Being a rather short mCD (3 tracks running a tad under the 19 minute mark), I'll make this a quick review as there really isn't a lot to be said about it. Kampfar (for those that don't know) is a one man band under the dictatorship of Dolk (ex-Mock), and this was their 1996 debut CD, released by Seasons of Mist out of France. The most obvious musical comparison that could be made is to perhaps later day Burzum, but a clone this is not - there's enough of a folky/viking influence here to separate this from Varg's outings, and the vocals are nothing at all like the Count's in my opinion. Track 1 ("Kampfar") is the most frantic (yet least memorable) of the lot, and the only thing that really stands out about it is the very nice acoustic guitar bits at the beginning and end of the song. The second track ("Hymne") fairs quite a bit better, with it's use of clean monk/viking styled vocals in bits, and has a good mid-paced groove to it all - the picked acoustic guitar part in the middle added a nice touch, and the synth string section at the end of the track was tastefully done, making this the best of the tracks presented on this. The last track ("Hjemkomsten" if I'm reading the rather ornamental style of font used for the song listings) is a good closer to the CD - a very subdued song based on extensive (yet not overbearing) use of synths, thick bass sound, raspy vocals, and a total lack of guitar as far as I could tell. A well done track, and a fitting end. Overall a thumbs up for this mCD, a solid (but not very ground breaking) debut...

© 1998 chorazaim