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Excelsis-"Tales
of Tell" Dragonslayer Records 2002 |
I heard this band in the Iron Savior album
"Unification", where they appeared with "Dragonslayer" as a bonus
track, because of winning the Rock Hard magazine contest. I knew I would hear from them
again since "Dragonslayer" was a great metal song. Great voice and a folk
essence that sounded really fresh for the time. But that song was a power metal track with
some folk influences, and this "Tales of Tell" album is more folk metal than the
previous releases of the band. Excelsis has evolved into a great folk metal band in the
vein of Subway to Sally, In Extremo or Corvus Corax to name a few. The
"germanic" lyrics sound just beatiful, like chants from a time already
forgotten. This Cd is a concept album about William Tell's story (the one we have all
heard of). From the great "Intro" we feel the strenght of the band with solid
folk sounds performed with unusual helvetic instruments. A great thing to notice is the
voice of Mario Beleyer wich made me remind Blind Guardian more than once because of the
passion he sings with and the obvius similarity of the tones. Most of the tracks are mid
tempo folk metal tunes, except by "Don't Destroy" wich is "classic"
power metal track about the well known William Tell's shot with the crossbow. But the best
songs happen to be the traditional folk ones; "Gfauni Ängle" & "Täu
grosse Kämpfer" wich make you feel back in pagan times and the great
"Fritzebach" ( a really funny ending for such a great album). Wheter William
Tell was a great man or a great myth nobody knows. But one thing is clear Excelsis
recorded a great album in his honor. Drum sage Ich.. Viel Erfolg Excelsis!! |
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