Band:	Equilibrium
Album:	Sagas
Style:	Viking folk metal
Release date:	June 27, 2008
A review by:	Baz Anderson

Disc I
01. Prolog Auf Erden
02. Wurzelbert
03. Blut Im Auge
04. Unbesiegt
05. Verrat
06. Snüffel
07. Heimwärts
08. Heiderauche
09. Die Weide Und Der Fluß
10. Des Sängers Fluch
11. Ruf In Den Wind
12. Dämmerung
13. Mana

Disc II [Bonus DVD]
On Stage:
01. Zürich 2006
02. Essen 2005
03. Winternachtstraum 2006
04. Party.San 2007
05. Tiny Time Travel

Treasure Trove:
06. Equilibrium In Legoland
07. Nach Dem Winter 2002
08. Blut Im Auge 2002
+ Studio Report
+ Backstage
+ Online Material
+ Photogallery

Folk metal came in with such force as the new popular thing and is now drifting slowly out as legions of monotonous bands have sucked the genre dry of all originality, but these Bavarians are here to breathe new life into this genre with their second album "Sagas". Equilibrium already burst onto the folk metal scene with incredible energy three years ago with the impressive but somewhat one-track minded "Turis Fratyr" and now return with a more mature, more diverse and truly masterful epic opus to take the world by storm.

Equilibrium previously brought us a fun, bouncy, folk metal experience to prance about to without thinking much about it. This time Equilibrium bring us more of the same multi-layered instrument jiggery-pokery but with a real magical spirit that holds the album together with a majestic ribbon. There is so much going on this album, so many different instruments that all band together to create beautiful melodies and the mental imagery of roaming free in some enchanted woodland. Indeed the woodwind instruments play a large part on "Sagas", as Ulrich Herkenhoff of the Lord Of The Rings soundtrack features playing the pan flute. The album is not one of single direction; instead the album branches out and covers more areas breathing new life into the music like the roots of a tree reaching out underground for nourishment. Not only does the album have a fair number of the compulsory high-speed, galloping double bass drum tracks with an infectious bounce and feel-good nature about them such as "Blut Im Auge" and the insanely catchy "Heimwärts" - but this time Equilibrium also pay careful attention to the slower songs by means of adding an exquisite earthly ambience and the finer details of the album. "Wurzelbert" kicks the album into full swing and sends a message across showing more solidarity to the band and the song writing in particular, "Unbesiegt" also is not a relatively fast song, although still upbeat, and with such a charm on the side of the woodwind starting off the song makes for one of the many great highlights of "Sagas".

Such wizardry is rare; "Sagas" brings a genuine breath of fresh air into folk metal and can easily pass as being one of the greatest albums of the genre to date. If anything can be said against it, it is not an easy pill to swallow as its duration is over a staggering eighty minutes. When you consider the quality at hand this is hardly a problem however. Musical ups and downs, fast songs, slower - mid-paced songs, and not to mention the last track of the album, a sublime near-eighteen minute instrumental masterpiece all cement "Sagas" as an instant classic. Last track "Mana" takes the listener on a mystical adventure through the woodland glades, complete with real sounds of nature, it is an epic and emotional journey in itself that will leave you speechless in its magnificent awe afterwards. It is not often an album so magical, so musically picturesque and complete with such a natural, green, organic spirit rears its head, but "Sagas" is one of these real gems that just need to be heard to be believed.