Alright, I'll be honest: I had little faith in this one. Suidakra was swimming against the current after the monolithic "Crógacht," and pulling off back-to-back masterpieces hardly ever happens. While "Book of Dowth" is no magnum opus, Suidakra's vivid instrumentality and marching perseverance certainly shows in the long-running, folk-fused death metal of Arkadius and friends, making it the tenth full-length album of the group's career. They've been reeling in consistent material on a constant basis at this point in time for many years now, making their mystified genetics appeal to the expected chimes of adventurous mythology and daring compositions of ancient power; "Book of Dowth" is no exception. Thankfully, some things never change.Suidakra's trademarks are pretty much a given at this point in their career: rich, scathing riffs and melodies frequently harmonize underneath the wave of Celtic pastures implicated by Suidakra's folk-inspired edge between the crashing speed and fierceness summoned by the band's extreme metal frontier, which often associates itself with blast beats, lots of double-pedal action, churning riffs, and a number of other characteristics hailing death metal's folklore. Oh, and the occasional folk number too. Arkadius' growls are low and epic as usual, and there's a share of clean vocals (both male and female) scattered throughout the album as well. Maybe not the most surprising album ever made, but hey, Suidakra can leech this sound as much as they'd like; they've earned that right and continue to benefit from it.
"Biróg's Oath" and "Mag Mell," two folk numbers, are oddly at the pinnacle of the album's climax. Suidakra's calm, folk-inspired tracks almost always go beyond expectations, yet the clean vocals and Celtic rhythms here are simply otherworldly. "Dowth 2059" immediately ignites the melodic barrage that tastes and smells like a classic anthem, not to mention the guitar work is incredibly unique and clearly something only Suidakra could forge. Surprises are pretty much a myth, but every track stands tall regardless: "Stone of the Seven Suns" has one of the finest Celtic vibes you'll hear; "The Dark Mound" unmercifully pours Suidakra's recipe of riffing on the listener; and "Fury Fomoraigh" stands on an omega level of instrumentality.
While not as riveting as "Crógacht" or some of the band's earlier masterpieces, "Book of Dowth" still reaches the end of the rainbow, dancing around Celtic jigs and slaughtering the weak like any Suidakra release should. "Dowth 2059" and "Stone of Seven Suns" are among some of Suidakra's finest craft, which, as I said, aren't musically evolutionary or groundbreaking, but certainly written with that blasé edge of cohesive, majestic care and absolute power which lives in Suidakra's chambers. Maybe not the best place to start if you're new to Suidakra's mythology, but "Book of Dowth" still makes a respectable mark in the band's concrete and dependable legacy.