ELD

Imagine you were chilling on a beach several hundred years ago, and you spied a ship coming toward you. When it arrived, several men beat your head in with swords. That was the Vikings for you, and also the effect of this Enslaved sound at its most hardcore. Enslaved arrive on the scene again with this album, ready to kick false metals sorry arse after the latest round of wack-Korn-style bands have shuffled their Adidas-sponsored feet out of the realms of True Metal.

The album kicks off with a haunting electronic melody, and gradually the instruments blends to an ambient-style intro (reminiscent of the start of Bathorys' "Blood fire Death") to the lengthy first track. Then the bomb drops with a hardcore guitar tone that crushes its enemies. The new drummer is amazing, the drum work almost reaching Reign In Blood standards, and the incredible time changes will make you say "damn, son". The way just one chord change can totally alter the mood of the song instantly and consistently is similar to the song structures of Fields of the Nephilim.

Enslaved have stayed true to their Viking vibe, and all the lyrics are written in their native Norwegian although all are translated into English on the inlay. The guitar work is excellent, layering acoustic and extreme distorted tones together to create a mighty wall of metal, the drums clatter like a thousand viking swords smashing your head in, and the vocal melodies tell their tale of Fjords, blood and battles.

If I had to make one complaint, I would say the mixing: although everything is crisp and clear, the bass and vocals sometimes have to battle it out to be heard. This is still the only small way this album could be faulted. Fans of bands as such as Emperor, Dead Can Dance, Burzum and Bathory should grab this off the shelves and get ready to destroy False Metal!

Blodheim

The latest is the latest installment in the  Enslaved. When I  approached the new album I was not entirely sure what to expect.  We're glad to inform you that you don't need to worry yourselves - Enslaved have returned with more epic majestic dark metal and  have not failed in the quest to be one of the best bands in their field.

Kicking off with a classical piece mixed with electronic sounds shows that their experimental nature has not let up, however this excellent  piece is too short, and before you know it, you are face to face with Enslaved at full throttle. The new album corrects the few flaws of its predecessor, namely the slightly weak mixing of the vocals and bass to ensure maximum metal in our lives.

The new drummer must have been taught by the Crippled Masters - even more hardcore, the vocals are extreme, and the guitar work is easily up there with Emperor and other true bands. The album blasts through contrasting tempos, moods and subject matter. The album finally ends with a very mellow and surreal acoustic intro to the last song, and then hits you with Enslaveds most brutal attack before a few more trademark weird noises herald the end of this chapter of this hardcore band.

They must make a new record - Now. Metal has not failed us.