Review by chrisc7249 on July 18, 2022.

Yes, you're reading this correctly… after nearly 70 reviews of purely death metal, it's time I come out and say that my extreme metal addiction has recently spilled over into black metal. I started listening to black metal not too long after I first listened to death metal, but it admittedly took me a much longer time to appreciate black metal.

One of the first albums I gave a listen to and has helped me get into the genre more than most other albums is undoubtedly Kampfar's debut, "Mellom Skogkledde Aaser," released in 1997. This album, man… this is how I wish all black metal was. It's epic, it's heavy, it's got a great atmosphere and aesthetic, and the production is perfect. It's a great package all around, and I'm surprised that they haven't received nearly as much attention as clearly less quality bands such as Dimmu Borgir. This is pure, unfiltered, raw Scandinavian black metal at its finest.

The most noticeable aspect of this album is the production. I'm a huge fan of the fact that the bass isn't completely drowned out, and everything is raw, yet listenable and easy to digest. I've grown more accustomed to production on albums like Ulver's "Nattferd" and Mutiilation's "Vampires…" but this is definitely a much more preferable sound. The riffs are melodic, heroic and, at times, downright heavy. I find myself headbanging a lot more to this than most records of its type. It's super gritty, and definitely has a huge focus on atmosphere, but they never let that detract from the heaviness.

I also love the vocals on this record. Dolk has some incredibly tortured wails on this album that bring out a lot of character and emotion and feel like the war cry of a deranged maniac from the Viking days of humanity. I also appreciate that the drumming isn't from a drum machine, which is what has kept from fully enjoying albums like Summoning's "Minas Morgul." These drums make it feel organic and less sterile, which is what black metal needs more than death metal, if you ask me.

If you haven't listened to this album and you love black metal… what on Earth are you doing? This album kicks so much ass, it's ridiculous. It's tight and fun but also raw and a truly unique experience that has kept me captivated years and made me love this wretched genre of music. Long live Kampfar!

Rating: 9 out of 10