Enslaved have always been one of those bands that I was never able to get into no matter how hard I tried. Every time a new release dropped I would read glowing reviews that slobbered over how great the band was. Every time I would read those reviews, I would think I must’ve missed something the last time around. I would then listen to the album, get bored and promptly wonder what the hell was so great about the band.
Well, I don’t know if Enslaved have gotten better, or if my ears have finally caught up with their brilliance, but Riitiir quite simply smokes. In a year that has had more stellar releases than any other than I can remember, Riitiir is another one that will contend for a spot on every metal critics’ end of year list.
Right from the get-go, with album opener “Thoughts Like Hammers”, the disc pulls you in and weaves a bewitching spell of metal madness. The album goes from black metal, to prog, to radio rock and everything in between – many times changing genres several times all within the same song! This is truly some great stuff and has finally made me a believer in Enslaved’s greatness.
Track Listing:
01. Thoughts Like Hammers
02. Death In the Eyes of Dawn
03. Veilburner
04. Roots of the Mountain
05. Riitiir
06. Materal
07. Storm of Memories
08. Forsaken
Run Time: 1:07:17
Release Date: October 9, 2012
Check out the song: “Veilburner”
