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Enslaved Album: “Eld”
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Release Date:2007-01-01
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Type:Unknown
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Genre:Metal
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Label:
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Explicit Lyrics:No
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UPC:04001617202029
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Review - :
Among the countless bands who were inspired by {$Bathory}'s seminal Viking {\metal}, arguably none were as true to its gospel as Norway's {$Enslaved}, whose utmost commitment even extended to donning vintage Norse armor and outfits on-stage (see cover art for proof). Not impressed? Then you try playing {\speed metal} while wearing a Viking helmet! Now that that's out of the way, on with the review... Still sung in their native Norwegian (the gradual move towards English lyrics would begin on their follow-up, {^Blodhemn}), {^Eld} (which means "fire") bears all of the classic {$Enslaved} hallmarks: Viking themes, razor sharp guitars, blastbeat drums, and an ear for orchestration resulting in complex structures, bountiful harmonies and time changes -- minus the refinement that would elevate later works to the top of the Scandinavian heap. These elements can all be sampled in the grandiose, sixteen-and-a-half-minutes of opening suite {&"793 (The Battle of Lindisfarne)"} -- a stunning colossus of a track that would have made {$Bathory} mastermind {$Quorthon} proud with its historical detail and varied musical scope. The remainder of {^Eld} is taken up with similar, only slightly shorter songs (in the six- to eight-minute range), alternately dealing with either Norse mythology or {\fantasy} lore. The problem with this long-winded approach is that numbers like {&"Sacrifice to the Elves,"} {&"The Blood of Kvasir,"} and even the mostly outstanding {&"A Long Time Ago"} have their better ideas spread far too thin, with only momentary flashes of greatness -- a riff here, a passage there -- standing out of their cyclopean depths. In fact, in later years, it was exactly {$Enslaved}'s improving ability to self-edit that would lead to their greatest achievements. For now, {^Eld} is a worthy addition to a serious {$Enslaved} fan's collection, but hardly required listening for the casual fan. ~ Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide
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