Review by Adam M on October 16, 2012.

Enslaved return to the fold with another quality album in "RIITIIR". The band is taking a more progressive and spacey direction on this album. The songs are given more room to breathe with an increased song length and looser structures overall. This allows the band to continue to evolve in a positive and interesting direction and shows that there is no sign of them bowing down to the mainstream or simplifying their sound in any manner.

This album may appeal to a different brand of people than the last one, however. It doesn’t have the initial knockout impact of "Axioma Ethica Odini" and requires more multiple listens to further digest the more off tangent nature of the material. There are many twists and turns that need further investigation to become entranced with overall. However, this album also doesn’t have as many highlight tracks as the last album. The album opener 'Thoughts Like Hammers' is a far cry from the storming beginning that 'Ethica Odini' was to its predecessor. There is a lot of material to like on "RIITTIIR", but it will still only end up being one of the better albums of the year instead of the best album of the year like the "Axioma Ethica Odini". It’s difficult to find a highlight song, but the last song 'Forsaken' is definitely a standout much like the closing one 'Lightning' was on the previous album. It features some more subtle moments combined with more grandiose ones and results in an excellent way to close the album.

Overall, this album is a grower and excellent addition to the Enslaved disography, but it also has a few releases that surpass it within their discography as well.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9.5
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 8.5
Overall: 9

Rating: 9 out of 10

Review by Krys on January 30, 2001.

When I heard WT’s first album "Enter" I said, "they’ll become big one day." I didn’t expect it would be so soon. Within Temptation has managed to deliver something that only a few bands were able to accomplish in such a short time since the bands’ inception date.

"Mother Earth" is such a huge step forward that comparing this album with their previous release is almost impossible. Well, I’m a brave man, so I’ll try. Everything that was good in "Enter" has been honed to excellence on this album. By adding female and male choirs, full blown orchestra with brass sections and dropping the growl vocals, they created an intensely special listening experience that it makes you close your eyes and fly away to a paradise. The band’s dreamy melodies, heavy guitars and Sharon’s dramatically improved vocal lines make me want to listen to it over and over again. Throughout the whole album WT jets from fast tempo compositions like "Ice Queen" or "Dark Wings" that stick in your head for days to dreamy ballads like "Our Farewell" or "The Promise" which are so romantic and touchy that could squeeze a tear from a rock. OK, maybe you won’t cry but on this record I found a lot of lyrics that I could relate to on a very personal level.

Add outstanding production with special CD-ROM that includes the extra song "World Of Make Believe", pictures, the band’s info and videos you have what I call a masterpiece disc.

I remember when some people were pissing me off by comparing them to Theatre Of Tragedy, The Gathering and so on. Within Temptation’s "Mother Earth" is such a brilliant piece of work that both bands whish they had it in their own discography. Amen!

Rating: 10 out of 10