Band: Unleashed
Title: As Yggdrasil Trembles
Label: Nuclear Blast
Distribution: PIAS
Release date: 19/03/2010
Review: CD

Almost two years after Hammer Battalion (posted on 12/05/2008), Swedish masters Unleashed return with As Yggdrasil Trembles. With the knowledge that this band is active for more than two centuries in mean time, it is a pleasure to hear that these guys still stay true to their roots. And this does not mean that Unleashed did record the same thing again and again, the same album as they did before; no, like it has always been the case, this album too breathes the epic atmosphere from the old times, with that typical Viking-ish approach Unleashed are known for, and without repeating itself time after time.
As Yggdrasil Trembles consists of rather varying tracks. Not only the tempo varies a lot (most groovy and rhythmic tracks are mid-tempo oriented, yet some parts are brutally fast, and some grimly slow), and not only these hymns contain several tempo-changes; also the basic content differs. Some tracks exhale a spirit of war-lust and will-to-conquer; others are mercilessly old school oriented (the Swedish scene anno early nineties, of course); a few times a thrashy approach combats the melodic base; etc…
Unnecessary to go on, because words cannot explain my appreciation for this band, and for this newest full length.
Total running time: about forty five minutes.

88/100

Ivan Tibos.