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Enslaved: Axioma ethica odini

06/12/11 || Charl du Plessis

Enslaved is a well respected and well represented band in the Norwegian metal scene. Black metal, pagan metal, viking metal, what the fuck ever you want to call it these days. I just get annoyed when it’s referred to as “prog” but each one to his own. Regardless dissing them is out like fucking before church. Their roots date back as far as 1991 and a known mountaineering brand name if you are amongst the many following their every fucking move. 11 albums strong and they are still going at it. But listening to the last 2 albums it is just way too noisy for even me to get it the fuck together. “Axioma Ethica Odini” was about to sound like one of the last Enslaved albums, and to be filed in the “Enslaved Collection” till kingdom come. Pretty much like the last two. For a change I was pleasantly wrong this time.

It’s so epic it makes any “Krieg” metal followers’ ball hairs rise with a longing for more Vikingland pleasures. Having said that you need to be in the mood for it otherwise you might get bored if your playlist has some faster stuff coming. Their previous album, “Vertebrae” was just a total fucking disappointment so excuse my initial lack of enthusiasm. It’s now forgiven and laid to rest with this album.

It has all the combinations of an extremely well arranged metal release. Very creative shit indeed. Good vocal power, both clean and raw, something very few of old and new possess. The effects are not too overpowering and just creates the necessary ambience you would expect from pioneers producing this kind of music for over a decade. Not just a pretty face riding on the so many new and old waves of Black Metal out there today, who cares. Where many well respected bands in their region have failed, these guys have produced one of the best epic Metal albums of their time.

The whole album is filled with many variations of both brutal and at times, very mellow riffs. Not too much of anything really, thank you very much. Not too much clean vocals, not too much acoustic intros, just enough to keep me interested. The overall in your face screaming over the decent clean singing with the occasional slowed down stuff does the job. Typical to the genre, a good typical that is for most. According to me they are not quite conforming to the modern day “prog” bullshit you hear around every corner nowadays. Enslaved still remains true to the Runes and Fjords that has made them semi-famous in the first place.

Maybe it’s time to replace the old torn “Eld” (now sleeveless) shirt and perhaps ask Nuclear Blast for a new “Axioma Ethica Odini” at 15$ a piece. A great example of where Norwegian metal should be today. With 2 new EP’s on the way it’s hopefully just a matter of time until I get to review the next album very soon. We look forward to hearing it. Overall great stuff A-Z. Best of its kind I have heard in a very long time. This is the kind of album I can listen to the whole fucking day long if I have to.

Information
Released: 2010
Label: Nuclear Blast
Website: Enslaved MySpace
Band
Grutle Kjellson: bass & vocals
Ivar Bjørnson: lead & rhythm guitars
Arve Isdal: lead & rhythm guitars
Herbrand Larsen: keyboards, synthesizers, organ & vocals
Cato Bekkevold: drums & percussion

Tracklist
01. Ethica Odini
02. Raidho
03. Waruun
04. The Beacon
05. Axioma
06. Giants
07. Singular
08. Night Sight
09. Lightening

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