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Shores in Flames
Valhalla
Baptised in Fire and Ice
Father to Son
Song to Hall up High
Home of once Brave
One rode to Asa Bay
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So here we have
the best and most atmospheric Viking Doom Metal CD that exists! Lyrics that
bring the viking times to life again. The opener >Shores in Flames<
has a slow beginning, you can hear the waves caress the shore and nearly
see the viking men gather on their dragonship to sail once more to battle
and plunder foreign coasts, without fear and only with sword of steel in
hand and a prayer to the native gods of the north on the lips. The highlight
on this fantastic record is the mighty, pounding >Home of once Brave<,
an epic hymn that all these new "Epic Metal sensations" from germany
or italy or sweden will never be able to reach! The other tracks build a
unity at highest level, the album enfolds it's magic after seconds, captures
you and takes you way back in time on a journey you will never forget. The
last track >One rode to Asa Bay< is dealing with the christian missionary
and ends the album with a sad note. All in all "Hammerheart" is
technically surely not great, maybe not even average. But Quorthon has the
gift of creating fucking intense atmospheres and with "Hammerheart"
he reached his zenith. Viking Doom Metal will never sound better. So put
on your horned helmet, fill your mug with Ale and raise your sword to Odin
up high! And thank Quorthon!!
From the other BATHORY records only "Twilight of the Gods" (a
bit to polished) and "Blood on Ice" (a bit to poor soundquality)
can be highly recommended. The earlier works and some of the later stuff
is Black Metal cult or just pure noise. Everyone should decide for himself.
But none of the other works can be compared to the records dealing with
the viking/fantasy epoch, sigh... |
