Einherjer
Odin Owns Ye All
[Century Media]


Yes, I know that 99.9999% of you will hate this CD immediately because of the lack of Black Metal vocals and the progressive guitar-sound but I decided to review this CD anyway… if only because nobody ever reviewed this CD before me… Hell, it’s my job to tell the sheep-like public what CDs they should and shouldn’t buy (this CD falls into the shouldn’t category…). The truth is that I was really enthusiastic about this CD, that is, until I actually HEARD it …Actually the music is quite good, and has a much more ‘Viking’ feel to it than every other ‘Viking Metal’ band I’ve heard thus far, but I couldn’t, and still can’t, stand the vocals. The guitars also have a very progressive feel… Let’s just dissect this CD (there’s a lot to cover)…

Guitars – The guitar PLAYING on this CD is nicely done… The guitarist on this album is clearly highly skilled, and the riffs are very technical and well-done. What’s more, this is the first ‘Viking Metal’ band I’ve heard in a long while with a real Viking influence on the music, in short, this isn’t a generic Black Metal disc covered in Norse imagery and touting itself as ‘Viking Metal’!! The ‘Viking’ feel and influence on the actual music is really deep. I’m just a bit upset that the guitars focused way too much on the lead parts and have a progressive rock type of feel… Good – 7.5/10

Vocals – Ok, this is obviously the part of the CD that many of you will hate, and with good reason, but it really depends on the way you look at it and what you expected when you bought this disc. If you expected grim Black Vocals turn elsewhere, and even though their older discs were sung in a Black Metal fashion this one isn’t, it’s not like I can do anything about it… It was the band’s choice, not mine, and even though I would have MUCH preferred more traditional Black Metal vox this is what we’ve got. His voice ain’t bad (and it never really made much sense for ‘Viking Metal’ bands to sing in a Black Metal style) but I, as a dedicated Black Metal guy, can never truly get used to this type of clear singing all the time. All I can say is that this could have been a MUCH better album with their older vocal style… Very Poor – 1/10

Drums – There is some really excellent drum playing on this CD, very nicely produced and with a lot of double-bass intensive beats that just kill! Even better than on their previous releases… Superb – 9.7/10

Synth/Atmosphere – There is a LOT of synth use on this CD, and while that’s usually a very bad thing it’s really not so loathsome on this disc. I have, though, always felt that excessive synth use greatly cheapens the music and this is no exception to that rule (except maybe on the last song). It would have been slightly better if they left out the synth during most parts and only used it during special atmospheric bits or something, but, as it is, it does add somewhat to the Norsk atmosphere… nice – 6.5/10

Production – It’s a Century Media release so the production is, of course, crystal clear… And even though I don’t like the way that the guitar sounds (it’s not dark or evil at all…) I still think that it was produced well, in a radio-friendly sort of way, of course… Good – 8/10

Packaging – Pretty ugly cover art done in an annoying shade of orange. The only remarkable thing about it is that, looking at the band photo, the band looks completely normal… no Viking helmets or axes - just plain T-shirts and jeans… I find it funny that bands like Enslaved, who usually look like complete idiots, go the whole nine yards in Viking imagery, but their actual music has little-to-no Viking influence at all, while normal looking guys play heavily Norse influenced music… Odd…. Average – 5/10

This CD is pseudo-Power Metal with heavy Viking influences, and I doubt that even longtime fans of the band will like it as the vocals will probably annoy them just as they annoyed me… Not recommended for dedicated Black Metal guys (unless they’re extremely open-minded), and even if you think that you might like this CD listen to it before you buy it, just in case… And although saying that I liked this CD in an odd way would damage my credibility beyond any point of redemption, umm…well… I did… in an odd, insubstantial way, of course…

Pros – Great drumming, Heavy Norsk influence
Cons – The clear singing, progressive guitar sound, ugly orange packaging
Style of Music – Heavily Norsk influenced Viking/Power Metal
Will Likely Appeal to – People whom like this sort of thing… Not Black Metal guys, that’s for sure…

Overall – Not for me… Poor – 3.5/10


© 2000 sauron anarazel