ALBUM REVIEW: North Star – Einherjer

One of the progenitors of Viking metal, EINHERJER have peddled their wares since they first burst onto the scene in the early nineties. A close cousin of black metal in large part pioneered by luminaries BATHORY, it has since evolved in various directions. From AMON AMARTH’s melodic death metal assault to metal that leaned heavier on the folk to and less on the Viking to become folk metal. EINHERJER, on the other hand, have steadfastly refused to evolve in any direction than the one they were already set on all those years ago. Now into their third decade as a band with only a brief interlude of inactivity when they split in 2004 and reformed in 2008, the band have released seven albums and are set to release their eighth, North Star. 

Skipping any sort of instrumental introduction entirely, North Star gets straight down to business on opener The Blood and the Iron. Frode Glesnes’ blackened rasp is immediately recognisable, the guitars churn out folk-inspired riffs aplenty and there’s more than a few moments reminiscent of SATYRICON’s latter day work in the mid-tempo swagger. An early highlight comes in the follow up, Stars, that utilises almost 80s synths to introduce the song. Glesnes’ bass is given the starring role here, underpinning the verses while the guitar provides punctuation. The chugging chorus and stomping pace ensure a strong rhythm that feels guaranteed to get heads moving, while the supporting synths lend an extra dimension to the music that’s not always obvious but adds depth. 

What’s immediately apparent here is the band eschew the frostbitten atmosphere and the rapid-fire blastbeats synonymous with black metal. Instead the band opt for a more middling pace that strides with purpose. The lower tempo makes riffs more muscular and gives them more presence, rather than being a blizzard of tremolo picking. They’re also unafraid to throw in guitar solos, with seemingly every song throwing in a moment of virtuosity, standouts being on The Blood and the Iron, and Echoes In Blood which pulls out all the stops for a late-album highlight, especially in its galloping, almost NWOBHM feel.  

Some songs feel a little incongruous; while the majority of North Star feels as if it takes itself seriously, West Coast Groove has a self-aware swagger to it that, while musically sound, doesn’t quite seem to fit alongside its more serious brethren. Then there’s the issue of length. Most songs are a tight four to five minutes and, if they do run over this, it’s not by much. Ascension and Listen to the Graves, however, sit close to or over the seven minute mark and they don’t feel as if they do enough to justify their length. Ascension in particular begins to sag under its own weight around the four minute mark. It doesn’t help that it follows up the tight West Coast Groove either, as there’s a full four and a half minute difference in length between the two. 

Besides these fairly minor flaws, North Star is an entertaining and well-executed eighth outing for the Viking metal stalwarts. Consistency has been EINHERJER’s hallmark for a number of years and it’s clear they see no sense in diverting from their current course of churning out reliably entertaining albums. Although they don’t truly innovate on the template, it’s one they are partly responsible for laying down and nobody does it quite like them. 

Rating: 7/10

North Star is set for release February 26th via Napalm Records. 

Like EINHERJER on Facebook.