MONUMENSION

One of the first progressive black metal albums, and still one of the best. Enslaved started off as a run-of-the-mill yet excellent viking metal band, in fact pioneering that Norse-centric take on black metal, who then dabbled in proggy elements on "Mardraum". When they then cut this follow up, they dove headfirst into prog complexity, creating a truly unique and spectacular take on their viking music. The harsh chaos of black metal gets crazier, and the band opens up to the idea of run ups and lulls. These are particularly dark and heavy, as per the expectations of their genre, separating them from those of death metal by a country mile. Kjellson's rasps are ever great and mind invading in their element, but it is just a shame almost all the album is English rather than the band's usual Old Norse. And the two guitarists just nail the technical and weighty aspects of the genre mix. "Convoys To Nothingness" is just a wonderful opener that shows off the band's style and grabs hold of a listener; it alone is a black metal classic and proof of this album's excellence. Highly recommended to all black metal and prog metal fans - this was the start of a whole new direction in black metal, and a masterpiece in its own right.