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Glittertind > Evige Asatro > Reviews
Glittertind - Evige Asatro

Dropkick Murphys meets Vintersorg????? - 25%

mz_412, September 22nd, 2005

The inspiration from Norwegian tales, history, traditions, art and culture was enough to drive a proud Norse teenager by the name of Torbjorn Sandvik to pick up his guitar and begin writing music under the guise of Glittertind, named after the second largest mountain in Norway situated right in the heart of the country. 'Evige Asatro' was originally a Glittertind demo from 2003 which was picked up by Karmageddon Media who wanted to re-release it with a few bonus songs. This means the songs on this album albeit the final song 'Norges Skaal' were performed and recorded when Torbjorn was only sixteen years of age! Note I did not use the word 'wrote' as many Glittertind songs are covers of traditional Norwegian songs and Nationalistic anthems, 'Norges Skaal' alone is a Viking drinking song penned in 1771. Enough about who stands behind Glittertind, what does it sound like? Well Karmageddon's press release for 'Evige Asatro' states that Glittertind will appeal to fans of "Storm, Dropkick Murphys, Skyclad, Finntroll, Cruachan and The Pogues"! One can only imagine how this is going to sound and the end result is quite close to that. Glittertind's sound is split into two definitave different styles, the first is bouncy viking punk ala Finntroll crossed with Dropkick Murphys and the other is slower more atmospheric traditional tunes similar in atmosphere to Storm's 'Nordavind' album.

'Evige Asatro' opens with an instrumental intro with some simple guitar walks up the scale. This then leads into 'Karl Den Store' with a shout of go. This song is very bouncy and has a more dirty punk feel compared to the more polished viking punk which is heard later in this album. Punk music rarely ever takes my interest however there was something about Glittertind which appealed to me. Unfortunately this interest didn't last, and towards the third or fourth song I was already getting bored with this album. The main problem with Glittertind is that his songs sound too dry and lacks something essential. Some comparison can be made to Otyg and to a lesser extent Vintersorg when it comes to Torbjorn's clean voice. Glittertind's music is upbeat and catchy with a very sing-along vibe. There is a very strong drinking atmosphere on this album which bands like the previously mentioned Dropkick Murphys know all too well. There are some moments on this album which are remarkably cringeworthy such as the pop punk vocals during 'Fjellheimen Gir Meg Fred' or the incredibly happy 'Sonner Av Norge'. This is a remarkable demo, not for its music but for the fact that it was recorded and mostly written entirely at home by somebody who is still only incredibly young. 'Evige Asatro' sounds so good it could have been recorded at a high-tech studio. 'Evige Asatro' has its moment but for the majority seems pompous, cheesy and incredibly upbeat. If you are a fan of power metal, upbeat punk or folk music then check out Glittertind, if you perfer the darker side of music wherever that may lie then Glittertind is more than likely not for you. Unfortunately I fall into the latter category. Bands like Storm, Isengard, Vintersorg and the like do appeal to me but lightweight and upbeat viking music like Glittertind I am rather indifferent towards. Credit must be given to Torbjorn for creating this album and it reaching my bedroom in Australia at such an early age. I think the viking boat on the front cover really says it all about Glittertind. If you listen to bands like Dragonforce or Korpiklaani then give Glittertind a try, also give this a try if you are already a fan of folk punk like The Pogues, Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly. Other than that avoid. Expect happy guitar melodies, a lot of oi's and roar's and hymns to Norway.

Viking Punk? - 84%

SnowVixen, May 9th, 2004

Ever wonder what would happen if you combined Otyg with punk? Yeah, me neither. However, it is surprisingly good. Running the gamut from Otyg's bouncy folk to an upbeat though subdued Bad Religion, this one man band seems to have all the bases for this extremely niche-oriented subgenre covered.

The vocals are a nice tenor, a bit more tolerable and easier to get into than Vintersorg's considerably deeper ones, with Mr. Glittertind doing both punky yells and folky croons as needed. The instrumentation is pretty good, managing to be melodic, not terribly repetitive, and even atmospheric at times... as opposed to the repetitious droning of most punk.

Surprisingly, given the incompatability of these two styles, he at no points stumbles. The transitions between the styles flow excellently within the songs, never seeming forced or out of place. This is something that few bands manage to accomplish.

The only flaw this album has is, since it comes from two fundamentally basic (sub)genres, it is in itself very basic. I know for a fact a lot of people won't find this "stimulating" enough, and I urge them to seek mental masturbation elsewhere. Fans of Otyg and those that happen to like punk should check this out.