Review EREB ALTOR “Hälsingemörker”

Ereb Altor are certainly no newcomers to metal. The band was founded in 2003 and their first album was released in 2008. You can’t really say that the band rushed into it at the beginning, because five years between foundation and debut album is quite a long time. However, what took some time back then has grown into a band that consistently delivers very solid metal.

With “Hälsingemörker” the Swedes have just finished working on their new studio album, the tenth in their career. Ereb Altor stick to their roots, as doom metal is still the bedrock of their Viking style metal. Although some blackened elements have crept in over time, the quartet maintains the epic approach to music.

The title track is one of the songs that reflects the trademark in a good way. Equipped with a strongly pounding Viking rhythm and impressive vocals, the band offers captivating music that reflects the wildness and darkness of the North.

The songs of Ereb Altor have a cinematic approach as they all have a solid running time of 5 minutes and more. The band tells the stories of the old days of Scandinavia and it is the mythical vibe that adds some extra spice to their music. The majestic “The Waves, The Sky and the Pyre” should be mentioned in this context. Clocking in at seven minutes, the song is a perfect blend of folk, nature and metal. It’s never dominated by the rays of the sun. The artwork of the album, created by Tomarúm av Christine Linde, captures the haunting atmosphere of the album best. Never in total darkness, there is the mystical spirit of nature that is omnipresent and runs through the entire album.

While most of the songs are medium or slow paced, the opener is a rather dynamic start to the album. “Valkyrian Fate” is also one of the lead singles and one of the more up-tempo songs on the album. With a great sense for melodies as well, the opener is a well selected starting point for a musical Viking adventure that provides the listener with 45 minutes of metal. These songs give you a glimpse into the soul of ancient Scandinavia and the temptation to listen to the album more than once is quite strong.