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/:: Artist :: Einherjer ::\
:: Album :: Av Oss, For Oss ::
:: Year :: 2014 ::
:: __ _ _ __ ::
-:--\\-----------------------------------------------------------------//--:-
:: \ / ::
:: . Genre :: Metal Source :: CDDA . ::
:: Label :: Indie Recordings R.date :: 2014.11.11 ::
_::__ Cat.nr. :: INDIE125CDL Size :: 96,02 MB __::_
::// \\::
::/---------------------------------------------------------------------\::
:: ::
/: Encoder :: LAME 3.98.4 -V0 :\
..: Bitrate :: avg. 281kbps : .
. Quality :: 44,1kHz/Joint Stereo .
. .
Website :: http://www.einherjer.com/
__ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __
.\\\\------- : | ---\ /---------------------\ /--- | : -------////.
+/ -\------- | | ----\ tracklist /---- | | -------/- \+
/: . : : . :\
/:: ::\
:: 01. Fremad 03:01 ::
:: 02. Hammer i Kors 04:10 ::
:: 03. Nidstong 04:05 ::
:: 04. Hedensk Oppstandelse 04:33 ::
:: 05. Nord og Ner 05:42 ::
:: 06. Nornene 07:38 ::
:: 07. Trelldom 04:16 ::
:: 08. Av Oss, For Oss 10:48 ::
:: 09. Blodsbσnd (bonus) 03:33 ::
:: ------- ::
.. >> 47:46 ..
__ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __
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+/ -\------- | | ----\ release notes /---- | | -------/- \+
/: . : : . :\
/:: ::\
:: ::
:: 18 years ago, in 1996, Dragons of the North, Norwegian ::
:: Einherjer's debut album, was one of the albums that viking ::
:: metal was built on, yet without ever getting the band the ::
:: same recognition as many of the later entrants into the ::
:: genre. In 2011 the trio re-emerged with the critically split ::
:: received Norr°n album, which showed a far less accessible ::
:: side to the band, causing many fans to approach the band ::
:: more warily than in the past. Now their sixth full-length ::
:: album Av oss, for oss has landed and there was much ::
:: anticipation for which direction the band had opted for, a ::
:: continuation down the bulky, almost progressive path or a ::
:: return to what made them the highly influential band in the ::
:: past. ::
:: ::
:: And Av oss, for oss indeed did away with almost all of the ::
:: progressiveness and even appears simplistic at first, ::
:: potentially making the first impression a little awkward and ::
:: depending on the expectations potentially also somewhat ::
:: disappointing. After the very moody intro "Fremad", "Hammer ::
:: i kors" plods on in a straight and simple rhythm, with Frode ::
:: Glesnes' (or Grimar) gruff voice over it and one might find ::
:: it a little dry and a little bland maybe. But to write them ::
:: off just based on that would be a grave mistake, because the ::
:: devil (or Odin) is in the details and there are little ::
:: melodies and touches that reveal themselves, if you pay ::
:: closer attention and suddenly make this album far more than ::
:: just another bland viking metal album. ::
:: ::
:: And if you think that an almost fully straight plodding ::
:: track is boring or can't get you moving, "Nidstong" is the ::
:: maybe simplest song overall, but very efficient, just like ::
:: "Hedensk oppstandelse", which is one of the prime examples ::
:: of these little viking metal melodies and chants sneaking in ::
:: and really helping the songs forward. And this shows the ::
:: experience these three gentlemen have, they do not need any ::
:: flashy elements or folk instruments to get their songs to ::
:: work. ::
:: ::
:: But there is one more... The title track "Av oss, for ::
:: oss"... At over 10 minutes of playing time, it evokes images ::
:: of the bulkiness of "Norr°n Kraft", but instead it is the ::
:: overall maybe most epic and atmospheric song Einherjer have ::
:: ever written. Moving between epic slowness and mid-tempo, it ::
:: lets many instrumental passages breathe and exude this dark ::
:: and epic atmosphere that permeates the song, a grand ::
:: atmosphere and a grand song that is a more than worthy ::
:: ending to Av oss, for oss! ::
:: ::
:: There are no superfluous elements or passages on Av oss, for ::
:: oss, instead it shows a battle-hardened band of veterans ::
:: that know exactly what they need to do to make a song ::
:: efficient, striking the right balance between heaviness and ::
:: atmosphere, with great melodies, some of which are obvious, ::
:: some less so. If you give the album just a little more ::
:: attention than usual, it will reveal itself as an ::
:: outstanding viking metal album that will not dazzle you with ::
:: its flashiness, but inevitably draw you in deeper and ::
:: deeper. Great work. ::
:: ::
:: . _ _ . ::
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__\____ :: ____ ___\ _ / BERC : 2014 \ _ /___ ____ :: ____/__
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