When it was first announced a little while ago that David Sabre’s captivating and recently re-invented martial / dark ambient / neo-heathen musical project Dawn & Dusk Entwined and Germany’s ritual folk project :Golgatha:, whose last album ‘Tales Of Transgression And Sacrifice’ was immensely well received within the dark recesses of European folk and post-industrial genres, were going to collaborate on a forthcoming album, I have to admit I was quite excited by the proposition. You see, like many others I was impressed with the latter’s latest release and completely blown away with what David had produced on D&DE’s epic last album ‘Septentrion’. Then an edge of doubt set in. Do these bands really need to collaborate? How good could this union be? Could it live up to their earlier releases, or would it be eclipsed by the darkness and light of their predecessors, especially the breathtaking ‘Septentrion’?

Thankfully, almost as soon as you’re immersed in the splendour of the classical, almost soundtrack-like nature of the album’s opening track ‘Fertility Rights’, you realise that all of your fears and trepidations can be put to one side, as it’s a wonderfully captivating instrumental piece that sets the darkened atmospheric nature of the album superbly. And once this delicately fades into the martial percussion, heavy accented male vocals and classical fanfare of ‘The Messiah’, you get the feeling that not only will this album capture the very best of both bands, but perhaps provide a set of tracks that neither band could have produced in their own right. Instead it appears, even within the first few tracks on the album, that ideas have become cross-fertilised and germinated, so they can grow into their own magnificent entity that still thankfully has striking similarities to both its parents, yet very much has its own presence, soul and seductively striking intricacies. And this growth and expansion of sound thankfully doesn’t let up throughout the entirety of the album, as time and time again the listener is treated to a wonderfully compelling and highly enjoyable musical excursion that both bands have forged together.

‘Magdalen’ is a tantalising classical piece which makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention, as you fall hopelessly for its charms. The track’s whispered vocals only add to its seductive qualities and depth. And then there are the bombastic anthems ‘A Seeker Divine’ and ‘The Cross Of Lorraine’, which are powerfully gripping and show the divine strength and emotional command which this coupling has on this style of music. Of course, with D&DE’s previous recordings, it’s no real surprise that tracks of this nature are as impressive as they are.

Then there are the neo-folk and dark ambient elements that are interwoven throughout the album’s progression and create an immensely shadowy presence that is awash with a strong European heritage and pride. Every element accumulates together perfectly on what is without doubt the pinnacle of the album’s output, the truly stunning ‘Crusade’, a track situated in the middle of the album which highlights the very best elements of neo-folk and martial music, whilst incorporating delicate washes of soundscapes. Also incorporated into the track is an immediately addictive fiddle, which adds a brilliantly catchy folk-esque sound to the proceedings.

Based on the concept of the Holy Grail (Saint Graal) and the bloodline of Jesus Christ (sang real), you’d perhaps expect the album to be brimming with the depth and intensity that both bands have demonstrated in the past they are more than capable of producing. And rather unsurprisingly it demonstrates this in abundance, and with a style and flair that seems almost effortless.

Housed in a beautifully designed and presented six-panel digipack, ‘Sang Graal’ is a massively impressive album that won’t fail to move anyone who has the slightest interest in either of the band’s previous output, European neo-folk or martial music, as well as haunting dark ambient soundscapes.

I’m immensely intrigued to see where both of these bands will go next, and whether another collaborative release is on the cards or not. However until them, I’ll be more than satisfied to indulge myself in the darkened pleasures this album produces.

www.coldmeat.se

www.ikonenmagazin.de/golgatha

www.myspace.com/schaedelstaette

www.morning-star-prod.com/dde

www.myspace.com/dawnduskentwined