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The Norwegian founders of the Viking metal are back after 8 years. A lot of reunions are a disappointment and can't top the music they played on the first albums. Not Einherjer. Frode Glesnes' vocals have a little bit of Black Metal sound, but stay quite understandable. The first track starts with a short intro, what follows is a Viking Metal style with a lot of atmosphere, bombast and aggression.

In the music there are different styles embedded. Thrash, doom and epic metal lie on top and every now and then there is a folk influence. The first track is a groovy mid-tempo song that reminds me of Bathory. "Alu Alu Laukar" is a short track that has a lot of melody and a folky character. The most folky track however is "Varden Brenne"; it is an epic track with sing-a-long parts and a lot of bombast. A real Viking song to drink your beer to. Half way through the track "Malmting" the band shows that a fast black metal part can easily be implemented in their music. The title of the last track says it all; indeed it is a rather calm track with choir parts.

Einherjer is back and they show us what real Viking metal is. Fans of the early albums can be happy; this is Viking metal the way it was meant to be.

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