In the Spotlight: Moonsorrow / Izegrim / Ill Omen

The Good: Moonsorrow - Jumalten aika

Could this be the most devastating among the titans of viking black metal? I haven't discovered any other band with pure diamond albums only, Jumalten aika adding to the lot. It grabs you by the ears, it haunts you, it makes you ache the barbaric lives of ancient pagan heathens and totally rules you in it's will. Amazing.

The Bad: Izegrim - The Ferryman's End

Unliking this album makes me sad. It has such a kick ass cover. I was pumped to listen to it, I really wanted to love it and show it to my friends, so that they would see the beauty on the outside and the inside. However, it will probably stay as a wallpaper at best, because it turns out The Ferryman's End is juvenile new-sounding thrash / death with no purpose and horrible kid lyrics.

The Ugly: Ill Omen - Æ​.​Thy​.​Rift

Ill Omen is an ill omen. Moving at funereal pace, with lot's of dark ambient, whispering unfathomable lyrics, Ill Omen comes from the land that birthed Elysian Blaze and doesn't live much space for you to breathe. Æ​.​Thy​.​Rift might be considered short for it's kind, but it only takes a few minutes to suffocate anyway.

Last minute suggestion:

Ifrinn - Ifrinn

In the Spotlight: Artillery / Amon Amarth / Cobalt

The Good: Artillery - Penalty by Perception

I have never been the biggest follower of this band and any time I have spent listening to them in the past is because of their overall importance in the genre. Flirting with heavy metal, Penalty by Perception is really enjoyable because of it's energetic riffs and the power of the guitars / vocals. "Live by the Scythe", "Path of the Atheist" and "Mercy of Ignorance" are some of the best, while I don't think the mellow "When the Magic is Gone" was necessary... Anyhow, it's fun. [Listen]

The Bad: Amon Amarth - Jomsviking

Not one interesting song was written that day. Listening to this record feels like all the passion of Amon Amarth has been drained, bringing out an abject offering with a fancy cover as if it's targeted for 10 year old kids with a fixation for Hollywood made Northmen and not the real deal. Goofy compositions, even goofier lyrics... Regarding their more melodic era, how did it come from Twilight to this? At least the voice of Johan Hegg is still awesome. I had a dream that in a parallel universe, Hegg left the band to join and co-sing in Unleashed... Imagine that. Vivid. [Listen]

The Ugly: Cobalt - Slow Forever

I'm not so much into the band's previous albums, even though they are hailed as masterpieces all of them. Slow Forever is the comeback of the band after seven years of silence, the fans were crazy and when getting into it, it's a really interesting and addictive record. Stop what you're doing and listen to "Hunt the Bufallo", "King Rust" and "Elephant Graveyard". [Listen]

Last minute suggestion:

Gadget - The Great Destroyer