LoathsomePete

Originally I was all set to do Enslaved's 2003 progressive epic Below the Lights however I really had to give it to their newest releaseAxioma Ethica Odini, which was released little over a month ago. Why use an album that's barley over a month old instead of one of their many classics released over the last twenty years? Well because this is honestly their best album, in fact it might be the best album in metal right now.

It is no doubt that if you are even remotely connected to extreme metal that you have already heard the unanimous praise this album has been getting from every reviewer and fan. In fact this album already seems to have quite a following here, and I am sure that every fan of this album will agree with all the points I am about to make in favor of this album, not only that but totally agree with the absence of criticism, because there isn't any.

OK time to actually justify all this gushing. Axioma Ethica Odini is Norwegian black metal band's 11th release in little more than twenty years. While many members have come and gone in that lifetime, bassist/ vocalist Grutle Kjellson and guitarist Ivar Bjørnson (who was 13-years old when joining in '91) have remained the only founding members to remain. That said, Arve Isdal (rhythm guitarist), Cato Bekkevold (drums), and Herbrand Larsen (keyboard/backing vocals) have all been with the band since 2003 and the making ofBelow The Lights the album that really exalted Enslaved to a higher plane of existence in the metal world. Axioma Ethica Odini is the resulting efforts of five extremely talented and visionary musicians, pooling their resources and it showing in the results.

On Below The Lights (2003) Enslaved showed us just what could be gained from black metal if one let go of the traditionalist values that permeates in many of the metal scenes disposition. The resulting five albums have all been have all been building up on what gained from the previous album, progressing their sound and song writing capabilities, but also becoming mastering the ability to shake off any fear of deviating from a traditionalist mindset. The confidence in their musical ability allows the band members to implant 1970's David Gilmour-esque Dark Side of the Moon (1973) guitar solos as evidenced in the brilliant opener "Ethica Odini".

The album is just bursting with riff after riff, even turning something as simple as a thunderous galloping viking metal riff, they make it seem incredibly memorable. The song "Giants" probably has some of the most memorable riffs, adding a slight death/doom metal vibe with their slowed down drums. The album encourages multiple listens, with each one ending with another moment you didn't notice before. With that said the album is obviously best listened to with headphones, but either headphones or speakers your ears will be assaulted with incredibly organic and original guitar, drum, and bass riffs, all of them noticeable. Kjellson keeps you on the edge of your seat with vocal style changes making it incredibly hard to drift off far from the song. "The Beacon" deserves special props for delivering one of the catchiest ear hooks only 30 seconds in, it is impossible to not headbang to, and they repeat it multiple times throughout the song.

Do not misunderstand the fact that there are progressive elements to the songs, this is most definitely a black metal album. The album is littered with shrieked lyrics and tremolo picking, two of the most defining elements of black metal, but the band are not afraid to embrace the progressive rock albums from the 1970's, so be prepared with tone shifts, vocal shifts, and in many cases genre shifts in all nine songs. Enslaved are to black metal as what Opeth are to death metal, they stay true to the source, but are not afraid to fix things that don't work or try new things to see if they work. And in both cases they have really pushed the boundaries as far as bettering themselves with each passing album.

Normally I don't spend too much time focusing on the band's lyrics because lyrics have always come secondary to the music, but every now and then it's worth bringing up to further cement the fact that... a lot of black metal lyrics are actually quite well written and poetic. Enslaved have always stayed away from the more popular black metal topics, satanism and anti-christian, instead focusing on themes more akin to viking metal. Axioma Ethica Odini really does count as one of those albums where it's worth listening through while reading the lyrics, giving the album you fullest attention. The lyrics also smack of that great habit some bands have of releasing beautiful lyrics to act as a huge juxtaposition next to the music, Death did it on The Sound of Perseverance (1998) and Enslaved have done it here. Just reading the lyrics you would have no idea how the music that accompanies them sounds, and the shock really acts as one of those epiphany moments, that genres like black metal and death metal really do deserve the praise they get. Here's just a few examples:


Really the only question the album poses is whether or not this is the band's masterpiece or masterstroke? Enslaved are proud champions of a 5/5 on reliable releases in the last seven years. That is no easy achievement even for the best of bands, so they definitely have earned some trust. I remember musing in 2008 about how they were going to top Vertebrae (2008) and they have once again knocked me on my ass ever since I started listening to them in 2006. Axioma Ethica Odini (2010) is one of those albums that will go down in time as one of the best in that field. If the band were to fold up tomorrow, they would forever be immortalized as the quintessential black metal band. Forget Burzum and Mayhem, anyone wishing to turn someone into a black metal believer or to disprove someone's naive claim that black metal is nothing more than kids pretending they are smarter than everyone who believes in religion, will turn to this album.

The best album of 2010.

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Raust

Great review. It's good to see that your reviewing again. This is also my favorite album of '10 so far