...SIŁA I PIĘKNO MUZYKI TKWIĄ W JEJ RÓŻNORODNOŚCI


..::OPIS::..

"Ulfven" to ósmy, pełny album szwedów z Ereb Altor. Zakładam, że wszystkim, którym gra w duszy epicki Viking Metal z elementami Black Metalu, osadzony w skandynawskiej mitologii zespół jest dobrze znany, a przynajmniej kojarzony. Z racji tego, że już za niecałe dwa miesiące pojawi się kolejny ich album, postanowiłem przypomnieć jego poprzednika.
"Ulfven" to kolejna porcja podniosłych, nordyckich klimatów, w których znajdują swe odbicie echa starego, dobrego Bathory z czasów nie tylko takich klasycznych płyt jak "Blood Fire Death", "Hammerheart" oraz "Twilight of the Gods", ale również "Nordland". To te dźwięki wiodą prym na tym albumie (podobnie jak ma to miejsce na wcześniejszych ich płytach), ale mamy tu również miejscami nieznaczne naleciałości Doom Metalowe czy Black, a nawet Death Metalowe spod znaku Dissection oraz Unanimated. Ładnie to ze sobą współgra, tworząc majestatyczny muzyczny pejzaż o zarówno złowieszczym, jak i epickim, potężnym wydźwięku. Istotny jest tu bardzo wokal Cristera Olssona, który raz uderza w estetykę i manierę podobną do tej, w jakiej poruszał się Quorthon czy Garm z Ulver (w tych czystych, mocnych odsłonach), a w innych utworach potrafi wydać z siebie bardziej demoniczne wokale podobne tym, które reprezentował chociażby Jon Nodtveidt. Wszystko to zależy od utworu, jego klimatu i charakteru, a różnorodności tutaj pod dostatkiem. Płycie nie brakuje świetnej pracy gitar i sekcji rytmicznej, jak i klimatu budowanego nie tylko przez recytowany na początku fragment Voluspy, ale również klawiszowe tła (w stosunku do innych płyt grupy jest ich tu najwięcej) oraz genialne teksty zbudowane na skandynawskich mitach i wierzeniach. Wszystkie te cechy budują siłę "Ulfven" i sprawiają, że w Viking Metalowej estetyce jest to jedna z najlepszych płyt, jakie pojawiły się w ostatnich latach, z całą pewnością nie wypada przejść obok niej obojętnie. Śmiem twierdzić, iż w swojej dziedzinie Ereb Altor prześciga konkurencję. Z niecierpliwością czekam na ich nową płytę!

Przemysław Bukowski


Ereb Altor is a Swedish band that was formed in 2003 by members of the epic doom metal outfit Forlorn (who have since switched their moniker to Isole). The band’s first albums were lauded for their seamless weaving of the Viking era of Bathory with traditional epic doom metal. With their third album, “Gastrike”, and it’s follow up, “Fire Meets Ice”, Ereb Altor abandoned the trappings of epic doom for a more black metal influenced sound. “Nattramn”, the band’s fifth full length album, released in 2015, continued in that vein, focusing on merging their epic Viking metal with cold black metal atmospherics, but overall it seemed to be a darker album than before.

That brings us to 2017, and the release of Ereb Altor’s magnus opus yet, “Ulfven”! Bathory, but also hidden Swedish folk melodies, remain the band’s largest influence, which is quite evident with the adventurous pacing, crunchy riffs and frequent epic clean vocals. The album mixes between heavy handed segments of galloping riffs and crashing percussion, and more nuanced melodies driven forth by a wall of keyboard notes. It’s that essence of balance that makes this album work so well, backed up by a very powerful production.

The clean vocal melodies sound stronger and more confident this time around and the harsh and raspy roars are more furious and raging. The band leans on the airy keyboard passages a little more than before, but it adds a more melodic flare to the slower passages. The majority of the album focuses on Quorthon inspired riffing, with its thick power chords and thundering percussion mixed with an airy keyboard backdrop that brings to mind “Hammerheart” and “Twilight of the Gods”. The previously mentioned black metal influences work their way in here and there, but the focus remains on Bathory-ish epicness and heaviness.

It’s pretty clear at this point that Ereb Altor isn’t keen to return to the sounds of the first two albums, but the music on “Ulfven” proves that the band is really blazing their own trail. Sure, they still sound a bit like Bathory, but it comes through revelry and nostalgia rather than the blatant aping of Quorthon.



