Time flies when you’re in two successful metal bands, and Mats and Ragnar have released 3 albums in 20 months! One was with their other band Isole, but already we are being offered another Viking Metal outing by Ereb Altor to follow on from 2013’s “Fire Meets Ice”.
And it follows on nicely where that album left off….though this time it is just that little bit darker – just check out that artwork for a start! Yes, their influences are very similar to last time (check out my Pulitzer Prize nominated review elsewhere…OK, maybe it wasn’t…), but there are further little expansions on their own brand of Viking Metal that they seem to have settled upon – this now being their fifth release. “Nattramn” contains some of the heaviest, most intense moments I’ve heard the band do in a long time, yet these are still seamlessly interspersed with plenty of their more melodic leanings…but that said, the darker attitude has definitely been nudged to the fore. The riffs are a little angrier, the orchestration a little more in the background and the rhythms more urgent. There’s still plenty of groove and melody, but delivered on the whole with just a bit more angst and intensity.
Their own individual mix and style of clean and harsh vocals continue to allow the band to push the boundaries of their crafted sound. ‘Midsommarblot’ (for example) should continue to please fans of Tyr and Ensiferum, but on other tracks this time around there seems to be a slight step back towards their Bathory roots and I’m reminded of classic Enslaved at times too (the title track and the epic ‘Dark Waters’ being great examples). No bad thing I’m sure you’ll agree, but Ereb Altor are not only able to blend these styles together in one song (perfectly showcased in ‘The Nemesis of Frei’ which has intense ferocity nicely encased either side by dark, clean voiced melancholy), but they know when to allow songs like the aforementioned title track to just let it spit it’s venom without dilution. Probably because they are brave enough to follow it with a mainly clean sung Pagan Metal track – resplendent with guitar solo – immediately after (‘The Dance Of The Elves). They certainly keep the listener guessing.
You’ve got to enjoy that mixing of Metal styles to get along with Ereb Altor and the goal of the band appears to be to gradually push these extremes in both directions, which personally I’m more than happy experience with them. Ereb Altor have found their niche, made themselves at home…and then they decide they’d like to wriggle around a bit and make a bit more room. The actual parameters that the band operate in are a testament to how far you can push that Viking Metal tag. And with the rate at these guys turn out new music there should be a new Isole release some time towards the middle of next week? OK that’s ridiculous, maybe a week next Friday then…? Quality AND quantity – what’s not to like?
(7.5/10 Andy Barker)
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