Pērkoņkalve
{{Short description|2003 album by Skyforger}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Pērkoņkalve
| type = studio
| artist = Skyforger
| cover = Skyforger_-_Perkonkalve.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1 June 2003
| recorded = 2002–2003
| venue =
| studio = Phoenix Studios
| genre = Folk metal
| length = 50:42
| label = Folter Records
| producer = Gints Lundbergs
| prev_title = Latviešu Strēlnieki
| prev_year = 1999
| next_title = Zobena Dziesma
| next_year = 2003
}}
Pērkoņkalve ({{Literal translation|Thunderforge|lk=yes}}) 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.{{cite web |url=https://skyforger.lv/en/audio/thunderforge/ |title=Thunderforge |publisher=Skyforger |accessdate=25 December 2012}} The official presentation of the album took place on 21 September 2003 at the festival Baltijas Saule (Baltic Sun) in Riga.{{cite web |author=Ansis Ataols Bērziņš |url=http://folklora.lt/pasakumi/reportazas/20030921/en.shtml |title=Baltic autumn solstice fest "The Baltic Sun", Riga, 21 September 2003 |website=folklora.lt |date=24 September 2003 |accessdate=25 December 2012}}
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{{cite web |url=https://www.mcmoka.fi/gloria06/VAMPIRE_MAGAZINE_INTERVIEW.pdf#page=6 |title=Vampire Magazine Interview |date=December 2006 |accessdate=25 December 2012}} (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
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.ws/battle_zine/interviews/Skyforger/skyforger.html |title=BATTLE webzine interview SKYFORGER |accessdate=25 December 2012}}
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.
{{Music ratings
|rev1 = Sputnikmusic
|rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/36687/Skyforger-Perkonkalve-(Thunderforge)/ |title=Skyforger Perkonkalve (Thunderforge) |author=liveinflames |website=Sputnikmusic |date=8 May 2010 |accessdate=25 December 2012}}
|rev2 = The Metal Observer
|rev2score = {{Rating|9.5|10}}{{cite web|author=Alexander Melzer |url=http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=2153 |title=Review - SKYFORGER - Thunderforge/Perkonkalve |work=The Metal Observer |publisher=The Metal Observer |date=14 May 2005 |accessdate=25 December 2012}}
|rev3 = The Metal Crypt
|rev3score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web |author=Justin Donnelly |url=http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/review.php?revid=2153 |title=Review: Skyforger - Thunderforge |work=The Metal Crypt |publisher=The Metal Forge |date=14 May 2005 |accessdate=25 December 2012}}
|rev4 = Chronicles of Chaos
|rev5 = Maelstrom
|rev5score = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web |author=Roberto Martinelli |url=http://www.maelstrom.nu/ezine/review_iss16_1262.php |title=Album Review SKYFORGER-Thunderforge |publisher=Maelstrom |date=31 May 2004 |accessdate=25 December 2012}}
|rev6 = Metal1.info
|rev6score = {{Rating|8.5|10}}{{cite web |url=https://www.metal1.info/metal-reviews/skyforger-thunderforge-perkonkalve/ |title=CD-Review: Skyforger - Thunderforge – Perkonkalve |website=Metal1.info |date=6 April 2013 |accessdate=25 December 2012}}
|rev7 = Metal News
|rev7score = {{Rating|6|7}}{{cite web |url=https://www.metalnews.de/skyforger-perkonkalve-thunderforge/ |title=Skyforger – Perkonkalve (Thunderforge) |publisher=Metal News |date=10 July 2004 |accessdate=25 December 2012}}
}}
Track listing
English translated titles in italics.
- "Intro" - 00:34
- "Kad Ūsiņš jāj" (When Usins Rides) – 4:57
- "Gada īsākā nakts" (The Shortest Night of the Year) – 5:48
- "Nakts debesu karakungs" (Warlord of the Night Sky) – 5:34
- "Garais dancis" (Long Dance) – 4:13
- "Pērkoņkalve" (Thunderforge) – 4:47
- "Migla migla, rasa rasa (svētās vedības)" (Oh Fog, Oh Dew) – 7:04
- "Čūsku sieviete" (The Woman of Serpents) – 6:55
- "Caur aizsaules vārtiem" (Through the Gates of the World Beyond) – 5:02
- "Tumsā un salā" (In Darkness and Frost) – 5:48
Personnel
; 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
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://folterrecords.bandcamp.com/album/thunderforge Thunderforge] on SoundCloud
- [https://skyforger.lv/en/albums/lyrics/thunderforge/ Official translation of the lyrics in English and German]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Perkonkalve}}