SUNWHEEL – Monuments of the Elder Faith (2004)

4.00

More recently I have come to the same conclusion of Varg Vikernes and Fenriz that the vast majority of black metal is not worth bothering with – most is unoriginal, does not come close to understanding what black metal is supposed to be about, and usually suffers from one of two extremes – nauseatingly polished production or amateurish bedroom-level production and musicianship.

Sunwheel, however, are something else…you can the influences of Burzum, and, given the dark symphonic nature, probably early Emperor as well, but they are clearly a talented and original band in their own right…

I don’t shy away from checking out national socialist black metal bands but most sound awful, and have idiotic lyrics…Sunwheel stand head and shoulders above the rest, the deep genuinely hate-filled vocals sound great (perhaps influenced by the early work of countrymen Behemoth?), the lyrics do suffer somewhat from broken English but given the subject matter I actually think the lyrics are surprisingly good despite the dodgy grammar and are often very poetic…It’s not your usual cretinous NS “I want to bum Hitler” stuff, there is a lot of pagan nostalgia in there (as illustrated by the beautiful synth intro not too dissimilar to their other band Kataxu), and as is crucial in True Black Metal there is loads of genuine hatred and rage in here, disdain for weakness and corrupting organized religion, so they remain true to the black metal philosophy in my view, which is arguably easier to pull off from a less politically correct hateful background not interested in agreeing with mass opinion or in following any trends…

The music itself and the riffs are as good and ferocious as the vocals, and the, in comparison to Kataxu, more subtle atmospheric synths fit perfectly…I don’t think that black metal should rely on synths too much (Mayhem and Darkthrone have proved over and over again that it’s possible to create an incredible, grim as Hel atmosphere with no keyboards whatsoever), but like Emperor’s first album and the similarly subtle synths on Burzum’s 1993-4 work, the synths are there to compliment the music and enrich the atmosphere without overpowering it and making it sound too campy (countless bands like Dimmu Borgir don’t seem to get this)

Overall a fantastic EP, consistent from start to finish though the high point for me is the title track probably which builds up to an amazing, atmospheric climax…shame their first full length album did not really come close to its brilliance but suppose the latest Kataxu album more than makes up for that (also fantastic by the way, check it out too)

(review from Metal Archieves)

Band

Country

Poland

Date

2004

Format

EP

Genre

,

Storage

Lyrics

1. Intro/Declaration Against Judeo-Christianity

LET THE PLACE
WHERE CHRISTIANITY WAS CREATED
BE BURN
LET THE PLACE
BE DESTROYED TO THE GROUND AND
LET IT BE FEAR FOR ALL
LET REMAINS OF THAT PLACE
BE LEFT FOR DESCENDANTS AS A PLACE OF SHAME
LET BE BURNED ALL
WHO KNEEL DOWN BEFORE THE CROSS
LET THE PRIESTS
BE STRIPPED OF TONGUES
(THEY MUST BE DISREGARDED, STARVING)
ON EVERY STEP
MUST BE MARKED FOR SELF SIN AGAINST ARYAN BLOOD
HOLY HISTORY
MUST BE NAMED CURSED HISTORY
WORDS “GOD” (SAVIOR, SALVATION)
MUST BE USED LIKE THE WORST INSULTS

2. Completing the Four Sides of the Flaming Sickle

COMPLETNING THE FOUR SIDES OF THE FLAMING SICKLE
WHEN THE HORIZON IS PAINTING BLACK
THE FALSE SYMBOLS ARE FALLING WITH CRASH
THE CONCEPTION BORN OF HATE
THE CONCEPTION AT WHICH ALL OTHER ARE WASTING THEIR BLAZE
THE ZERO HOUR – IS REACHING THE ZENIH

HIDEOUS RACE – CARESSING THE ABOMINABLE FACE OF YEHOWAH
DROP ON YOUR KNEES!
YOUR PRAYERS ARE GROWING SILENT WITH FEAR – BUT THEY WILL BE GRANTED
YOU WILL BECOME ETERNAL IN VORTEX OF DEATH AND STRANGE LAUGH AGAIN

JEWISH TRIBE CRAWLING IN ITS OWN LIES
JEWISH TRIBE WITH DECEITFUL GAZE

WE AS THE PILLAR OF THE OLD BELIEF
WE – THE HOLY RACE – PROUD AND HEROIC

COMPLETNING THE FOUR SIDES OF THE FLAMING SICKLE…
LET THE FEAST BEGIN
WHEN THE HORIZON IS PAINTING BLACK
FROM THE NORTH THE SEA IS THICK OF BLOOD
FROM THE SOUTH – THE MOUNTAINOUS HEAPS OF BODIES
FROM THE WEST AND EAST – THE FOREST OF GALLOWS AND CHIMNEYS OF DEATH

