Review by JD on May 31, 2012.

The many varieties of metal still blow me clear away, even though I have been around it and play in it for many years. It just shows that metal has the talent pool and total dedication to their art to match up with any style you want to throw at it. People try to write its epitaph many times, saying that it is clinically dead yet we never disappear, but rise like the Phoenix to be powerful once again.

Stonehaven is a Viking/Black Metal outfit that is not from the frozen climbs of Scandinavia, but comes out of Kansas City, Kansas. With that said, they do make some pretty good music. Powerful and brash, this band gives textbook Viking folklore with the hinting of Paganism and Satanism throughout.

In listening to all eight tracks, it is good basic Viking metal, with a hint of something original that is lurking inside of the music - yet never surfaces. What you are left is pretty good but average Viking music. It is not bad on the surface, but with the band never getting that shot of originality that is hinted at every turn on the CD , it never rises over the averageness, even though I suspect there could be much more than what had been recorded.

Stonehaven is good - but the fact of the matter is that they don’t stand out from the crowd and never quite find the balance in the formula that would get them to that next level. Hope on their next album they finally do. I will look forward to hearing that one too, cause then they just might blow my fucking mind.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 6
Atmosphere: 6
Production: 5
Originality: 5
Overall: 5

Rating: 5.4 out of 10