Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 09:49 AM by Nikos Nakos
Genre: Viking/Black/Folk Metal
Country: Sweden
Label: Napalm Records
Year: 2022
It may be a spring release as it was out on April 15th via Napalm Records still this album sounds as one of the best moments of this year so we have to write a few words about it. Sweden’s Månegarm (which according to the Prose Edda, Mánagarmr is a giant wolf who, at the onset of Ragnarök, will devour the moon which is Máni in Old Icelandic). He may or may not be identical to other mythological wolves such as Garmr, Fenrisulfr, Sköll and Hati) have returned with an album that may not reinventing Viking inspired black metal and it is actually musically speaking very close to their from their previous efforts but it features some brilliant compositions that create a marvelous final result. “Ynglingaättens Öde” is the bands 10th album and as we deal with a group that has a career of over 25 years we have to expect a mature amalgam of these artists course. They trio of Erik Grawsiö on vocals and bass, founding member guitarist Markus Andé (who was there on every Månegarm album) and drummer Jacob Hallegren have nothing to prove to no one rather their own selves and they make clear from the very first song that they dare to blend pagan heritage, acoustic lead parts, clean vocals (from Erik Grawsiö, his daughter Lea Grawsiö Lindström and guest singer Ellinor Videfors) and here and there some females ones, famous guests (in song “Stridsgalten” they welcome Jonne Järvelä from Korpiklaani, Robse Dahn from Equilibrium and Pär Hulkoff from Raubtier), melodic guitars, violins, folk elements and black metal ferocity all together in a strong album that probably is their finest work up to date along with 2003’s “Dödsfärd” and 2007’s “Vargstenen”. The production is crystal clear with extra volume while the lyrics are written in their native language and are inspired by the old Norse poem “Yngingatal”. Highlights: “Freyrs Blod”, “En Snara av Guld”, “Vitta Vettr’ and “The Wolfheart”.