(HIDEOUS RACE!)
YOU’VE AWOKEN THE DEATH MACHINE WHICH NOTHING AND NO ONE WILL STOP
FROM THE TIMES OF THE ANCIENT ROME, THROUGH THE CHIMNEYS OF DEATH
UNTIL NOWADAYS

HIDEOUS RACE!
NOW AND HERE LOOK BY YOUR LANGUID GAZE
OUR SACRED ARYAN BLOOD IS RAGING IN OUR VEINS LIKE A MOUNTAIN RIVER!
DID YOU CONTRIVED OUR IMMORTAL HATE THROUGH THE CENTURIES?

(HIDEOUS RACE!)
DO YOU REMEMBER AT LEAST ONE CENTURY THAT HAS BEEN AVOIDED BY THE ARYAN EXPANSION?
JEWISH TRIBE CRAWLING IN ITS OWN LIES
JEWISH TRIBE WITH DECEITFUL GAZE

(COMPLETING THE FOUR SIDES OF THE FLAMING SICKLE
LET THE FEAST BEGIN
FROM THE NORTH ARE RAGING THE STORMS
FROM THE SOUTH – EARTHQUAKES
FROM THE EAST THE TONGUES OF FLAME ARE BURNING THE JEWISH FACES
FROM THE WEST THE CLOUDS OF SMOKE ARE TIGHTENING THE LINES OF GALLOWS.)

WHEN THE HORNS OF WAR WILL GIVE A SIGN
THE SACRIFICAL WRATH OF BODIES WILL BE CONTRIBUTED
WHEN ON THE ASHES OF THE TEMPLE OF YAHWEH
THE ANCIENT PAGAN EMPIRES WILL GLITTER WITH THEIR POWER AGAIN!
AMONG THE ETERNAL, SACRED FIRE, ALWAYS WILL TEND THE HAMMER OF WAR
WHEN EVEN ONE BREATH OF THE JEWISH WOMB WILL BE HEARD

WHEN IT WILL ROSE…
THE HUNGER OF THE ELEMENTS OF WAR WILL CRAVE A SACRIFICE AGAIN!

3. Under the Banner of Hate

LOOK ATH THE SUN DROWNED IN BLOOD
CAN YOU SEE THE ATACKING MARTIAL CHARIOTS
LOOK ATH THE SOIL BURNT TILL HORIZON
FROM WHERE THE LEGIONS COME WITH ARYAN BANNERS

TO THE FIGHT

TO THE FIGHT – IT IS TIME
(TO JET THE GALE OF FIRES IN OUR HEARTS)
TO THE FIGHT – IT IS TIME
(TO SMASH OUR ENEMIES TO SMITHEREENS)
TO THE FIGHT – IT IS TIME
(TO CRUSH THE SOURCE OF THE PLAGUE AND LET IT FALL UNDER OUR FEET)
TO THE FIGHT – IT IS TIME
(TO FIGHT UNDER THE BANNERS OF HATE)

WE LEAVE OUR YOUTH
GROWING UP AMONG THE WALLS OF SHIELDS
AND GLITTER OF SWORDS
MAKING AN OFFERING OF OUR LIVES
CELEBRATING THE CRAFTMANSHIP CALLED WAR
FOR THIS ONE MOMENT ON THE BATTLEFIELD – GLORY
BALANCING BETWEEN THE LIMIT OF LIFE AND DEATH

WE HAVE CHOSEN
NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE OUR AIM
READY TO SACRIFICEEVERYTHING THAT IS MOST PRECIOUS
(FOR POSSIBILITY TO PLACE OUR FEET ON THE NECKS OF OUR ENEMIES)

WE BUILD OUR DESTINY LIKE HUGE WAR MACHINES
WE FORGE OUR ARMOUR OVERFLOWED
(WITH BITTERNESS ON ANVIL OF TIME
SPARKS FROM OUR HAMMERS DIE OUT LIKE OUR ENEMIES
AND ONLY THE FADING OF THE STARS COUNT THE TIME OF OUR REVENGE)

THERE
WHERE BREATH OF OUR ENEMIES DIES AWAY
TO FEED THE HUNGER FOR VENGEANCE
THERE
WHERE FALSE SYMBOL FALLS
RETURN THE GLITTER OF OUR CULT
THERE
WHERE EVENONE TEAR FALL FOR FATHERLAND
THE RIVERS OF ENEMIES BLOOD WILL FLOW
THERE
WHERE THE RAVENS CIRCLE THE RING
AT THE TIME OF GLORY WE SACRIFICE OUR LIVES

