| Enslaved 'Mardraum - Beyond The Within' Osmose, 2000 Lord Pale: Enslaved return again proving to be a constant force in the Nordic extreme metal scene, this time with an 11-track 58 minute epic of thrash inspired Viking metal. Traditional Enslaved riffing melds with heavier thrash riffs complemented at intervals by delicate acoustic passages. Abrasive blackmetal snarls are prominent as always in the vocals but occasional clean vocals are used to juxtapose the brutality and add a very rich feel to the album. A variety of ideas are presented across the course of the near hour-long album from the blatantly heavy to the more longer and pastoral tracks that�s build gently into the maelstrom. Only one track in the album is in English (the rest are in Enslaved's native Norwegian tongue), but all the lyrics and song titles are presented in both languages in the booklet and on the cover making for a more enjoyable experience. Once again the lyrical content is based around Norse mythology and traditional pagan/Viking themes and the variation of the vocals helps to flesh out the story line in a more emotive manner. Occasional moments of 80's soloing is inevitable and a few songs strike familiar chords like the riffing in Aeges Draum sounding reminiscent of Carpe Tenebrum's 'The Painting�, but overall the album is a definite winner even the almost country and western swagger of This Ending Empire! Mardraum is Enslaved's most accomplished album to date and a must for long time fans of the band. Favourite Tracks - Mardraum, Krigaren Eg Ikkje Kjende, Daudningekvida Mark - 7.5/10 Enslaved �Below The Lights� The End Records , 2003 Lord Pale: Enslaved�s new album Below The Lights ( �BTL� ) again shows forward progression from their previous works whilst still retaining their basic template of thrashy/black/viking metal. �BTL� starts in good form with the gentle yet despairing synth intro to the first track �As Fire Swept Clean The Earth�, a lengthy song with solid riffs and clean vocal passages. The following track �The Dead Stare� is an altogether weirder affair with little in the way of singing apart from the occasional blackened rasps and a few cleaner passages wrapped in an odd riff with Hammond organs and synth samples. Next is �The Crossing� is a longer more epic piece reminiscent of Bathory with slower soothing riffs, acoustic passages, and both rasped and clean vocals. Then out of nowhere comes �Queen Of Night� starting with a duelling flute/acoustic passage before breaking into a heavy segment with deep rasps. This track is rather unusual with pulsing melodic riffs, quiet yet effective solo�s, rather ambivalent sounding, drifting, clean vocals and a slightly off kilter timing. More surprising still, following �Queen Of Night� is �Havenless� starting with viking style chanting that breaks abruptly yet effectively into rasps with a ripping riff that doesn�t miss a beat in the transition. This track again has some clean vocal segments and is my favourite due to its slow plodding pace and epic atmosphere. The album closes with �Ridicule Swarm� a harsher blackmetal tune with a deathy influence and ambient synth passages at it�s start and middle; and �A Darker Place� a trippy blackmetal track with deathy growls and an acoustic break that fades out with melodic leads. Overall Below The Lights is a varied and interesting album, but like Arcturus, I find Enslaved�s work ( although complex and intriguing ) to be a little boring at times. Favourite Tracks � Havenless , As Fire Swept Clean The Earth , The Crossing Mark � 7.5/10 |
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