"Ulfven" is the eighth, full-length album of the Swedes from Ereb Altor. I assume that to everyone who listens to the epic Viking Metal with elements of Black Metal, embedded in Scandinavian mythology, the band is well known, or at least associated. Due to the fact that in less than two months a new album will appear, I decided to recall its predecessor.
"Ulfven" is another portion of lofty, Nordic climates, in which echoes of old good Bathory from the times of not only classic albums such as "Blood Fire Death", "Hammerheart" and "Twilight of the Gods", but also "Nordland" are reflected. These sounds are the most important part of the album (as it was on their previous attempts as well), but we also have here some small accretions of Doom and Black Metal, and even Death Metal similar to Dissection and Unanimated. It fits together nicely and creates a powerful musical landscape with both an ominous and epic, powerful overtone. Very important are the vocals of Crister Olsson, who once struck at the aesthetics and mannerism similar to the ones which Quorthon or Garm from Ulver used (that clean, strong manner), and in other songs he performs more demonic vocals similar to those represented by Jon Nodtveidt for example. It all depends on the composition, its climate and character, and there is no lack of diversity here. The album is full of great guitars and strong rhythm section, as well as the climate built not only by the fragment of Voluspa recited at the beginning, but also keyboard backgrounds (in comparison to other releases by them here we can their strongest appearance) and awesome lyrics based on Scandinavian myths and beliefs. All these features build the strength of "Ulfven" and make it among Viking Metal aesthetics one of the best albums that have appeared in recent years, certainly you should not pass by it indifferently. I dare say that in their genre Ereb Altor outperforms the competition. I am really looking forward to hearing their new album!

Przemysław Bukowski


Ereb Altor always promises one thing with each release: epic, folk-blended metal inspired by Norse legends. Ulfven shakes things up with a "wolf" theme in its lyrics and art. Rite of Kraka, Ulfven, and Wolfcurse all deliver with majestic riffs and some of the best vocal work from the band. Beyond the inspiration drawn from wolves, the opening reading of Voluspa builds the atmosphere before exploding into En synd svart som sot. Sharp riffs and pounding drums burst from the graceful tongue reciting Voluspa, setting up the rest of the album.

Perhaps the biggest (and longest) highlight of the album is Bloodline. Its lyrics are very grounded for Ereb Altor - a man wishes to carry on his father's legacy and make him proud. While it does retain the Norse mythological themes in its lyrics, it's probably the most emotionally relatable song Ereb Altor has released. Aside from the well sung lyrics, Bloodline's epic riffs ring throughout the ten-and-a-half track to give it the titanic feeling this juggernaut deserves.

While Ereb Altor's songwriting style is one of their biggest strengths (riffs largely composed of sustained notes while a choir or keyboard helps fill in the space), it does get slightly repetitive. However, when they break away and get into some real shredding (like in the bridge of Av blod ar jag kommen) the monotony is shattered. The album definitely incorporates keyboards more than previous titles. Guitars remain high in the mix, keeping everything hard and heavy, and the keys only help to create the grandiose power felt in Ulfven's songs. In addition to adding in more keyboard, Ereb Altor seems to have tapped to black metal a touch further with this album and its cutting bridges.

This is perhaps the most well composed Ereb Altor album in six years thanks to its added keyboards, good blend of epic and more traditional riffs, and the vocals being arguably the best ever laced on an Ereb Altor album. Bloodline is the highlight track, and the lead in of Voluspa into En syn svart som sot make for a destructive opening to one of the best Viking metal albums in many years.

Attema



..::TRACK-LIST::..

1. Völuspá 2:12
Translated By [Lyrics From Poetiska Eddan Translated By] - Erik Brate

2. En Synd Svart Som Sot 6:59
3. Av Blod Är Jag Kommen 7:07
4. The Rite Of Kraka 5:12
5. Ulfven 5:41
6. Wolfcurse 6:09
7. Gleipnir 5:18
8. Bloodline 10:34

Bonus Tracks:
9. One With The Dark 5:28
10. The Ghost 4:49
11. The Loss Of Light 5:18



..::OBSADA::..

Drums, Keyboards - Tord
Guitar [Guitars], Vocals - Ragnar
Lead Vocals, Guitar [Guitars], Keyboards - Mats
Bass, Vocals - Mikael

Voice - Maria Innerman (tracks: 1)



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNCb4jFf9Ac


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