TO THE FIGHT

TO THE FIGHT – IT IS TIME
(TO JET THE GALE OF FIRES IN OUR HEARTS)
TO THE FIGHT – IT IS TIME
(TO SMASH OUR ENEMIES TO SMITHEREENS)
TO THE FIGHT – IT IS TIME
(TO CRUSH THE SOURCE OF THE PLAGUE AND LET IT FALL UNDER OUR FEET)
TO THE FIGHT – IT IS TIME
(TO FIGHT UNDER THE BANNERS OF HATE)

WE HAVE ALREADY CHOSEN

4. Monuments of the Elder Faith

MONUMENTS OF THE ELDER FAITH

…AMONG GALES AND LIGHTNINGS
…AMONG VAMPIRES BURNING FEARS REFLECTIONS

ANGRY EAGLE’S GAZE WATCHES
IN ABOVE A NOCTURNAL SUN SOWS WITH RAYS
COVERED WITH COAT OF WINGS – WE GO AS THE SHADOWS OF ANCESTORS
EAGLE’S HEART GIVES THE RYTHM TO PRIMAEVAL RITES
WHERE CIRCLES OF MONUMENTS OF THE ELDER FAITH

HERE FOLLOWS BLAZING DAWN – FOR AWAKING PANTHEON
HERE FOLLOWS BLAZING DAWN – THE SPARK TO ARYAN HEARTS
BURNING THE BATTLEFIELDS BY DAY
AND PERMEATING THE COLD STEEL OF WEAPON WITH THE MIRROR OF NIGHT
HERE FOLLOWS BLAZING DAWN – FOR AWAKING PAGAN BOSOM
…FOR COUNTLESS ARE BIRTHS FOR SUPERHUMAN DIMENSION…
…MONUMENTS OF ELDER FAITH

WRAPPED BY MYSTICAL SENSE OF LIGHT
INFECTIOUSLY DIRECTING THE CHOSEN ONES
WE WATCH THE MORE AND MORE GENUINE VESTIGES
TURNING TO ONE, THE RUNES OF LIFE AND WAR
WHEN MATERNAL APPEAL WILL ASSUME AN ANIMAL INSTINCT
THE OLD TREES WILL PROTECTIVELY BEND THEIR BOUGHS
BORN ON PAGAN TREE OF LIFE – BORN FROM WOLF’S PACK
BORN ON THE BORDER OF LIFE AND DEATH
BORN FOR AN ETERNAL IDEA

AMONG THE WALLS OF TIME, HIDING TIMELESS EMPIRE
AMONG THE CRESTS, WELDING THE SKY WITH THE EARTH
AMONG THE MIST, WAVING BETWEEN TWO SUNS
WE RUN, TEARING THE HORIZONS AS THE BLASPHEMOUS COMET

ARYAN GODS BEWITCHED INTO CYCLICAL MOVEMENT OF STARS
ARYAN GODS BEWITCHED IN THE MONUMENTS OF ELDER FAITH

BY THE CIRCULAR PATH OF GAMMADION
THE FOG FALLS FROM THE MOUNTAINS, AND THE WATER IN THE LAKES
DIQUIETING LOOSES ITS SHINE
WE PUT ON THE HOODS, STICKING THE SWORD OF WRATH INTO THE CROSS
WE OPEN THE GATES TO ARYAN RITES

AMONG CHAOS AND PEST OF UNFAMILIAR CREEDS
TENDING THE WISDOM CHANTED IN THE RUNES
WE BURN DECEITFUL DWARFS OF HISTORY
WE PROTECT THE HERITAGE OF ANCESTORS
TENDING IN HEART THE SOLAR WISDOM

WE WAKE UP WITH FIERY DAWN – HONOUR AND HATE!
AMONG FLUTTERING BANNERS
PROUDLY LOOKING UP TO FIERY CRESCENT
WE PAY THE HOMAGE – WITH THE HEROIC RIGHT HAND

ON THE CROSS-ROADS, TRODDEN BY BATTLE RAGE
WHERE THE BLOOD AND BOWELS FLOW ON THE SACRIFICAL STONES
WE KILL IN THE NAME OF THE SANCTITY OF BLOOD
WE KILL IN THE NAME OF THE SACRED LAND – THE MOTHER, WHICH HAD BORN US
AND KEPT CARYING, WAITING FOR US TO BE READY
TO THROW US INTO THE TURMOIL OF WAR ELEMENTS WHEN THE BLOOD WERE FLOWING ON HANDS
HEART WAS BEATING IN THE VOLCANIC RYTHM – WE WERE GREETING THE GODS OF WAR
ASKING THEM TO OUR INSANE FEAST