Enslaved

As well as commemorating the tenth anniversary of Vikingligr Veldi's original release in 1994, this two-disc Candlelight Records reissue revisits Enslaved's first EP of a year earlier, Hordanes Land (which was both their seminal split LP with countrymen Emperor and Candlelight's first ever release to boot). And the pairing makes perfect sense, since both releases show Enslaved in the process of establishing the Norwegian Viking metal blueprint by enhancing the epic, Norse legend-based black metal foundation first pioneered by Sweden's Bathory with deeper more recognizable elements of Scandinavian folk music and, more importantly, lyrics sung in ancient Viking tongues (both Norwegian and Icelandic). The sandblasted musical results had a lasting effect on subsequent bands like Einherjer and Windir, and remained the basis for Enslaved's sound for years to come -- until early-2000s efforts saw them branching out into still more progressive realms of psychedelic and rock-infused extreme metal songwriting. In other words, this is a recommended find for fans already converted by the band's latter-day material. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia, All Music Guide