Viking Metal

Promised Land

Artist: 
Valfreya
Label: 
Independent

Promised Land is viking metal band, Valfreya's newest release which has 12 songs on it. I already like viking metal and female vocals so I was already pretty excited for this album and I really wasn't disappointed. The songs are all interesting and engaging and combine both female and male vocals to create unique songs. Some have both and some have one or the other. I really enjoyed the female vocals and loved when classical instruments were incorporated into the songs.

Sounds Like: 
Nordheim
Sounds Like: 
Korpius
Name: 
Danielle Perry
Date Reviewed: 
03/20/2017

Vogguviser Yggdrasils

Artist: 
Skalmold
Label: 
Napalm records

This album is a callback to Norse mythologies nine worlds.

Each song does a good job at representing the nature of each of those worlds.

The album as a whole has some sick riffs that when combined with the strange atmospheric devices creates a unique style the band can claim as its own

Fire, screaming, chanting, church bells, tapping sticks, gongs, The wind, and various other devises make for an interesting album well worth listening to.

Sounds Like: 
Before the Dawn
Name: 
Matthew Owen
Date Reviewed: 
10/05/2016

First Kill - Single

Artist: 
Amon Amarth
Label: 
Metal Blade

"First Kill" is a single off of Swedish band, Amon Amarth's newest ablum Jomsviking and I don't know if this single is representative of the rest of the album but if it is this album is great. "First Kill" sounds heavy and angry if you pay attention to the lyrics you can hear an interesting story about a young man murdering someone for the first time and having to flee his home because of it and this explains the name of the song.

Sounds Like: 
Ensiferum
Sounds Like: 
Tyr
Name: 
Danielle Perry
Date Reviewed: 
02/06/2016

High Priestess

Artist: 
Kobra and the Lotus
Label: 
Titan Music

High Priestess is Kobra and the Lotus’s third studio album and it totally kicks ass. Kobra Paige has such a commanding voice and presence that you can’t help but sucked into the music. The other musicians in the band are so tremendously talented and compliment Kobra excellently. The guitars have the new metal sound, and the drumming is loud enough to be appreciated but isn’t overbearing. Honestly, Kobra’s voice compliments the guitars so much that they almost sound like one in some songs. The whole album is amazing, but of course there are always gems.

Sounds Like: 
Huntress
Sounds Like: 
Sister Sin
Name: 
Alexis Walker
Date Reviewed: 
10/15/2015

One Man Army

Artist: 
Ensiferum
Label: 
Metal Blade Records

Finland seems like a truly metal place. Alongside its black metal neighbors Norway (home of Burzum, Mayhem, Gorgoroth, and Dimmu Borgir, among many others) Poland (home of Behemoth), and its death metal neighbor Sweden (home of Amon Amarth, In Flames, Meshuggah, and Bathory, among many others), many tend to forget Finland even exists, both in the metal scene and in general. With any luck whatsoever, Ensiferum, with their new album One Man Army, will forever carve Finland into your memory on the list of metal countries.

Sounds Like: 
Amon Amarth
Sounds Like: 
Kvelertak
Name: 
Andrew Trujillo
Date Reviewed: 
02/27/2015

Urd

Artist: 
Borknagar
Label: 
Century Media

 ICS Vortex AND Vintersorg on an album? Yes, that's the golden lineup we've always gotten from Borknagar. In addition, they stray even further from their black metal roots to become more progressive, and it shows quite a bit. Not a bad thing at all, this may be their best since Empiricism. At this point I'd say they've stopped becoming Enslaved's less popular younger brother and established a unique progressive black sound of their own. 

Sounds Like: 
Enslaved
Sounds Like: 
Vintersorg
Sounds Like: 
Arcturus
Name: 
Jeremiah Traeger
Date Reviewed: 
03/27/2012

Tiurida

Artist: 
Falkenbach
Label: 
Napalm

So when i say folk metal, it's more like some songs are folksy and some songs are metal.  Falkenbach doesn't do a very good job with mixing the two (at least when compared to bands like Eluveite or Finntroll).  The band does come up with some interesting sounds, but as I said, the mix isn't quite present, it's more discretely one or the other.  Also, their songs tend to be very long.  I think the shortest one on here, aside from the intro, is 5:30ish so be wary of that.  The band sings all in German and it works, but the singer doesn't tend to be the main focus of the

Sounds Like: 
Finntroll (but less metal)
Sounds Like: 
Eluveite (but less folk)
Name: 
Scott Angus
Date Reviewed: 
03/09/2011

Once Sent From The Golden Hall

Artist: 
Amon Amarth
Label: 
Metal Blade

Considered to be one of Amon Amarth's key albums, this edition is a real treat for fans: Disc 2 contains a live version of the entire album in it's entirety. The band plays melodic death metal, with vocalist Johan Hegg providing a menacing growl and taking you on a lyrical journey through the world of the vikings. Musically, the band plays melodic death metal, although they frequently transition into slower mid-paced grooves as well. As a side note, the drums are performed by Martin Lopez, best known for his work with Opeth, so of course they're good. Play it!

Sounds Like: 
Ex Deo
Sounds Like: 
Heavier Opeth
Sounds Like: 
Lay Down Rotten
Name: 
Alex Lopez
Date Reviewed: 
10/10/2010
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