At the Dawn of War is the third full-length album

Album

An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...

 by Slechtvalk

Slechtvalk

Slechtvalk is an extreme metal band from The Netherlands, formed in 1999. Previously signed to Fear Dark Record and currently to Whirlwind Records, the group has released four albums, a split-CD with Kekal, a single and a DVD...

 released in February 2005.

Recording history

At the Dawn of War was recorded, mixed and mastered at the Mailmen Studio, Utrecht, Holland, during
September and October 2004 by Martijn Groeneveld, Grimbold and Shamgar. The album was produced by Martijn Groeneveld. Few session musicians participated the recording: Ulvian played guitar and sang additional vocals, and the choir consisted of Fionnghuala, Othar, Mick Boogerd, Renske van Dijken, Rob Kikkert, Jos
Lucas and Patricia Lucas. The album's cover painting was done by Kris Verwimp.

At the Dawn of War was at first released as a limited 500 copies edition digipak, and included the Upon the Fields of Battle DVD. Afterwards the CD and DVD were released separately.

Musically, the album incorporated more folk influences to the band's style, and Ohtar sings more folk vocals. The fantasy elements were taken a step a head from The War That Plagues the Lands

The War That Plagues the Lands

The War that Plagues the Lands is the second full-length album by Slechtvalk. The album reached a number 2 position in the Lowlands Top 50, the most known metal-chart from the Netherlands. The cover art was done by Kris Wervimp who is known for his works with bands like Marduk and Immortal...

as the choir adds epic battle hymn feel. The lyrics on the album continue from where they were left on the previous album, telling an epic fantasy tale of a battle between armies of good and evil. On the At the Dawn of War Tour the band's live shows showcased medieval warrior outfits and war paints. The song "Thunder of War" was released as a maxisingle, and a musicvideo was shot for the song. The video was included to Upon the Fields of Battle DVD and was also shown on local music channels of The Netherlands during the release. The bonus track "Cries of the Haunted" is a re-recorded version of the Falconry

Falconry (album)

Falconry is the 2000 debut album by the Slechtvalk. This album was a sole effort of the musician Shamgar who played all the instruments and programmed the drums. The style is closer to more traditional, raw quality black metal with some symphonic elements, however, with inspirational lyrics...

album's first song.

Track listing

1. "From Out of the Mist We Came Forth" – 3:16
2. "Call to Arms" – 8:08
3. "Mortal Serenity" – 5:05
4. "On the Eve of Battle" – 7:27
5. "Besieged" – 3:19
6. "The Spoils of Treason" – 6:11
7. "Thunder of War" – 4:02
8. "Black Raven Death" – 4:58
9. "Desertion" – 3:18
10. "Under a Moonlit Sky" – 6:05
11. "Cries of the Haunted (Bonus Track)" – 4:47

Personnel

• Shamgar – vocals
  Singing
  Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
  
  , guitar
  Guitar
  The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
  
  s
• Ohtar – guitar
  Guitar
  The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
  
  s, vocals
  Singing
  Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
  
  
• Nath – bass
  Bass guitar
  The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
  
  
• Grimbold – drums
  Drum kit
  A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
  
  , vocals
  Singing
  Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
  
  
• Sorgier – keyboards
  Keyboard instrument
  A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
  
  
• Fionnghuala – soprano
  Soprano
  A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
  
  

External links

• Album at Metal-Archives