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Pertness: From The Beginning To The End
Sweeping out of the icy northern country of Switzerland like a metal army bent on laying waste to all in their path, Pertness delivers a spectacular combination of old school heavy metal reminiscent of someone like Iron Maiden with the in the in the face Teutonic power of a Gravedigger and tosses in a bit of folk/Viking styling to complete the picture. Many have tried to make this approach work but few have succeeded. Pertness is a band you can look at to see how it is done to perfection.
"From The Beginning" kicks off the album in high fashion with the galloping rhythm, pounding riffs and gravely voice of Tom Schluchter leading the way. Shades of the anthem rockers of past years meet the thunderous new style of metal to create a unique alloy for the headbangers to enjoy. These guys at first might sound familiar but upon closer inspection it is a sound that uses all that is good from the groups that inspire them and molds it into this terrific hybrid.
When they pull out the folk instrumentation on songs like "Invisible Chains" or "Foggy Dew" it is with just a hint of their traditional roots and they maintain such a level of intensity it creates a total atmospheric experience that transposes you into a totally different plane, especially when it comes to a song like the later one where you are sitting there amongst the warriors swilling grog and eyeing the wenches. Instead of treating these tunes as folk songs with a bit of metal, Pertness never forgets who they are and anything they do is metal with a tinge of whatever they wish to add.
As you weave your way through this blast of metal mayhem there is no let down at all. In fact, it is like they have saved the best for last. As good as it is getting there, the last two songs "Remember Their Faces" and "The End" top off a disc that is as satisfying as any I have put into the player in recent memory. It has and continues to be a real treat. So, strap on the broadsword, heft a pint of mead and enjoy!
Track listing:
1. From The Beginning
2. Invisible Chains
3. Foggy Dew
4. Blood Rain
5. My Prophecy
6. Another Innocent Victim
7. The Legacy
8. Decline
9. Walk Alone
10. Remember Their Faces
11. The End
Added: February 9th 2011
Reviewer: Scott Ward
Score:  
Related Link: Band's Myspace Page
Hits: 2759
Language: english
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Pertness: From The Beginning To The End
Posted by Jeff B, SoT Staff Writer on 2011-02-09 14:16:51
My Score:
The Power Metal Legacy
From the Beginning to the End is my kind of power metal. It's original, it's enjoyable, it's captivating, and (most of all) you won't find these traits hidden under thick layers of Velveeta cheese. Although firmly rooted in the European power metal scene, Pertness frequently deviates from the genre's mold, resulting in a strikingly original piece of power metal. This Swiss band clearly takes influence from the icy mountains and traditional folk music of their homeland, while their near-18 year experience further adds to their refined sound. Pertness is a band I've discovered only recently, but I can confidently put From the Beginning to the End among the best power metal releases of 2010. People who like the genre, but can pass on the excess layers of cheese, are advised to check this one out.
As previously mentioned, Pertness plays a style of power metal with heavy folk leanings. "Foggy Dew" is a popular Celtic folk song, which the band successfully metal-izes with positive results. Many of the other tracks draw from Celtic folk influences, and that's really what gives this band so much of their charm. The raw vocal delivery from Tom Schluchter also stands out to me. His voice takes some getting used to, but it's ultimately one of the best things about this album - I just love his rough, masculine tone. Don't expect any falsettos from him on this album. Chris Gutknecht's drumming is also a shining asset here. He has a powerful, commanding style with an impressive amount of complexity. My only real issue here is related to the production. Although I'd surely take this raw sound over many other contemporary power metal productions, the sound of the drums is really weak. They're too high in the mix for my tastes, and the snare drum can get tedious at times. Production doesn't usually affect my listening experience too much, though, and that surely applies here.
Conclusion:
From the Beginning to the End has just about everything you could ask for from a power metal album. It's original, impressive, and undoubtedly fun to listen to. Despite my few nitpicky complaints, this is a stellar release that fans of power metal don't want to miss out on. For Pertness' excellent second full-length, 4 stars are well-deserved. If you're not allergic to some folk influences in your power metal, this is an album for you! Recommended!
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