What a surprising sound HEL dish up with Tristheim, because the album’s main tendency turns out to be very calm, silent and relaxed, without any speed attack or aggressive tunes. Though I can take pleasure in this approach reminding me of highlights like Where At Night The Wood Grouse Plays performed by Empyrium. HEL act in similar manner, namely accomplished and endued with wonderful melodies Consequently they achieve my favour easily in a gentle couple of minutes.

During impressive number of 15 songs the artists Valdr and Skaldir present dreamy measures with sonorous vocals, partly spoken or whispered – coordinated with the different compositions’ sentiments. The title Tristheim has been wisely chosen, for spread moods can be named best with the terms mournful, thoughtful and introvert. Before the mind’s eye the protagonists show up entirely lost in their performance. That’s the reason why this piece of work affects me that deeply, because I can feel the heart’s blood and the musical devotion (at a stretch passion) is sensible. Most songs are kept short-timed, whereas I am in the opinion that some sounds would have needed a longer period to respire and to unfold their spirit. Tief Verborgen is one of those overwhelmingly felicitous compositions utilizing a harmonica to boost the intensity enormously provoking daunting goose bumps. In addition acoustic guitars are conductive to build up suspense. The piano takes on this task with a smoothly, almost spartan ditty in Tiefes Wasser. Lenger Enn Erindring gets out of lyrical line by reason of employing Norwegian language. Nevertheless it does not operate as foreign matter, but agrees with variation. In contrast following Gedanken function as rebellious animus among meditative minds. Once again chills run down my back during the strings’ adoption which turns out to be too short unfortunately.

Tristheim acquires irresistible power and fascination from elementary appliances containing thoughtfulness and silence, but also sprouting, ably accentuated, marginally louder roaring. This release can be compared with a walk in a misty valley along mellow dabbling rivers with some rapids. Made to relish!