| CD REVIEW Kampfar |
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Band: Kampfar When Dolk left the legendary band Mock - we’re speaking almost fifteen years ago - he wanted to write down and compose his own feelings and expressions. Dolk, being into Black Metal, started working with a certain Thomas, whose roots were more Folk-oriented, along with a huge passion for Classical. This unique collaboration resulted in what Kampfar still stand for today: glorious and epic Viking / Black Metal. The duo recorded a self-called mini-album in 1995 (Season Of Mist), followed by the full length debut Mellom Skogledde Aaser (Malicious Records, 1996-1997), the mini-album Norse (Hammerheart Records, 1998) and the second full length Fra Underverdenen (Hammerheart, 1999). All of them were very well received in the Black Metal regions, and I have to admit that I do like this material with heathen pride. Except for the first mini-album, Napalm Records did re-issue these recordings in 2006, by the way. Then it went silent for a while. Dolk joined the band Gruesome, but soon he found out that Kampfar might not be put to rest yet. Luckily! In 2006, after the recruitment of two additional members, Gruesome-colleague Jon (b) and Il13 (d), the band released its Napalm-debut, Kvass, which showed that Kampfar still constructed grim and victorious hymns. A huge tour through the European battle fields, plus some festivals (among which Wacken and With Full Force), put the band’s name on the international map again. This newest effort, Heimgang, was recorded for the second time at the Silvertone Studio with Rune Jørgensen, and lasts for forty seven minutes. As from the opening song, Vantro, there’s no doubt that Heimgang does not differ from any former recording. And in the case of this band, it isn’t but positive. Many colleagues that once started as a so-called Nordic formation, did change their musical direction in mean time (think Arcturus, Borknagar or Einherjer, to name a few), but along with, for example, Enslaved, Hades Almighty or Falkenbach (also on Napalm Records, and not from Norway - FYI), Kampfar still sounds very ‘Nordic’. Every hymn exhales a grim, mythic spirituality, which gets translated in the Norwegian-sung lyrics too, based on Nordic legends and mythology. The combination of melody with a subtle underground sound is in perfect equilibrium, and the same goes for the symbiosis Pagan-heroic. Besides, the chilly, dark atmosphere is a constant that flavours the whole album with painful pleasure. Most tracks, with a shorter average duration this time, are mid-tempo -blasting speed isn’t necessary at all- including a few slower parts, and they certainly do not need a well-polished production at all. The collaboration between Dolk’s Black Metal compositions and Thomas’ Folk(lore) roots again creates a glorious album, filled with raw and freezing songs full of conviction and pride. Heimgang isn’t a renewing album, yet a Kampfar-release never disappoints. Proven again! 91/100 Ivan Tibos. |