• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Ereb Altor have become a mainstay in the post-Bathory, epic Viking metal scene. While they rummaged around in various genres earlier, they seem to have found their path, having released a string of stellar albums over the past decade or so. Hälsingemörker very much follows their tried-and-true formula of epic and melodic Viking metal led by the trademark, soaring vocals, and crisp late-era Bathory-esque riffing. This comparison to Bathory is more or less mandatory, though I find Ereb Altor to be a tad bit elaborate and heavier, as heard in the second half of stomper "The Waves, The Sky and the Pyre" and excellent closer "The Last Step." There is still the occasional use of harsh vocals as well, which gives the music a little more bite.

Hälsingemörker is pretty much what I expected from Ereb Altor given their last couple of albums. It's not remarkably different from its predecessors in terms of quality and style, but it hits the spot as we have come to expect from this band.