War is a source for many band's lyrics. But no one is saying that war is noble or an act that must be praised. No, in reality, is just the opposite: these lyrics are to remember the atrocities that are committed during days of war. Genocides, rapes, economies torn apart, people being enslaved and killed in the middle of the chaos of the battles. No, war isn't good and noble, but an expression of the lack of dialogue between nations, and the fail of people to stop manic leaders. And a name as the Ukrainian quintet 1914 must be praised, because they remember the price that world pays with wars, as can be heard on "Where Fear and Weapons Meet".

Their music is a form of Blackened Death Metal mixed with Doom Metal, creating a form of music based on slow tempos, but with a whole ambience that brings to mind a war field and the terrors that torment the mind of those who passes for such experience. It's brutal and oppressive, bitter and dirty, but always in a way that isn't similar to what anyone heard before (this is a feature from bands of Ukraine). It's truly nasty, but with a massive energy and excellent contrasts. The production was done in a form that the sonority of the album could be crude and nasty, but in a way that can be fully understood by the fans. And in the way it's done, they really did a fine job, because it fits on their musical work (a combination of a good clarity on the sound, but with abrasive crude instrumental tunes). Not a 100%, but in a very good way, indeed.

"FN .380 ACP#19074" with its bitter slow approach and nasty aggressiveness (reinforced by good keyboards parts entwining with the guitars), the dirty Doom Metal outfit of "Vimy Ridge (In Memory of Filip Konowal)", the melancholic and bitter appeal of "Pillars of Fire (The Battle of Messines)" and of "Don't Tread on Me (Harlem Hellfighters)" (both showing good harsh voices), "...and a Cross Now Marks His Place" with its abrasive rhythms and contrasts on the vocals (due the presence of Nick Holmes of PARADISE LOST using his natural grunts), and their chaotic version for ERIC BOGLE's "The Green Fields of France" (more than 10 minutes of musical oppression based on a rhythmic wall created by bass guitar and drums) are their best moments. But the entire album is easy to like.

1914 came, saw, and can conquer new fans with "Where Fear and Weapons Meet". So give yourself a chance and pay some attention to the band's work.