VIKINGLIGR VELDI

Enslaved´s debut album Vikingligr Veldi has classic status in the black metal world. The prog tendencies that Enslaved incorporated into their sound on later albums are not found here. At least it´s only heard sporadically. Enslaved plays black metal in the vein of Satyricon and Burzum which means that it is very dark and pretty repetitive. Krautrock lovers might get something out of this even though it´s another genre alltogether. The hypnotic effect you get when listening to krautrock is also present here though.

The sound is very amaturish but better than the sound on many other black metal albums from that time. As it is normal in this type of black metal you can´t hear the bass, the sound is extremely thin and with lots and lots of treble.

The musicians are nothing special really even though I have to be impressed with Ivar Bjørnson who is only 16 or 17 years old on this release.

The music is as mentioned very repetitive black metal. It´s very melodic and there are even some keyboard effects that can sound seventies prog like, but don´t expect too much of that kind, it´s only occasionally. Grutle Kjellson has an extreme black metal rasp and it´s very much an aquired taste if you like these kind of vocals. Even for death metal fans this might be too extreme. Favorite songs for me are the opener Lifandi Lif Undir Hamri which I find very powerful and even very melodic, and Midgards Eldar where Grutle Kjellson sounds really pissed off. Nice brutal stuff. Vetrarnуtt is a bit of a let down really. It´s way too repetitive for me.

Even though I have enjoyed listening to Vikingligr Veldi and on first listen wanted to give it 3 stars, I have come to my senses now and I will only rate it 2 stars. It´s not that innovative really and it gets a bit trivial when you reach the middle of the album. I´ll say this is only for fans of the early norwegian black metal scene. I don´t see the average prog head enjoying this much.