Band: HAVAMAL
Country: Sweden
Title: Tales from Yggdrasil
Label: Art Gates Records
Year: 2019
Style: Viking Death Metal
Review:
Their music is indeed Melodic Death Metal, but their lyrics and look are Viking Metal, so I'd prefer labeling this band a Viking Death Metal band and I hope you agree with me, too. This is their debut album and also my first encounter with the band, and if I'm honest I have to admit I was a bit suspicious seeing this blatant viking look, I thought I'm about to deal with another Amon Amarth copy, but I was so wrong, luckily... Havamel's music has its own trajectory, its own kind of melody, structures that not only follow the Swede kind of Melodic Death but also borrow from the Finnish Melodic Death Metal quite a few elements (although I'm not sure if purposefully). But above all that striking epicness, that Viking proudness stands out from this album and takes the listener in a fierce world ruled by brave warriors actually transposing the listener into such a warrior. I know, big words for a simple recording, but this one sounds so epic and so grandiose at times it's just that, an escape from reality into an imaginary better world, exactly what the listener wants, or I think so. I'm actually impressed by the band's potential in writing tracks rather than something technical like a stand out guitar tune or a different kind of drumming; the band sounds absolutely perfect as a whole, it's just like one of those football teams where you don't know any players but where you can't believe how well they are playing as a team. Such a perfect debut album, I hope it receives the attention it deserves and I hope the band has the necessary means to followup and capitalize on this glorious material. I can't believe how long it's been since I last rated an album with a perfect 10...
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 10/10