Nordstjärnans tidsålder

There are only a few viking metal bands that can truly combine extreme, fast-paced brutality with just enough folk influences and melody to set it apart from generic black metal. Nordstjärnans Tidsålder not only accomplishes this feat, but also has a great variety. The album opens with a light piano intro, followed by violin, which then bursts into a fast, brutal assault of black metal and folk. The violins play in the background just enough so that they can be heard without overpowering the guitar like many other bands of this genre (ie: Moonsorrow). This combination continues throughout the album, with a few female vocals thrown into the mix. Track 7 contains a short folk ballad, which has a very refined, well-composed sound. The overall album is very solid, and is a must have for any fan of true viking metal