problem with them; quite the opposite, as the Kolovrat cover ”Çíàê ñóäüáû / Symbol of Fate” is another highlight of the album, in fact. ”By the Freedom’s Echo” might not be the most original release in this field, but surely recommendable for those who are generally interested in heathen folk metal and black metal from Eastern Europe. Vehemency
YAV' «By the Freedom's Echo» [2010]
True Cult Heavy Metal - Rhys Stevenson 2010-10-01
Mark: 8/10
Russian Pagan Black Metal newcomers Yav' take you to a journey via the Trans-Siberian railway, a pure journey full of magical genius, paganism and a melodic feel to it. Sounding similar to fellow countrymen Arkona, Yav' develop their own take on Pagan lyrics and employ the Russian language to fulfill their musical messages. Blistering-paced drums, melodic riffs and raspy vocals all come together to deliver one of Russia's finest Pagan Black Metal debut's, for fans of Arkona, Graveland, Delia and Nokturnal Mortem. Rhys Stevenson