Jueves 16 Jun 2011, 14:23

See also part II song-by-song review of Olabezarko Basoen Bakardadea by Sentimen Beltza: http://www.last.fm/user/Takkeri/journal/2011/06/16/4ftwu7_basque_black_metal_part_ii_-track-by-track_review%2C_sentimen_beltza_-_olabezarko_basoen_bakardadea

I got an idea to write a few short notes about my experiences on Basque Black metal after i bought the album Olabezarko Basoen Bakardadea by Sentimen Beltza through a portuguese internet label & distro Bubonic productions (no advertising intended, but the distro has a really big list of underground metal and best of all cheap stuff as well :)). What made me find the Distro was that I was actually looking for a special edition of an album by Portuguese Doom metallers Why Angels Fall (which is still waiting it's time to be listened somehow).

The idea of Black metal from Basque country isn't that far fetched for me. Pretty much my first touch to black metal, definitely the first time I actually LIKED black metal, was a Basque black metal band, Numen. Which still to this date is probably my favourite Black metal band. I have to say Negură Bunget comes very close, but Numen easily leaves such quality bands like Emperor, Thorns and 1349 behind. Anyway I managed to find Numen through long-defunct Audiogalaxy in about 2002(?), one of the many class acts I discovered from there. Being a rather new metal listener certainly is a big reason this is "the" black metal band for me. I remember the song I first listened was Ehitzari Beltza (really it's Ehiztari Beltza, hell i just wrote the thing almost correctly from my memory without copypasting it) from Numen's first album, Haize Sorginduen Intziriak. Im still not sure what it means, or how the hell it is pronounced what really stood out for me was the obscure sounding language. Not even mentioning the thunderbolt in the end and odd laughing at 3:04 both of which now sound quite clicheic but then were awesome. Still, unlike some of my favourites from that time, the song is still really strong and the harsh but beautiful language fits to the mood perfectly. I actually got translated song titles of Haize Sorginduen and Galdutako… from a friend at audiogalaxy and I still have it laying around in my mp3-folder. Interesting to read again, and thanks to that Basque friend, whoever he was. See it in the end of text.

Shortly after Ehitzari Beltza I was sent another song "Denboraren Iluntasuna" (that was correct) that track appears on their second full length (now comes a tricky one) Galdutako Itxaroperanen Eresia (Galdutako itxaropenaren Eresia, 100 %). That was the album that really sparked them for me. I didn't manage to buy it until 2005ish but the album is definitely a nostalgic and solid listen to this date. Allthough i don't find myself really appreciating the instrumentals that much anymore, back then I thought they were brilliant. Anyhow they really show this bands unique ability of making distinctive melodies. Melodies, which often resemble me of Nordic bands, surely these guys have taken their listen of Emperor or other Norwegian black metal greats, but that still doesn't explain how the melodies are often so.. well Slavic.

Numen's two next albums Basoaren Semeak and Numen & ep Jarrai Beza Kondairak shouldn't be passed with a sidenote as those are all really strong pieces. But i still am doing that cause I can't be bothered of writing stuff about them right now :).

Here are the English translations of Numen's first ep and album song-titles, gotten from Basque friend at Audiogalaxy, apparently saved 3.3.2002.

This is the tracklist from the first album of Numen
Numen “Haize sorginduen intziriak”………………………….
1- Haize sorginduen intziriak………Screams of bewitched winds
2- Ehiztari beltza…………………………….. Black hunter
3- Heriotza eta geroa…………………….Death and the after
4- Gaua gauekoentzat…………………..Nigth for the nighters
5- Beotibar……..this is the name of a mountain where a battle happens, this song is a
version of Benito Lertxundi, folk from the Basque Country

Numen “Galdutako itzaropenaren eresia”………………………
1- Gauerdia erortzean……………………the dawn of midnitgh
2- Denboraren iluntasuna………………..the obscurity of time
3- Gau hotz isilaren magalean…..under the protection of silent cold nigth
4- Mendiaren irrintzia…….the scream of the mountain, but not scream of pain
“irrintzi” is scream but of hapiness
5- Arbasoen oroimenean kulunka…………rocking in the ancient remenbrances
6- Galdutako itxaropenaren eresia………….chant of the lost hope
7- Oinazearen itzalak………………………..shadows of pain
8- Iheslaria………………………….. ………….fugitive
9- Ama lurra……………………………… …..mother earth
10- Galdutako itxaropenaren eresia (bigarren atala)……..chant of the lost hope
( second part)

Loved tracks by Numen:
Ama Lurra
Gauaren irrifarre izkutua

Also feel free to check the main writing, song-by-song review of Olabezarko Basoen Bakardadea by Sentimen Beltza: http://www.last.fm/user/Takkeri/journal/2011/06/16/4ftwu7_basque_black_metal_part_ii_-track-by-track_review%2C_sentimen_beltza_-_olabezarko_basoen_bakardadea