Written by: J. C. Lerche
Greetings, and welcome to this special.
Today we are marking 100 year anniversary since the signing of the Versailles treaty which ended the First World War between Germany and the Entente, (Also the 105th anniversary of the assassination of archduke Franz Ferdinand which began it all) although much of Europe was still at throats at each other as this document was signed. Now, as a metal fan and history buff, I of course am extremely passionate when these two interests combine. Still, today is my excuse to talk about WW1-themed Metal. So, here is 5 different albums from different countries and perspectives for you to learn about The Great War.
Bolt Thrower - Those Once Loyal
Yes, the quintessential British wardog Bolt Thrower's last entry is also my first pick, and aside from Sabaton also the most obvious choice. Although sadly departed from this world too early, this is drummer Martin Kearns golden hour. He absolutely owns this album with his precise delivery behind the kit, even showing off on the march-like pace on "The Killchain" and the almost jazzy delivery "Granite Wall", or the sheer ferocity of "Last Stand of Humanity". Downtuned guitars, bass and Karl Willett's beastly vocals about the British experiences in the Great War completes the picture. An almost perfect return to form compared to previous efforts, and helped end the band on a high note. A snapshot form the Somme indeed.
Skyforger - Latviešu strēlnieki (Latvian Riflemen)
One of the most curious stories to come from the war is that of the Latvian Riflemen. Skyforger, ever the Baltic storytellers, took it upon themselves to interpret their story through their own brand of Folk/black-metal. The result is an epic tale of the battles of this unit. Once you get through the Latvian (Skyforger themselves has thankfully provided us with English translations and context for each song), you'll begin to understand the bravery and toil of the individual soldiers, and the dilemma they faced wishing for independence, but fighting for the Russian empire. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, for better or worse. Start off with the eponymous marching song and get to the action, soldier!
1914 - The Blind Leading the Blind
From Ukraine, the fairly new 1914 is very obvious in their dedication to the theme. I've been wanting to do a review of this album in full, but the train has already left the station on that one, so this will have to do. With songs covering the story of the Lost Battalion ("Arrival, The Meuse-Argonne"), the mud quagmire of Flanders ("Passchenhell"), the story of the first Tank-on-Tank battle ever (Very fittingly played at a crawling pace in "A7V Mephisto") and even having room for a soldier's marching song and a well done cover of The Exploited, there is enough to go around. The instrumental part of this album is well produced, well played and headbang-inducing, which more than makes up for the fairly blunt lyrical construction and delivery - but given that these guys are from Ukraine and English is not their first language, I'm liable to give these guy a pass on that front(!).
Horn - Feldpost
Representing the losing side of the conflict is Horn (not to be confused with Horna) from Germany. This is indeed a very interesting album. As the title of the album hints at ("Field-post"), the lyrics are gathered from the perspective from the German soldiers' mail correspondence. What a brilliant choice in preserving the authentic stories! Make no mistake, this is more than just "I miss you mom, send more coffee". This is an insight to the dehumanization of the individual soldier, the loss of comrades, artillery and flames, and the loss of hope and spirit. Songs like "Die Würfel Rollen Wieder" and "...und keiner wüsst' von Flandern" gives an insight into the longing and melancholy of their situation, while "Überall und Über Allem" provides a perfect marching theme for those marching to their deaths. And as "Wache schreibt" ominously ends:
Dies ist ein Brief, der enthält This is a letter that contains
keine Gedichte, keine Reime an die Welt. no poems, no rhymes of the world.
Aus diesen Seiten fließt flüssiges Eisen Liquid iron flows from these pages
auf die Fahnen, die auf Reisen. onto the flags that travel.
Throane - Derrière Nous, La Lumière
Now, this album isn't really linked to WW1 in lyric, but more in "spirit", the mood, and the album cover depicting a grizzled war-veteran showing his case of "Gueules cassées" (That's a Google search you will regret...), and the attempt at facial reconstruction following the mutilation of him.
For a country that played host to the majority of the western front, it's no surprise how much impact this has had on French society, and I believe (or interpret) this album is an attempt to just look straight at that horror. If the Battle of Verdun ever needed a soundtrack, this dark, bleak piece of music would fit perfectly; You feel the meaninglessness of it all, you feel like walking through a desolate nightmare, you feel like nothing. Faint vocals and howls try to pierce through the veil of ambiance. An ambiance manifested by what I would like to call an "oppressive" bass, a wall of sickly guitar, and a drummer who has lost all hope and joy in his life. As such, it's difficult to single out individual tracks for you, so just listen to the album from A to Z, if you crave a glimpse of man-made hell on earth.
Well, that's our picks for you. I would have liked to find something from other belligerents of this war, especially Italy, Austria-Hungary and the Ottomans. If you have any recommendations that we missed, feel free to comment below, and we'll give it a spin!
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