Be’lakor is a daemon in the Warhammer fantasy game, it’s also an Australian metal band that has just released their debut album called The Frail Tide. This debut that’s released independently has found its way around the world to the Metalrage.com headquarters ready to be reviewed.

 

Reading the small biography that was included with this album it was pretty obviuous this wasn’t just an ordinary thrash metal or death metal band. Starting with ‘Neither Shape Nor Shadow’ my expectations are immediately fullfilled. During the first minute a great atmosphere is created that gives you the feeling you’re about to head on a great journey. A journey that lasts until the end of the song.

 

At that time my jaw dropped to the floor. There are so many influences in the first song, that even lasts for almost eight minutes and never gets boring. During the second song ‘The Desolation Of Ares’ I’m carefully starting to think about Opeth. Because that’s the first band I can compare Be’lakor with. Most of the time it is because Opeth also has the ability to create a special atmosphere in their albums. With the remaining 4 songs on this album, indeed there are six songs on this album but with an average playtime of almost 7 minutes, it’s all the same. Beautiful atmospheric songs that grab your attention and hold it for the entire song.

 

Still the comparison with Opeth is very obvious, but it still are two completely different bands that have one thing in common; The ability to create breathtaking atmospheric metalsongs that are full of great influences. Be’lakor managed to surprise me very well and to all the metalheads that like Opeth; this is definitely a must for you. Truly a great album from Down Under.