TenggerOn the second track here, Cavalry In Thousands, Tengger Cavalry make the traditional Mongolian ‘horse head’ violin they use sound stunningly like a horse whinnying. Your argument, as the Internet says, is invalid.

I will assume that you haven’t heard Tengger Cavalry before, maybe not even heard of them judging by the number of likes their Facebook page has. You may need to do something about that. Go on. I’ll wait. What, you need a reason? OK.

Tengger Cavalry, although they appear to play live as full band, are essentially one man: Nature. Writer, multi-instrumentalist, Mongolian Chinese pagan folk metal powerhouse. I first came across them via their 2009 demo which snuck out from behind the bamboo firewall and since then they have released two previous albums in Blood Sacrifice Shaman and Cavalry Folk which have seen them develop from a raw folk/black metal to the stunningly original pagan/folk metal band they are now. It’s an irrepressible sound; energetic black metal mixed with heavy metal leads, black metal vocals switching with the khoomii (throat singing) and the horse head fiddle all rolled up in a galloping, dancing style that just makes you grin wildly.

Black Steed is, by length, a short album. Barely over thirty minutes even with two excellent re-recordings of Golden Horde and Cavalry Folk added but frankly this is about quality. The production, wherever Nature records, is clear and precise even down to the string sounds and it adds a sparkle when things really kick off. And they always kick off.

After a brief, mournful intro The Battlefield we are into the mid paced stomp and neigh of Cavalry In Thousands which shows the superb flexibility and expression of the black metal vocals, as well as the khoomii. The fiddle is a reminder, a reflective voice on the aftermath off battle and the dizzying guitar breaks just that cavalry let loose in a headlong charge. With the Chinese/Mongolian melodies wrapping around this like silk banners in the winds this is evocative, transporting folk metal. Complex, highly rhythmic, catchy as fuck, pagan metal that just blows me into the tall grasses. Difficult to compare but maybe if you took the punishing rhythms and tonal quality of Rotting Christ, played them at the bouncing speed of Korpiklaani, added a dash of Turisas’ cover of Rasputin and turned it into the soundtrack of a classic Hong Kong swordplay movie you might get the hints of this.

Expedition, next up, is one great glorious, driving reel that when I played it to myself on the bus I had people staring at me as my foot tapping turned into a full blown foot dance. Clean solos, frantic fiddle. Just huge music. The title track brings more bite, a darker tone and the excellent expressive snarled vocals. The pounding of the riff style just powers this across the vista, straight into the gallop of the awesome War Horse and its free running rhythm brought into a spear-point charge by a tight riff. A short mid song breather and it gradually closes with a proud, controlled walk. In The Storm really does bring the anger and the vocals combine their styles to a bewildering effect as the drums buffet you about.

Closing Black Steed (excluding the fine re-recordings) we have the quiet, heart aching semi-acoustic Homeland Song. Regret, loss, longing: The stillness of it after the chaos before is stunning as are the frankly beautiful, deep and resonant clean vocals. Just priceless. Honest lump in the throat time.

Yes it is short. But honestly if you like folk metal, pagan metal or are fans of just exploring music from other heritages, then check out their facebook page and get this album. You need it in the worst way.

Breathtaking. Yes, it does leave me breathless and not a little in awe.

(9/10 Gizmo)

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