Speaking
about the roots of Viking metal usually the main subject is with a certain
reason the Enslaved’s musical heritage, but one name that don’t deserve to
become forgotten is this: Helheim. Surely Enslaved are the fathers of Pagan
Metal, the incredible ’92 “Yggdrasil” speak itself. Helheim started their
pagan battle in ’93 with a self titled demo, and their music was very similar
to the Enslaved’s ideas, a raw black metal attack with some mystic and
mythological influences.
The debut is very late, in 1995, with the aggressive “Jormundgand” (Vote
8.5), a harsh sound, a burzumish mad screaming and a drums assault for a very
extreme release. The only clear Viking and folkish sign is in the non-metal song,
one of the better of the album for its emotive power. This album have a in its
cold aggression its trademark, without losing the mystic and majestic monumental
mood that the Scandinavian pagan inspired music have in its roots.
"Jormundgand" is an extreme metal picture of forlorn ages, an album
that deserve the attention of every person that is linked to those themes, its something
to remember.
A
better result was able to reach the second Helheim’s album “Av Norron Aett”
(1997, Vote 8.5), where there’s a better songwriting, a better production
and another time an awesome folk song, for the honour of the ancient gods.
The songs are as usual very dark and black metal oriented, with an icy, Nordic
hate in the guitars and drums attach. A moderate melancholic feeling is
audible in some moments, but the general fury of the songwriting is the
dominant factor.
The darker side of Ragnarok is the essence of the apocalyptic musical horizon
of “Av Norron Aett”, the sign of an age of rebellion to the tides in a
twilight scenario. I am very impressed by the drummer style, a strong engine
to the Helheim’s music. To complete a very good album there’s
a correct recording, sharp, icy and extreme like the fury that the Viking
metal needs.
A
longer times passed before the release of the third album, “Blod & Ild”
(2000 Vote 9), that changed a bit the musical direction of the bands on more
melodic and progressive influences.
The keyboards appearance is not secondary, they change the grim coldness of
the early albums in something more epic, but keeping part of that darkness in
some important moments, where the pompous atmosphere is enriched by that
addiction. The songs have their personality so that there’s more variety
then in “Av Norron”, that was more repetitive, and every song have its
strong moments, like the fabulous “Jernskogen” that have an hallucinated
introduction that returns in the middle of the songs for an adrenaline rash or
in the visionary “Odins Moy” where a corner of the Valhalla is wide open
to spread its energy. With a more metal and symphonic oriented attitude
Helheim’s have reached an higher level without lose the magic of their
creation, and looking to the actual pagan metal scene they represent a column
of that little but rich movement.
Helheim started their
pagan battle in ’93 with a self titled demo, and their music was very similar
to the Enslaved’s ideas, a raw black metal attack with some mystic and
mythological influences.
something
to remember.
there’s
a correct recording, sharp, icy and extreme like the fury that the Viking
metal needs.