CAVE GROWL — Something Drunk (review)

CAVE GROWL — Something Drunk album cover

Album · 2011 · Folk Metal

3.5/5 · 2011-07-24
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Something Drunk is the debut full-length album by French folk metal group Cave Growl, which was released in 2011. Although it is possible to order a physical copy of the album via the band, they have also released it as a free download via their website. As always with anything released for free, what more incentive is required to give the band a go?

My introduction to Cave Growl’s music comes straight from the band’s vocalist/guitarist Tritt in form of a sales pitch of sorts, who reveals that the band is most influenced by traditional Irish melodies and of course, metal. Their sound is created through a fusion of heavy metal and traditional instruments such as fiddles and bagpipes. This is a good thing for me without even hearing the group’s music, as it lets me know that they mean business, or if you prefer, folk metal that goes beyond drinking songs.

Hang on, I hear you say, the album is called Something Drunk right? Doesn’t that imply drinking songs? Well, yeah it does, but they are done in such a way that the music is what comes first. It should do, since Tritt also states in his sales pitch that the band aims to be an alternative to acts such as Eluveitie and Korpiklaani, who, in his own words “serve to us the same old shit during years without any innovative stuff”. It’s not exactly a subtle thing to say on his part, though I want it on record that I agree with him in regard to said examples. However given the focus on drinking songs and an attached tagline of ‘Pure Alcoholic Folk Metal’, I have to admit to being somewhat cautious when approaching Cave Growl’s debut, as after that remark coupled with seeming to be on the drinking songs folk metal bandwagon, this album could, potentially, have been a disaster.

It’s far from it however. The use of real instruments to create the folk side of the band is a big plus naturally, and is done generally well. As can be common with folk metal the folk instruments take on the role that is more often filled by the lead guitar, all there are some guitar solos on the album, but most of the time Tritt and fellow guitarist Rémi seem content to just riff away and maintain the heaviest of the record. There are some lighter sections on offer as well though, so variety is present in the album, and it’s nice there they is a wide range of folk ideas on offer, many of which are pretty spectacular.

There are two main problems with Something Drunk however. The biggest one is the production, which is not outright terrible but not exactly amazing either. It works well enough to showcase the material, but right from the off I wasn’t able to shake the feeling that if it had been polished up a bit then the record would have had a greater impact on me.

The second issue is Tritt’s vocals. Mostly he sticks to something that isn’t quite a growl, but has a rough edge to it. This is, admittedly, quite fitting with the alcoholic folk metal thing that Cave Growl has got going on, and does have a general appeal to it, but by the time I’m some way into the album, the style has started to grate, and it’s almost a relief when the vocals are shifted into growls, such as in parts of Silent Whisper. On a shorter album this wouldn’t be such a major problem, but Something Drunk clocks in at over an hour, so when trying to take it in one hit it can be a struggle. Naturally there are places where his vocals work better than others, especially in the song Battle's Beer, which is one of the album’s highlights.

Mostly though I am left with genuine positive thoughts about Something Drunk. The production issue could easily be improved should the band get a bit of backing (Something Drunk is a self-released affair). Tritt’s vocals can be an issue as I said, but with a bit of honing he could easily carry an album of this length better than he does on Something Drunk. The compositions are what make Something Drunk worth taking note of however. Drinking songs folk metal yes, but it’s very clear to me that Cave Growl is miles ahead of other bigger name bands that are doing this sort of thing. In some ways they remind me of Cruachan (one of my personal favourite folk metal bands), only drunker.

The burning question I find myself asking in regard to Cave Growl is if they would be a stronger unit if they ditched the whole drinking songs thing. The answer I come up with each time is yes. Not only because in general I have found stronger output from folk metal acts that have more serious lyrics, but because I have known the genre to be somewhat ridiculed for being too silly. It’s an opinion that I can respect because with many acts it’s all too easy to see where they are coming from. With Cave Growl delivering folk melodies of the highest standard, the music seems to be screaming for the drunkenness to be lost and for things to be all round taken to the higher level of quality exhibited by the band’s folk side.

In summary this is a good first album, but there is much I feel could be improved on. I look forward to hearing future releases from Cave Growl all the same.

(Originally written for Heavy Metal Haven, scored at 7.1/10)