The fact that half of the band were in the legendary Mithotyn is very promising. With their debut “Fi’mbulvintr” they made an excellent start and they attempt to continue this powerful beginning in 2012 with “…To North“. I don’t know how many liked the new album, but just because it reminds largely of Amon Amarth and especially their early records, made a big impression to me. For about 53 minutes you will listen to all the history of Scandinavia with music as it was played by Mithotyn (or since Amon Amarth, like in “Once Sent From The Golden Hall“, “The Avenger” and “The Crusher“).
Generally, “…To North” is the definition of a solid album, with sharp chords, guitar melodies, harsh vocals and quick blastbeats dominating in all songs and creating a brutal saga. “Nine Worlds Burn” is the first song, after the short intro and from that epic tremolo picking it easily becomes understood that you’re gonna listen something from the first viking metal bands. Without being distracted from the previous song, “The Dispossessed” comes full of down-tuned epic melodies, heavy chords and absolutely rhythmic drumming to warm up the first “touch” with the record. So far so good, ’till now. Suddenly, “Gap of Ginnungs” drops the tempo, and despite its doomish power with a couple of guitar solos, creates a respectable song, I think that it’s a full track in my opinion.
“Bound to Reunite” is a very good reminder of what Mithotyn used to play. Another song that keeps “…To North” consistent together with “Nordvengr” and both of them carry the music legacy of the early ’90s worthily. The following song, “Up on the Mountain” may is the best song of the album, after the two first tracks. After a beautiful arpegio intro with some blackish tremolo pickings and clean guitars, it comes a music concrete full of heavily distorted riffs and Karl‘s epic vocals.
In “Plague-Ridden Rebirth” the music composition at the beginning sounds quite a lot of the black metal genre (something that I love) and with this alternation of tempo along with the vocals reminds a lot of early Amon Amarth etc. with the guitar solos being the peak of this epic. A quite lukewarm song, for my standards is “Harvest (The End)“. It’s true that it doesn’t escape from the other songs and the vocals do a great impression, but I think that I heard before its music composition and the band repeated themselves. Also, remarkable are the instrumental title song and the great cover of Isengard‘s “Vinterskugge“, a fact which is enough on its own to like this record.
Well, “… To North” is something like an oasis at the time where similar bands produce commercial music for the masses. The fact that the album nostalgically returns to the early viking metal era, makes it deserve something more than my attention. I don’t know where King Of Asgard had the best music compositions or if you find this rate too much, but just because I’m listening such a solid metal and not some kind of carnival music, “…To North” consists one of my beloved viking metal albums.
| Track List | Line Up | Karl Beckmann – Vocals, Guitars Lars Tängmark – Guitars Jonas Albrektsson – Bass Karsten Larsson – Drums |