Band:	Baruk Khazad
Album:	Axes, Beards And Mead
Style:	Melodic death metal, Folk metal
Release date:	November 28, 2016
A review by:	ScreamingSteelUS

01. Gorog
02. Narag Zaram
03. Elf Slaughter March

Were it not for the thinner production and the slightly distinct vocal style (less articulated and a tad higher in pitch than Johan Hegg's growls), Baruk Khazad could easily pass for Amon Amarth. The barrel-chested melodic death metal popularized by Baruk Khazad's countrymen accounts for the Axes and the Beards; the Mead flows from the familiar folk-like enchantments interspersed throughout.

Every inch of Baruk Khazad bleeds AA influence, from the approach to riff-writing to the guitar tones to the drum techniques to the overall effect. Hearing this might be enough to attract some listeners; those who spurn copycats may rest assured that Baruk Khazad has a bit more to offer than another band's style, and in any case, these three songs are catchy and biting enough on their own merits to make this small EP worth the 16+ minutes it takes up. An alternating bass line and distinctly un-melodeath rhythm accompanies the entrance of the verse in "Gorog," immediately dispelling fears of Baruk Khazad being unable to diverge from their idols in any respect.

The choruses break away from the pummeling melodeath and into brazen sing-alongs of the variety more common to folk metal, Baruk Khazad's other major indulgence, and with the growls layered over by raucous cleans and backed by lively guitar harmonies, the images of dwarven halls alight with feasting and merriment are all too easy to entertain. Taking a mildly light-hearted approach does the band good in more areas than one, because I don't think the production is strong enough to carry the "fullmetal melodeath juggernaut" sound they would have to dedicate themselves to entirely in the absence of humorous folk elements. Axes, Beards And Mead is still pretty heavy, but it's not quite at "thunder god" levels yet.

Baruk Khazad have given a mere taste of their steel and it has proven satisfactory; I look forward to hearing their future, lengthier releases, especially if they can cut more folk/power into the melodeath. They still sound too tall to be dwarves, but who am I to tell a Swedish death metal band what to do?