Ok, first of all, I have no idea how to pronounce “Heiðindómr ok mótgangr”, so please don’t ask me to!

I’m not sure if you’re anything like me, but I tend to go through stages with music. I’ll spend a few months being completely obsessed with one of metal’s sub-genres, before taking a turn and becoming completely obsessed with another for the next few months. These phases tend to go in cycles and I’m currently on a Black / Folk / Viking / Pagan / Heathen Metal kick… which means that “Heiðindómr ok mótgangr” couldn’t have come at a better time

“Heiðindómr ok mótgangr” is a dark, cinematic piece of work that leaves you wanting more. While it does follow on quite nicely from “Kaoskult” and “Asgards Fall” (the MCD that was released recently), it’s also a very different entity. Helheim have created a more foreboding and almost bleak atmosphere this time around and this really helps to separate this release from the rest of their work.

As you would imagine, there are highlights a-plenty on this album (although, since it’s rather dark, should I call them ‘lowlights’?) and they come at you right from the very first track. “Viten Og Mot” does a superb job at opening the album, but it really starts to shine towards the end when the clean vocals come in. Were those goosebumps running up and down my spine? Yes, I believe they were! There’s something about the way the whole track builds up and then reaches its climax that draws that kind of emotive response from me. It truly is a shockingly impressive track.

“Dualitet Og Ulver” makes me want to take a walk through some ancient Norwegian forests and maybe live in the wilderness for a while. It seems to appeal to the most primal version of me. Also, that lead guitar makes me very happy. So it’ll be a happy walk through the wilderness. “Viten Og Mot (Stolthet)” has a slow, methodical pace. It’s full of undisclosed intent. It’s like an animal stalking its prey – waiting for that opportune moment to strike. If this was a movie, I’d be sitting on the edge of my seat. “Madr” feels relatively chilled and surreal. Listening to this track is a very relaxing experience.

“Viten Og Mot (Arvakenhet)” lets us roam further into Helheim’s world, enabling us to face a multitude of different musical twists and turns. I’ve found that this song (and this album in general) has served to be a fantastic soundtrack for the novel I’m currently reading – Adam Nevill’s “The Ritual”. Basically (and consider this a warning… there’s spoilers here), men go into a forest and one by one get offed by a mysterious creature. You could quite easily imagine this album providing the musical accompaniment for such a task.

The vocals in “Element” sound tormented and once again appeal to my most primitive level. This track, like most of Helheim’s work, has something wild about it. While the band create music that is clearly well thought through and planned to some degree, it still feels like it came together of its own accord. It’s a natural entity, rather than a man-made structure. You can imagine it taking an unpredicted turn at any point and that’s what I love about this sort of stuff.

“Naudr” contains a somewhat menacing and violent aspect and paves the way quite nicely for “Viten Og Mot (Bevissthet)”. For me, this track appears to be the most accessible from the album. So, if you know of someone who hasn’t listened to Helheim yet – get them to listen to this track for a good indication of what to expect. It’s strong, powerful and enthralling from start to finish. It weaves through tempos and takes you deeper into Helheim’s domain. A future classic? Quite possibly.

The album closes with “Helheim VIII” – an acoustic and traditional sounding piece that ends this little voyage incredibly well.

All in all, this is an outstanding release!

Rating: 98%

helheim.com