Band : King Of Asgard
Album title : Fi’mbulvintr
Label : Metal Blade Records
Distributor : Rough Trade Benelux
Release date : 13/08/2010
Release: CD

Historically, there’s not that much to say about King Of Asgard, as the band only exists for two years. Although, this three-piece have already had enough practice in bands such as Falconer and Milhotyn, two leading bands in the Viking Metal circuit. With this new band, they want to go back to their Norse heritage and Metal Blade Records gave them that first chance by releasing their debut album, Fi’mbulvintr.

When you listen to the first two tracks, “Einhärjar” and “Vämods Tale”, you immediately have to think of the biggest  Viking Metal band around nowadays, Amon Amarth. Black metal guitars, fast riffs, fast drums,…the only difference is that the voice is much higher. Still roaring, but the voice often sounds as the voice of a black metal singer. In the fourth song, “The Last Journey”, you get the impression that King Of Asgard starts sailing its own course. The track starts with the beautiful voice of a woman singing toward the Vikings going out to war. The introductory song has already been overused in the genre, but it still sounds magical when it’s used on a Viking Metal record. When you listen to the lyrics, you can immediately feel the heavy tension ‘… knowing that some of us will die.’ This song definitely is the best song on the album! “Brethren Of The Nord” is another example of a very good song. When you compare it to most of the other tracks, it sounds much happier, as long as you can call Viking Metal ‘optimistic music’ of course. The last song is “Strike Of The Hammer”. I think every single Viking Metal band uses the word ‘hammer’ at least once on its album and so does King Of Asgard. It’s the perfect song to end the album. It summarizes the feeling of the entire album: anger and wrath. You really feel like you’re on the battleground yourself while listening to this song, or should I say … the battleocean?

This definitely is a very good album which every folk and Viking Metal fan should give a listen, just to please mister Thor.

81/100

Nick Tronckoe.