Being a GLITTERTIND fan since the debut album Mellom Bakkar Og Berg I eagerly devoured each of the new releases. Torbjørn Sandvik, main man of GLITTERTIND, just made music, a combination of catchy Vikingarock and folky Metal in the vein of Storm and Otyg, really fitting my taste. Due to the mass of Folk/Viking Metal bands out there the Punk drenched element of Vikingarock always brought a lot of power to the overall sound (check youtube for great songs like Karl Den Store, Anne Knutsdotter and Sønner Av Norge) and build up an excellent contrast to the more melancholic Metal passages and songs. On later releases the Punk influences got more and more in the background and the traditional Folk Metal and even a minor tendency towards Viking Metal elements were given more room but on each album there were always songs in the elder style.
After this rather long review introduction let’s head now to the latest release by GLITTERTIND called Landkjenning, which is mainly based upon the concept of the Christianisation of Norway. Putting the CD in the player a major part of me hopes for more Rock influenced sounds but I try to be objective for all Landkjenning has to offer.
After some runs it’s clear that GLITTERTIND fathomed both poles further. The opening title track Landkjenning starts with really jolly heroic tones and evolves to a melodic Folk Metal track of high quality and in it’s way is to some point exemplary for about one half of Landkjenning’s songs.
Many of GLITTERTIND’s songs come along in this calm and sober way and with acoustic guitars, pipes and cello create an epic, nostalgic and melancholic atmosphere. But by the use of electric guitars and drums these first rather pure folky sounding songs get the right dose of energy and are build up to great pieces of Folk Metal. It’s really awesome how GLITTERTIND manage to transport the spirit of old Scandinavia with songs like Nordafjells, Går Min Eigen Veg or Mot Myrke Metteren. All that fortunately without the – by most Viking Metal bands nowadays - often used stylistic device of Death/Black vocals with mixed in cleaner parts. Here everything is actually sung by Torbjørn with a good and powerful voice.
As expected GLITTERTIND then even more get me with the more upbeat songs. While the great mid-tempo hymn Varder I Brann surely has it’s roots in Metal, this and the rocking Glittertind, Jeg Snører Min Sekk and the only song in English language, Longships And Mead, are absolutely fantastic and directly link to earlier classics of GLITTERTIND, as such totally enthral me. But in no way this means that I want to decrease the more emotional and quieter songs – both approaches are played highly skilful. It’s just a matter of taste and on Landkjenning there’s room enough for all of this.
So, apart from my personal taste in the more Punk or Rock influenced parts it is clear that with Landkjenning GLITTERTIND have put out a more than strong album. Only those Vikings of you who always need it a bit faster and blackish should try out first. All others who, at least to some point, are into Folk-Punk/Metal/Rock: go buy this album and be happy!