Metal Reviews


Odin Owns Ye All
EINHERJER



The tracks are :

1. Leve Vikingeaanden
2. Out Of Ginnungagap
3. Clash Of The Elder
4. Odin Owns Ye All
5. Remember Tokk
6. Home
7. The Pathfinder & The Prophetess
8. Inferno
9. A New Earth

Formed in 1993 and after going through major line-up changes this is only Einherjer's second full album release, but if this is anything to go by the future is very bright ahead for Einherjer.

Einherjer's music and lyrics are all based on Viking mythology, so much as they refer to their music as Viking metal, and in truth, this is an ultra heavy album, in which Einherjer have stamped their own style, so I suppose they do have the right to call it what they like.

Now, I know very little about Norse mythology, but I do know that Thor is the god of thunder and that all dead viking's go to Valhalla and that's about it. But one thing's for certain, this is a class album.

Odin Owns Ye All is one of the most original and atmospheric pieces of metal music that I have had the pleasure to listen too. Two best examples of this have to be "Leve Vikingeaanden" and "A new Earth".

"Leve Vikingeaanden" , the opening track sets the scene perfectly, a hard hitting medieval instrumental, just close your eyes and you can picture the viking longships setting sail, the women and children waving them farewell, hoping for a safe return.

The final track "A New Earth", surely a celebration, a tribute to the living and the dead.

In between Einherjer play hard hitting metal, but with some quite masterful variation. Keep your ears and mind firmly in place as their songs turn little by little bring about wonderous stories of times long ago. "Clash Of The Elder", "Home" and "The Pathfinder & The Prophetess" are fine examples with great lyrics and music.

But, its the musical breaks between the main parts of the songs that make this album stand out in the originality department. Harpsichords, a trumpet fanfare, even a norse chior all add to the listening pleasure making this one of the most original metal albums.

To be fair to Einherjer, whatever I say in this review, can't possibly do this album justice, you'll just simply have to discover Viking metal for yourselves and embark on a wonderous musical journey that goes to make up one of the most outstanding musical achievements of '98.

This CD is released by Century Media Records.
USA
1453-a 14th Street #324
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Phone : 310 574 7400.
Tel : 310 574 7414
mail@centurymedia.com
GERMANY
Schaeferstrasse 33a
44147 Dortmund
Tel : +49 231 8297 0
Fax : +49 231 8297 101
Email : dortmund@centurymedia.com
Website : http://www.centurymedia.com

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