HELHEIM - Heiðindómr ok mótgang (2011)

 genre : melodic/viking black

similar bands : Kampfar, Iskald, Windir, Taake

origin : Norway

strong spot : songwriting

weak spot : nothing obvious

At times blasting, at times pompous, at times serene, this is a viking black metal album whose melodies were made to haunt you. Standard tremolo picking black metal at first listen, it unveils an exeptional beauty after more thorough listens due to its clever songwriting. Epic melodies, themes that stick to your mind, sudden and successful changes of tempo, grandiose symphonic samples and a really diverse vocalist yield in one of the best viking/pagan black metal albums I have heard the last years.

9 out of 10 goatheads

 Download link