- X i V - A R T I S T .. : Helheim T I T L E .... : landawarijaR G E N R E .... : Black Metal I N F O ...... : 00:55:11 / 116.6MB 281kbps / 44.1KHz / Joint Stereo LAME 3.100 -V0 D A T E ...... : Today T R A C K S -------------------------------------------- 1 Ymr 5:59 2 Baklengs Mot Intet 7:19 3 Rista Blodorn 8:23 4 landawarijaR 9:44 5 Ouroboros 7:19 6 Synir Af Heidindomr 7:53 7 Enda-Dagr 8:34 N O T E S ---------------------------------------------- I think everyone feels a little relief when a year comes to an end. IÆm not quite sure why this isùconsidering that January 1st is just as busy as December 31stùbut the phenomenon is real. Be it my real job or my fake one, thereÆs plenty to get done before the yearÆs end. Between grading and submitting them, thereÆs still the task of cataloging this yearÆs records and preparing them for the Season of Lists. And, when all the year-end obligations are met, a real sense of completion exists. With a sense of closure also comes a small window of peace and quiet, giving most people a chance to ramp back up to everyday life. Hell, the big releases wonÆt be out for some time. We might as well sit back and relax, right? Well, not if youÆre the one slated to review the new Helheim recordà Just over a year ago, I had the pleasure of reviewing Helheimæs raunijaR; a record that proved Helheim were as close to slowing down as an eighteen-wheeler tearing downhill with no brakes. Interspersed throughout the bandÆs catalog, youÆll find sequel upon sequel to stories ranging back to 1995. And though raunijaR added its own flavor to these storiesùeven bringing a close to the ┼sgards Fall tetralogyùthe band has a lot of work to do if they hope to achieve ultimate closure. Similarly, 2017Æs landawarijaR has a home in the Helheim microcosmùsucceeding 2011Æs Hei≡ind≤mr ok m≤tgangr. ItÆs these interlocking themes that make Helheimæs universe so special. But, somehow, each release ties into another without any two albums sounding alike. When the bandÆs horn-and-timpani era began with the EP-like raunijaR, I predicted the follow-up would be something to look out for. Even though we all know ôassumingö makes a you-know-what out of you and me, IÆll be goddamned if I wasnÆt right. raunijaR set out to mix things up, unleashing an absurd amount of horns and the tireless dedication needed to make every track a hit. But, I feel, landawarijaR is the record the band was trying to create. Though the horns are plentiful on landawarijaR, the recordÆs subtlety is its greatest weapon. Of all the tracks, closer ôEnda-dagrö is perhaps the most bombastic. But right when the Celtic Frost-like brass seems like it may overwhelm the song, the Enslaved-like build dispels it with a conclusion bordering on RIITIIRæs ôForsaken.ö ôBaklengs mot intetö shares the closerÆs need for refined grandiosity. Picking up where opener ôYmrö left off, this charging epic shreds vocal chords and tears through black metal riffage like a rabid wolf. Well, thatÆs until the song maneuvers into a chorus of duetting cleans. One voice plays off another, building up to the climax, supplying one of the most addictive vocal arrangements on the album. Yet, this is just one niche of the album. There are melodic atmospheres, slow-paced moods, and clean vocal harmonies like those found in ôRista blod°rn.ö There are the aggressive, beautiful, and in-your-face vocal attacks of ôSynir af heidindomr,ö and also a fuck-ton of impressive solo work on tracks like ôYmr,ö ôSynir,ö and ôOuroboros.ö But, no matter how incredible a song like ôSynir af heidindomrö may be, ôlandawarijaRö remains the albumÆs masterpiece. This powerful cut catches you at the first chord and doesnÆt let go for ten whole minutes. It opens with fast-paced, black metal tremolos before dissolving into melodic guitar licks that build and build; resulting in landawarijaRæs best chorus. And, right when you think it couldnÆt get any better, it concludes with the most effective clean guitar licks this side of S≤lstafir. ItÆs one of the bandÆs greatest moments. Helheim bring their A-game on landawarijaR. All raunijaRæs shortcomings are addressed and that old-school spontaneity is in full swing. landawarijaR has peaks and valleys, vengeance and beauty, and a fluidity that makes it feel like one fifty-five minute song. Not to mention all the well-structured vocal arrangements (be it the band or the string of guest vocalists) that make this a superb listen. Though the sound and production continue to blend with modern-day Enslaved, landawarijaR is very much Helheim. With all the layers present on this cake, more than a few spins are necessary to fully absorb landawarijaR. But this album is remarkable and my favorite since 2010Æs ┼sgards Fall EP.