‘I close my eyes and lend my destiny to the wolf that guides the hunters hand’.
With autumn fast approaching I have for you today the new album from Blackbraid, also known as Jon Krieger and also his Mohawk name Sgah’gahsowáh, which means ‘the witch hawk’ that’s a lot to take in I know, but I’m sure this endeavour will enlighten and delight in equal measure.
Using his Native American roots as an influence, our friend here steps out to educate and hopefully open a few minds and adjust their frequencies to acceptance and to be respectful.
Like many minority groups, the Native Americans have had horrendous mistreatment and oppression over the years, this one man band is standing tall, shining through the usual Black Metal tropes, peerless and fearless,
Permeating the rich perfume of history and tradition, those riffs, infused with the classic rock dynamism throughout and that growl, that snarl, masterful and melodic by the truckload.
The spirits moan, there are fleeting winds, subtle hands that guide, a prevailing respect and sentiment that is central to this record. With titles like ‘Spells Of Moon And Earth’ and ‘Moss Covered Bones On The Altar Of The Moon’ you know you are in for a treat, nostalgic for an era that our modern world has left behind, and in a wilderness where the tribal communities keep the authentic and simplistic havens fruitful, productive and evergreen.
You will find ‘a gentle reminder of the pain endured’ in A Song Of Death On Winds Of Dawn’ , there is a simmering folk ethic too, synonymous with trust and reliability.
The soundtrack to the wild horses roaming the plains, distant, elegant and gallant. Humanity lives there too; it thrives, it survives and heavens to Betsy it’s alive! When you realise that it’s ‘A Fine Day To Die’ it may be too late, just too late for any redemption here on Earth, maybe in the afterlife but be sure that ‘asleep is the mountains, yet the night is awake’ watching, listening and accounting, let the music of Blackbraid stand as a testament to this life and give you that chance to address the wrongs, and in essence garner some positivity and co-ordination, our brickwork for the future we are yet to see.
Enough blood has been shed in the name of territorial, societal, familial and cultural feuds, lay down your arms my friends, lay down the arrow, the axe and the sword, commiserate what has been lost but we can also celebrate what could be, make the changes and build a better tomorrow for everyone.
Azra Pathan
Blackbraid II – out now