Atlantean Kodex - The Annihilation of Bavaria

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Live albums give us the experience that many can’t have: the chance to hear how the bands we love sounds in a show, because the recording technology we have in studios today can’t capture that live feeling and the energy of a show. The German quintet ATLANTEAN KODEX made a very good work on “The Annihilation of Bavaria”. For those still don’t know what they do in musical terms, the quintet fuses Pagan influences on a fine way of playing traditional Heavy Metal with some Doom Metal features. It’s epic and heavy all the time, like BATHORY sound in some moments on “Hammerheart” and “Twilight of the Gods”, but with a more diversified essence, and with epic parts that reminding something used by MANOWAR in the past. Their work is truly lovely.

Well, talking about the sound quality: it is very, very good. To mix and master live songs is not an easy task, because the microphones capture a lot of interferences coming from many sources (including the sound of others musical instruments), but everything here is fine, sounding heavy and clear, and obviously, with the presence of the public of the venue on each song. I know that digital era brought miracles, but they wouldn’t be useful if the band were not playing as right as they played (let’s speak the truth: there are a lot of live albums that excessive overdubs turns them into a studio album, and that not the case of “The Annihilation of Bavaria”).

They play long songs and some instrumental ones to introduce other songs. All the 14 songs are excellent, being the best ones the epic scent of “From Shores Forsaken”, the excellent slow tempos of “Pilgrim” along with very good guitars (the whole heavy setting of the song is truly amazing), the catchy rhythmic work of “Sol Invictus” (what a very good work from bass guitar and drums), the heavy grasp imposed by the guitar riffs on “Heresiarch” (the slow paced tempos of the song turns the atmosphere heavy and bitter, with very good presence of the vocals), the deep emotion that flows from “Twelve Stars and an Azure Gown” (excellent interpretation from the vocals), and the excellent ones “Kodex Battalions” and “The Atlantean Kodex”.

On the physical version, there is a DVD with the entire show, so you can have the best sensation for yourself. It’s a very good live album, indeed.

Originality: 8
Songwriting: 10
Memorability: 8
Production: 8