Cygnus Rock Band - Odin's Wolves - live at COP16 (video review)

Yes, dear Reader, you see it well. Cygnus Rock Band released another video that was recorded at their gig at COP16 Colombia on that memorable 29th day of this October. One week after The One-Eyed Wanderer they generously gave this video right into our hands.

Because they are this wonderful, that's why.

This is just my thought, dear Reader, but "Odin's Wolves" would have deserved a video long ago. Not just because I personally have fond memories about it, but also because this song is simply wonderful. It has a well-constructed, well-built, power metal flavored theme, a nasty, nuclear bass line

essential to win my heart!

a galloping tempo, a chorus the audience can sing along with the band on gigs, a mildly spiritual subject (more like keeping the community together, to give the group something to identify with rather than actual spirituality, this way the average music consumer can comprehend it easier) and powerful male vocals

again essential to win my heart, thank you

and in my personal, subjective opinion this live version is excellent not only to finally have a well-deserved video for this song, but it's also a fantastic, one-of-a-kind chance to look deeper into the song's details, the hidden little treasures; all those things the album version will not reveal, no matter how many times you listen to it.

Of course it refers only to those who actually discovered the little hidden details and treasures of the album version. For the vast majority, who can't even spell "Valhalla" correctly, I suggest popping bubble wrap instead of listening to music as a pastime.

The video starts right with a hidden gem that had been waiting until this moment to get discovered. The intro of the song consists of not only crystal clear and fast guitar arpeggios, but a very heavy load of kickdrums, too. Thanks to the great camera crew and the video editing, you can have an insight right in the beginning into what a very hard job Ruxx is doing already in the first seconds of the song, meanwhile Jota (and Andrés) throw these very hard, very fast, very complex guitar themes right into your face, and Deneb, well, dear Reader, the Magician, the mastermind of nuclear fallout is standing tall, brave and proud, leading the entire pack with vision and determination.

And if you're watching it all with open eyes, open ears, open heart and open soul, you will catch him doing tapping!... 😍

...and the gods saw that it was good.

No, of course I don't expect you, dear average dumb music consumer to know what "tapping" is. I don't even expect you to notice everyone's favorite bassist doing it. You are one of those who answer "Huginn and Muninn" to the question "Which is your favorite song from 'Revival'?", so I suggest you to watch ants instead of listening to Cygnus, for the benefit of humankind 😒 

You hear the drums clear, heavier than an AT-AT unit, stomping through your chest. Ruxx is more precise than a metronome and as you're listening to the clockwork-alike kickdrums, stand up and pay respect to this drummer and his performance in this song.

Whatever you're doing, wherever you are. I don't care if you're out in the street or you're in the little closet doing number 2. You. Pay. Respect. Now.

Then Deneb starts to sing.

The flavor. This extraordinary, hidden flavor of his voice that he shares on a very rare occasion with the listeners. You really, really have to open your ears, your heart and your soul to be able to notice it - not to mention to comprehend it, feel it and appreciate it. This, dear Reader. This powerful, energetic, firm, playful but still robust, warm voice is there for you to absorb it, to love it, to hold it tight, to hide it into your heart and keep it there, it's there to push a load of fresh blood into your veins, to shake you up, to make you believe there's still some beauty in this world that is worth fighting for.

Only the bass and the drums accompany his voice and this way you can really feel, dear Reader, the fire of this warm baritone, now full of vigor. What a rare moment... keep it in your heart and hold it dear.

For the chorus Ruxx joins him. The powerful vocals he demonstrated a week earlier in "The One-Eyed Wanderer" come back and support Deneb's heart-warming, mellow voice.

Now you can say that the Earth is 4,5 billion years old, but you fkin managed to live at the same time as Cygnus!

And then the crystal clear, heavy guitars return along with the very heavy drums - and Ruxx is singing. His voice is more clear than the guitars; it's sharp, powerful and sweeping. And in the meantime he is doing the fast kickdrum themes that would make Dave Lombardo send a chef's kiss for sure.

Because he's this wonderful.

Yes, I know you're not aware of it. I know you're deaf enough that you'd expect an instrumental song to be released instead of this piece of radioactive beauty with these machine gun alike kickdrums. I don't have high expectations, don't worry 😒

The chorus returns with the two energetic, strong male voices to warm up your heart. Let this warmth flow through your veins, dear Reader. This is their special gift for you. Only here, only now.

And then comes Andrés's moment, when he can show the world why he's called the Colombian Yngwie J. Malmsteen. Virtuosity, improvisation, finesse, elegance, all these are in the highest levels. Right there, within approx. 25 seconds. Open your eyes, open your ears, open your heart and open your soul. Reload it, rewatch it, re-listen it. It's something you can't watch and listen enough times. The pure, raw talent of this guitarist is beyond the comprehension of a simple humane mind.

That's why most of you will never understand what you're watching 😒

And you're witnessing it. You can watch it, as often as you want, you can absorb it, worship it, share it, make an altar for it, but most of all, feel yourself FKIN lucky that you're living it!... 

And for the whole time Deneb and Jota are bringing massively the theme of the song, like a clockwork, like a well-oiled machinery with heart, soul and blood. Andrés is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, these men - along with Ruxx and his precise, punctual 

as someone I admire often says, "punchy"

drumming are the beauty that surrounds this divine revelation made by everyone's favorite guitar hero.

Then the chorus returns. Deneb is leading it and this is a miracle as it is. 

I can tell you something, dear Reader, just between the two of us. I don't know how many times I listened to this song. I lost count on how many hours, days, weeks, months I've been listening to Cygnus. Viking songs, cover songs, even songs barely anyone remembers. I've heard these men, and especially Deneb singing in many ways, with many flavors. I've heard him singing with deep emotions, with warmth, softness, with force, with passion, with spiritual power, with playfulness - but this way, believe me, dear Reader, this way I have never heard him singing. This mature, ripened, full-flavored voice, full of love, passion, gentleness and deep faith is the secret gem of this recording. I know very well that barely any others will recognize it, and perhaps that's how it's supposed to be. As this someone I admire said, this [i.e. Cygnus's music] is not for everyone. It's NOT for the superficial, it's NOT background music. And this is the living evidence of what I always keep saying at this blog: Cygnus's music always has something to reveal, a secret, a gem, a treasure, even after who knows how many times of listening to them.

Take it, dear Reader. Take it, watch it as many times as it needs to become a part of it, to absorb it into your body cells and your blood. May it be your heartbeat, your breath, your dearest jewel. Hold it tight and love it, shamelessly fall in love with it and live, experience and enjoy every single moment of it. 

It's yours.