The Womb Of Primordial Nature

Ulver's shadow still looms large in the black metal scene they abandoned way back in 1997. Take October Falls, who seem to have stolen the very same acoustic guitars used to record Bergtatt. The electric guitars don't break much new ground, either, falling somewhere between Bergtatt, Orchid and Autumn Aurora, right down to the slightly mushy production. But, let's face it, those album's are pretty unique in their own right (hence the reason it's so easy to see the influence, I suppose), and October Falls have ample room to carve out their own niche as a melodic black metal band without sounding too derivative. In case you haven't guessed from the albums I've cited in my opening, the music of October Falls is melodic, folk-infused black metal with leanings towards the epic (all the tracks here run over 8 minutes). It's all stately melodies, Akerfeldt-inspired soloing and sombre acoustics. I suppose the word to describe The Womb Of Primordial Nature is “likeable”. It does everything in its power to endear itself to the listener, having slick, if rather mushy production, stacks of riffs, and (perhaps most importantly) never outstaying its welcome, running under 40 minutes. Mainman Mikko Lehto has a good growl on him, and can handle the high-piched shrieks well too. Yes, The Womb Of Primordial is a very easy album to listen to, and this is both its greatest strength and weakness. On the one hand, it's an album that can be stuck on at any given time, and I guarantee you'll get some form of enjoyment out of it. And in the right mood it's very charming indeed, III in particular having enough grandeur to stir something in the heart of any metal fan. Of course, the downside of this is that at times it's a little too likeable for it's own good, and a more cynical ear could take it as being overly offensive and trying too hard to please. There's a slight lack of bravery here, a tendency to stick to closely to the ground rules laid down by the bands I've previously namechecked. And in that case, why not just listen to the classics? The Womb Of Primordial Nature is certainly good, even great in parts, but it's too safe to ever be anything more. I'd recommend it, certainly, but only if you're the kind of person who simply can't get enough of this sort of thing. It's nice, it's pleasant, but surely the true greats should be somehow more than that?