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It is rare for a band to be together for twenty plus years and have a discography that is impenetrable. Ireland’s Primordial are the epitome of this concept as they always bring their strongest ideas and leave no room for filler. With the release of their eighth album Where Greater Men Have Fallen, they continue to build on their legacy and cement themselves as one of the most ambitious bands in metal.

Starting out with more of a black metal background, by 2000s Spirit the Earth Aflame they started incorporating more of their Celtic heritage into their sound with jaw dropping results. The band hit a creative zenith with To the Nameless Dead and it was highly regarded as one of 2007’s best releases.

Primordial define what it means to be epic as all of the songs on Where Greater Men Have Fallen are a journey that convey one entering a battle with a shield and sword to fight for their life. Their use of dynamics is brilliant as they understand pacing and lure the listener deeper into their vortex of sound.

Primordial are no stranger to longer songs and that tradition continues as the album is almost an hour in length, but only features eight tracks. The balance between fast tremolo picked riffs, angular chord structures and arpeggiated chords prevent the record from being overbearing and brings much-needed variety. Vocalist A.A. Nemtheanga creates a whirlwind of atmosphere with his unique tone as he sounds as good as ever.

“Come the Flood,” “Ghosts of the Charnel House” and the title track find the band at their best. The melodies soar and the mood that is created is one of despair. The pain and anguish captured in Nemtheanga’s poignant performance is heroic and moves one on an emotional level. “Come the Flood” is one of their finest tracks to date, the personification of constructing passion and anguish with drummer Simon O’Laoghaire building the climax with spectacular and fiery fills.

“The Seed of Tyrants” returns the band to their old black metal sound and is the most intense they have been in years. The extreme blast beats mixed with Nemtheanga’s vocal attack finds the band rediscovering past gems like “To Enter Pagan.” The song is relentless as it is a battering ram for the duration. Closer “Wield Lightning to Split the Sun” captures the spirit of their previous release Redemption at the Puritan’s Hand, as it begins with a gorgeous acoustic intro before doom riffs dominate and melt the earth.

Primordial once again prove themselves as of the best folk metal bands. Where Greater Men Have Fallen is more proof of their ability to grow and maintain such a high level of songwriting. Equal in stature to their last two releases, they seem to be reaching new heights and very few bands can match their passion. They have once again released a sure candidate for album of the year.

(released November 25th, 2014 on Metal Blade Records)