Sletchvalk: A Forlorn Throne

Band: Sletchvalk
Album: A Forlorn Throne
Label: Whirlwind Records
Genre: Unblack/Extreme



Track #1: Tamers Of The Seas

Right off the bat I can tell this album could be another one of those "viking journey" album, with the harsh, raspy vocals of Shamgar and Ohtar screaming into my ears with that blistering but joyous pain.The last album I listen to by Slechtvalk was...well, this will be the first one that I've listen to all the way through, with the only song that I know by these guys being Thunder of War off the album At The Dawn of War. "Tamers of The Seas" is indeed about a group of sailors (weather they are vikings or not, I can only assume..) who take control of the sea and use it to they're advantage. Confident in themselves they fear nothing. Any and all who get in between these guys and they're goal are going to find that this is just not a good idea, and death is now inevitable.


Track #2: Forsaken

Looking at these lyrics to make sure I know what they're saying, it sounds to me like this guy is a bit lost. He fled the battlefield at the first sign of defeat, leaving his comrades to face the army and ultimately, die. Even though death on the battlefield was considered the only honorable death, for whatever reason, this guy chickened out and left. Now he roams the lands with this burden on his heart and mind, and now he feels guilty for leaving his fellow warriors behind to die. Along with leaving his comrades, he in turn leaves his homeland and now is in wonder if he will ever see his home again. "I wonder if I will ever find my way back home? Will I live to see my children become better men?" This alone tells us of the sorrow he feels and the regret he had for leaving the battlefield. I know that I would rather die in the battlefield then leave everything behind with the chance of never seeing it again.


Track #3: Desolate

Okay, so maybe I was a bit off when I said "viking journey". What I should have said was "viking depression" because now we're going deeper into this guys madness and sorrow. Now he's saying that his heart feels desolate and he's "trapped in a maze of horror, forsaken by God, I cannot escape...This time I don't see a way out, except for Death." This is basically a sad song with an Unblack style to it. So this is what someone felt like when all hell was happening all around them...Interesting. Let's dive in deeper into this adventure and see if the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel" appears.


Track #4: Divided By Malice

Well, that's kinda nice. Having a little violin opening as well as good vocalizing from Shamgar and the rest of Slechtvalk. Now we're getting more into the pain and seeing the darkness of this pain that our warrior friend holds in his heart, as well as burning hate. He feels like he has no reason left to live and that he's been "left for dead". He is also determined now to take back what is his and seek his vengeance against "The Beast" as he says. So to me "Divided By Malice" is a duel-meaning song: pain and vengeance.


Track #5: Allegiance

Interesting....Reading these lyrics it seems that our warrior has found a new troop to control and he is forcing them to swear they're allegiance to him and he promises them that he will bring them victory in battle. It appears to me that he has found his enemy and is now seeking to extract his horrible vengeance on him and is "rallying the troops" so to say. He's even asking them if they want to be slaves to the power he's fighting, wondering just who will swear to fight along side him, a test of wits. Now he's having the weary and broken come to him saying that they will find rest in "my golden halls". Interesting...Now he's making himself out to be a powerful warrior...A little too much if you ask me...Looks like the tide is turning from "Viking Depression" to "Viking Vengeance". This is one interesting and bloodthirsty adventure.


Track #6: Enthroned

It appears that our warrior friend here has found a long lost temple with a long forgotten throne in it. He makes his way though the overgrow of bushes and thorns. Black marble veins surround the throne, but this doesn't stop this warrior from sitting down in it. As soon as he does, however, he feels the cold of the marble swallow him whole and he is seemingly transported back to a time when the temple was alive and full of people, the courts full of dancers and jesters and all sorts of peoples yearning for his impression. The legend of the forlorn throne is made clear to him as he is overcome with passion, joy, peace and desire. After being crowned and worshiped by the ghost of the past, he cannot turn away. But when he does, he is taken back to his time and he realizes that he his chained to the throne, the old king appearing and looking at him like he's dinner. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to sit in the old throne after all.


Track #7: Bewailed

Now it seems that theirs a love connection here as we find out the a woman has been captured and she hopes that the "love of her youth" will come to save her, but after several years he never shows up and she is now hopeless and accepts death as her fate. A dream then comes to her at night and she sees him standing their, but for whatever reason she holds out her hand to stop him from rescuing her. Then she hears the horns of war and she become fearful of having the same fate as her captor that she's grown to know and worry for. Fearing the judgment of her old love, she doesn't want to see him. Now she walks over to the window and thinks about jumping so she would never have to explain to him what happened. She continues to think that he's abandoned her and wants nothing to do with her. But soon, she hears a familiar falcon call and she knows that her old lover has at last come to save her, and she runs to him while he opens his arms and they're love continues.


Track #8: Towards The Dawn

Now it appears that the battle is about to begin, with the opposing force assembling an army. But our hero won't stand for it, and he sees the army going to war with false hope and they're fate of death being brought upon them. Waiting for this day to come, the warrior vows that his enemy will be dead before the day is over and victory will be his. Saying everything that he's dealt with and showing no fear of whats to come, his speech is meant to bring his army into high spirits and ready for war. Now he starts smack-talking his opponent saying that he's not the man he should be, his disgrace is eternal and he has a thumbless fist. Ouch. Now the battle begins...Lets see who come out on top!


Track# 9: Vengeance Of A Scorned King

So now we find our hero at the battlefield awaiting the arrival of his enemy, giving his army the last little bit of verbal strength. With swords drawn and shields at the ready, they wait until the army comes into view. Waiting amongst the trees the opposing army passes through them until our hero calls for a false retreat, making the enemy army think they've got the upper hand. They resort back to the trees and wait for the army to fall for it, only to have they're retreat blocked by our boys. The reform a battle line as the opposing enemy comes towards them, crashing against they're shields multiple times but never breaking the formation. After our hero fights his enemy the first time, he manages to get away but our hero slaughters his ranks until he finds him again, finally killing his enemy and bringing an end to the misery




Song Rating:
Musical Structure: 9
Lyrical Structure: 9
Style: 8.5
Performance: 9
Vocals: 8.5

Overall Rating: 9.5