Music: Viking Black Metal
Country: France
Website: http://www.himinbjorg.fr.st/
Cool Songs: Entering Odin's Huge Palace, It was in Europe, The Law of Worship
HIMINBJORG follows the glorious path paved by epic, Viking metal bands such as later-era BATHORY and ENSLAVED. Just like Norways ENSLAVED, the group's more recent efforts have taken on more progressive elements. Europa looks to melody and trippy effects to create a spiritual atmosphere. The albums first song, Entering Odins Huge Palace utilizes a collage of atmosphere and melody, which conveys the awesome feeling of a fallen Norse warrior when entering the All-fathers glorious palace. Bard-like clean vocal choruses emphasize the feeling of awe this song gets across.
The guitar playing found throughout Europa also does well in opening the minds eye, especially during the instrumental tracks like The Alienated and Intro. The former instrumental expresses a feeling of tranquility with acoustic guitar, sounds of pouring water, and bluesy string bends. Like The Alienated, the albums intro also expresses a certain mood through instrumentation, although taking an entirely different direction. This time the group creates a harsher, wicked sonic backdrop. By the use of whammy barring back and forth, the group stirs up a fiery maelstrom of atmosphere. A friend commented on the similarities of this intro to SLAYERs Hell Awaits. It is not difficult for one to make this comparison. The addition of demonic vocals sung in ancient Norse tongue could make this track SLAYERs Ragnarok-driven, Norse cousin.
Speaking of dark mythologies, the black metal aspect s again recall the mighty, majestic rhythms of ENSLAVED, IMMORTAL, and even MANOWAR. The chugging guitar riffs of It was in Europe moves with the gallop of a golden chariot, driven by winged horses, ushered by VALKRYIES searching for sacrifice on the winds of the Wild Hunt night. The clean vocal breaks recall Quorthon during some of the most glorious moments on BATHORYS Hellhammer album. The organic aspects accomplished through earthy acoustics, as portrayed on The Law of Worship, perfectly compliment the blasting, savage black metal parts, offering a glimpse into the beautiful yet savage worldview of ancient pagans.
I strongly urge those who seek out dark, pagan music, which expertly conveys the ideas of ancient Norse mythology, to check out HIMINBJORGs music. Many fans of this style probably already know their power due to the bands nine-year existence. The group released several albums through Red Stream such as Where Ravens Fly. If the description of HIMINBJORG in a mail order catalogue or online zine holds your attention but you are not sure of this band because they do not boast a name as large as BATHORY, ENSLAVED, and BORKNAGOR. trust your primal instinct and snatch up some HIMINBJORG. Europa is not a bad place to start.
note: 8/10
Tracklist
1. Intro
2. Entering Odin's Huge Palace
3. It was In Europe
4. Untitled
5. The Inner Mirror
6. The Law Of The Worship
7. Yon
8. The Alienated
9. Like A Shadow
10. Untitled
11. Daily Desillusions
12. Untitled
13. Les Strates
14. Last Day In Alesia
Total playing time 51:59
Line-up
Zahaah – Vocals, Bass
Mathrien D. – Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
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