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Band Name: Enslaved
Album Name: Isa
Rating: 4 / 5 User Rating: 3 / 5
Label: Candlelight Records
Buy Album: Amazon.com
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Tracklist
1. Intro Green Reflection
2. Lunar Force
3. Isa
4. Ascension
5. Bounded by Allegiance
6. Violet Dawning
7. Return to Yggdrasill
8. Secrets of the Flesh (Instr.)
9. Reogenesis
10. Outro: 'Communion' (Excerpt)
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With their latest release, "Isa", Enslaved have created a very diverse Viking black metal record. This Norweigen quintet blends traditional and symphonic black metal elements with ancient Norse themes very successfully. A dual vocal style is employed here, with bassist Kjetil Grutle pushing forward a very intense and evil sounding grim voice. The grim vocals are sometimes low and slightly indecipherable in a style similar to that of Ihsahn; at other times they're louder and deeper, like 1349's Ravn. Clean vocalist and guitarist Ivar Bjornson sounds more like Vintersorg – not a surprise since Bjornson used to play for Borknagar, for whom Vintersorg currently sings. In fact, throughout the entire album, similarities to Emperor and Borknagar are apparent. The Viking influences are most apparent on tracks such as 'Ascension,' where the guitar diverges from a typical black metal sound to create some more interesting melodies. Epic sounding clean vocals are also in abundance on this track. Herbrand Larson's keyboard playing adds additional atmosphere that helps perpetuate the Viking sound, much like Lars Nedland does for Borknagar. On 'Return to Yggdrasil' the Viking and black sounds truly converge to produce a beautiful song. Here you'll find acoustic clean-sung parts counterbalancing electric sections with grim screeching in perfect harmony. Anyone who listens to black or Viking metal – this album is a must for you. It contains practically everything to make it one of the best of both worlds.
Review by: Andrew
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