Review by JD on August 12, 2012.

I am liking Viking/Folk Metal more and more as I listen. It is the mixture of Folk parts, Black and Death Metal with lyrics about long ago battles of the Viking Clans and who they were. It takes amazing musicians and lots of imagination and talent to actually make this type of metal right- and many just cannot end up doing it.

At the top of the Viking Metal heap, like extreme Viking Legends Amon Amarth, has arrived a massive Viking act from the Netherlands Myrkvar. Mixing more of a folk angle with their no-nonsense maximum volume metal, they have seemed to find their way and made many steps to becoming a force to be heard. I enjoyed their ‘08 release "Als Een Woeste Horde" and gave it a 8.3, so I am excited to hear the progress they have made.

As I listen to "As En Bloed", I am struck at the huge amounts of progress this band has made. They still have the heaviness on one side and the pretty folkish side too but now they have every shade of grey connecting the two and filling out the sound. The have become some of the finest musicians I have came across in years. Tracks like the addicting power and captivating melodies of 'Voorspelling' to the more moody punch of 'Baldrs Dood' show the huge steps of growth of this band into one of the best in this genre.

Metalheads will like this album, as well as the fans of the whole Viking thing as well. Myrkvar has emerged as a leader in this style, because they have expertly added in even more styles of metal and other music into it while still sung entirely in their native tongue once again. In the end, it is still mind boggling how good this band is. Check them out and see.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9.5
Originality: 9
Overall: 9.5

Rating: 9.2 out of 10