ORPLID

"Greifenherz"

Auerbach Tonträger - 2008

CD

Orplid are back after the interesting "Sterbender Satyr", taking even more distance from the by now stereotyped German neofolk standards. "Greifenherz" is an epic yet introspective work, born out of martial and orchestral tunes combined with crepuscular keyboards and electronic drumming, as well as some rather effective rocking elements (the drums and electric guitar riffs of the powerful "Totenesche"). Except for the closing, dreamy "Falken-Eid II", the acoustic guitar has indeed completely disappeared. Frank Machau's deep vocals are assisted by the excellent and haunting female voice of Safi, already tested on the previous CD. Songs like "Luzifer" and the thundering "Myrmidonenklage" show Orplid's frontal assault at its best, while the nocturnal "Des Sperbers Geheimins" or the superb "Schlaf Im Mohn" are refined examples of the duo's ability to create more intimate and delicate atmospheres.

Safi's sorceress-like vocals conjure the ancient Germanic spells of the aforementioned "Totenesche" and the impressive "Traum Von Blashyrkh", a song dedicated to the historical Norwegian black metal band Immortal, which comes as no surprise, considering Uwe Nolte and Frank Machau's interest in the metal matter and the community of interests between the two scenes. "Greifenherz" is, summing up, an excellent album of dark and fierce German music, in the true essence of the word, as well as another proof of Orplid's true value. Well done!

- Simon V.

Website: http://www.orplid.de

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/noltex

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ORPLID - Sterbender Satyr - Auerbach Tonträger CD

31 December 2006: SPIRITUAL FRONT + SOL INVICTUS + FRANK MACHAU @ Hellraiser Club, Leipzig, Germany