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Pērkoņkalve

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Pērkoņkalve
Studio album by
Skyforger
Released1 June 2003
Recorded2002–2003
StudioPhoenix Studios
GenreFolk metal
Length50:42
LabelFolter Records
ProducerGints Lundbergs
Skyforger chronology
Latviešu Strēlnieki
(1999) 		Pērkoņkalve
(2003) 		Zobena Dziesma
(2003)

Pērkoņkalve (lit. 'Thunderforge') is Skyforger's third full-length album. It was recorded and mixed from late 2002 to early 2003 at the Phoenix Studios and released on 1 June 2003 by Folter Records.[1] The official presentation of the album took place on 21 September 2003 at the festival Baltijas Saule (Baltic Sun) in Riga.[2]

In a 2006 interview, frontman Pēteris Kvetkovskis referred to the album as the band's Reign In Blood, i.e. Skyforger's best work, but also expressed hope the band's best album is yet to come. He also recalled an incident when a factory refused to press another batch of CDs after its boss saw the swastika in both the album's cover art and band's logo[3] (see Skyforger#Controversy).

In 2009 Folter Records released a red 12" vinyl edition of the album limited to 500 copies.

Musical style and lyrical themes

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Pērkoņkalve indicates a departure from the war themes (Battle of Saule, Latvian War of Independence, and Latvian Riflemen) covered by the band's previous albums. It is a concept album about Latvian mythology with the Latvian god of thunder Pērkons depicted on the cover, striking an anvil with his hammer. Pērkoņkalve goes through the ancient Latvian year and starts with a song about the arrival of spring god Ūsiņš.[4]

Musically, the album is slower, doomier and less aggressive than Skyforger's previous works and features a more extensive of various Latvian folk musical instruments, folk melodies, and folk lyrics. It was also the first the band utilized a synthesizer.[4]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Sputnikmusic[5]
The Metal Observer[6]
The Metal Crypt[7]
Chronicles of Chaos[8]
Maelstrom[9]
Metal1.info[10]
Metal News[11]

Track listing

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English translated titles in italics.

  1. "Intro" - 00:34
  2. "Kad Ūsiņš jāj" (When Usins Rides) – 4:57
  3. "Gada īsākā nakts" (The Shortest Night of the Year) – 5:48
  4. "Nakts debesu karakungs" (Warlord of the Night Sky) – 5:34
  5. "Garais dancis" (Long Dance) – 4:13
  6. "Pērkoņkalve" (Thunderforge) – 4:47
  7. "Migla migla, rasa rasa (svētās vedības)" (Oh Fog, Oh Dew) – 7:04
  8. "Čūsku sieviete" (The Woman of Serpents) – 6:55
  9. "Caur aizsaules vārtiem" (Through the Gates of the World Beyond) – 5:02
  10. "Tumsā un salā" (In Darkness and Frost) – 5:48

Personnel

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Skyforger
  • Pēteris Kvetkovskis – lead vocals, electric guitar, stabule, kokle, design
  • Edgars Grabovskis – bass guitar, vocals, ģīga, Jew's harp
  • Rihards Skudrītis – electric guitar, additional vocals, kokle, acoustic guitar, keyboards
  • Edgars Krūmiņš – thunderdrums, percussion
Production
  • Gints Lundbergs – producer, mixing
  • Virsaitis – cover and painting
  • Aiva Krūmiņa – painting
  • Valdis Bērzvads – layout, design
  • Ieva Zemīte – photography
  • Ilze Apine – photography
  • Andis "Hopkinss" Toms – English translation

References

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  1. ^ "Thunderforge". Skyforger. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  2. ^ Ansis Ataols Bērziņš (24 September 2003). "Baltic autumn solstice fest "The Baltic Sun", Riga, 21 September 2003". folklora.lt. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Vampire Magazine Interview" (PDF). December 2006. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  4. ^ a b "BATTLE webzine interview SKYFORGER". Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  5. ^ liveinflames (8 May 2010). "Skyforger Perkonkalve (Thunderforge)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  6. ^ Alexander Melzer (14 May 2005). "Review - SKYFORGER - Thunderforge/Perkonkalve". The Metal Observer. The Metal Observer. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  7. ^ Justin Donnelly (14 May 2005). "Review: Skyforger - Thunderforge". The Metal Crypt. The Metal Forge. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  8. ^ James Montague (31 May 2004). "Skyforger - Thunderforge (Perkonkalve) : Review". Chronicles of Chaos. Chronicles of Chaos. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  9. ^ Roberto Martinelli (31 May 2004). "Album Review SKYFORGER-Thunderforge". Maelstrom. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  10. ^ "CD-Review: Skyforger - Thunderforge – Perkonkalve". Metal1.info. 6 April 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  11. ^ "Skyforger – Perkonkalve (Thunderforge)". Metal News. 10 July 2004. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
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