Xerion started out as a one-man project in 2001. It is the brainchild of Galician composer, Nocturno. A first album, Nocturnal Misanthropia, came out in 2007. Xerion is back in 2010 to offer the second output. The line-up on this recording includes four musicians. You have: Nocturno handling guitars, bass, vocals and programming; a second guitarist by the name of Iron; Daga on keyboards and O Rei Celta No Exilio taking care of whistle and pipes.
A word about the music now. Xerion is playing a melodic European folk metal combined with a nice epic feel. Nocturno's vocals are raspy, although he used a clean, almost Gregorian chant in a couple places. The keyboards are rather discreet and minimal; appearing occasionally here and there. Same goes for the pipes and whistles. I could decipher some string instrument like a fiddle, although not specified. Then again, maybe it is a programmed sound, in which case it was very well done. You will hear crunchy /juicy guitar work across the board on this disc, giving it a certain pagan vibe. There are no acoustic guitar parts alas, but some delicate arpeggios and clean leads are popping up every once and a while. Variation is also present in the paces as well as in the different moods created by Nocturno.
With numerous good compositions like : "O Espertar Do Xerion", "Onde A Victoria Agarda" and "Loitas Na Neboa", Xerion has delivered a pleasant evolution in the songwriting making this new opus very cool to listen.
Track listing:
1- Badaladas Funerais No Esmorecer Da Luia
2- O Espertar Do Xerion
3- A Alquimica Dexeneracion Da Ialma
4- Onde A Victoria Agarda
5- Nas Verdes Fragas De Amh-Ghad-Ari
6- Cantares Das Loitas Esquecidas
7- Morte Na Iauga
8- Loitas Na Neboa
9- Pvtrefacta Anima Nostra
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