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Review: Iuvenes - Toward Sources of Honour and Pride
Iuvenes
www.myrrthronth.de/iuvenes.htm
Toward Sources of Honour and Pride

Label: No Colours Records
Year released: 2005
Duration: 37:25
Tracks: 5
Genre: Viking Metal

Rating:
4.25/5


Review online: February 23, 2007
Reviewed by: Lars Christiansen
Readers' Rating
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Rated 3.67/5 (73.33%) (6 Votes)
Review

What do you think would happen if you took Bathory's 'Hammerheart' album, and planted it in soil alongside Graveland's 'Dawn of Iron Blades'? Nothing at all. That is, of course until you call upon the mighty Odin to summon forth the spirits of Valhalla to perform an ancient ritual upon said soil. Over time, and with plenty of liquid (the sweat of a Viking fresh from lopping off a few Monks heads in battle is best, but water will suffice), there will grow a wondrous Iuvenes CD.

Get the picture? Iuvenes sound so much like the two aforementioned bands that at times, it borders on plagiarism. Yep, this is as similar to Falkenbach as you can get, without actually being them. The band seem to have got hold of that much sought after Acme book 'How to write a Viking metal album', as the album is packed with an abundance of epic riffwork backed by basic rhythmic drumming, a distinct lack of bass, and a spattering here and there of those classic 'swords clashing in the clamor of battle' trademark sounds for that perfect Viking-metal soundscape. Even the production sounds like mid-period Bathory (that said, it's usually the characteristic style of production for the majority of No Colours releases in fact).

I'm sure you'll be surprised to hear that the vocals sound like the mighty Quorthon (R.I.P) too, albeit at times Quorthon doing a slightly dubious impression of Attila Csihar's darkly toasted croaks and groans for the black metal styled riffs that are intertwined with the more grandiose material. As I'm sure you can realize, there is nothing particularly new or astoundingly diverse here to what has been peddled by 101 Viking metal bands before this, but I still consider it to be a worthy enough album with all things taken into consideration to warrant a purchase, especially to those who have worn out their Graveland and Bathory CDs through years of listening enjoyment. So, grab your helmet (ooer), charge your drinking horns, swill down some mead, and set sail for battle!! Aaaghh!!

(Disclaimer: Please note, insertion of CDs into the earth will not cultivate new CDs, and they categorically will not cross-pollinate with each other. The above paradigm was used in a fantasy styled theoretical illustration, so no damages can be declared from myself, or from www.metalcrypt.com for soiled CDs and/or disillusionment at lack of CD growth. Kthanxbye.)

More about Iuvenes...
Review: Riddle of Steel (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: When Heroes Will Rise (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
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