From North – Raven Banner
From North – Raven Banner
At Dawn Records
Release Date: 24/11/23
Review by Laura Barnes
8/10
Can you guess what type of music From North make? Take a look at their name, take a look at this album cover. C’mon, guys, this shouldn’t be a hard one to figure out. That’s right, it’s Viking metal! Well, technically it is Melodic Death, Folk-Infused, Viking-inpsired Metal, but that’s a bit of a mouthful, isn’t it? Whenever the words ‘Viking’ and ‘Metal’ are used in a sentence together, there’s normally one band that comes straight to mind. The Amon Amarth comparisons are inevitable, but I wish they weren’t, because From North are actually quite different, and, dare I say it… More ambitious?
“Raven Banner” is not a simple Melodeath album. Its folk elements can be heard loud and proud throughout, and the flutes, bagpipes, and shanty-like melodies lends the album authenticity, as well as a whole lot of heart. ‘Järnvidja’ is a great example of this – solemn, atmospheric and powerful, it would make the perfect soundtrack to a viking funeral. It’s also important to note that despite all the flutes and frills, From North aren’t reliant on gimmicks. ‘Berserkers’ is an album highlight that demonstrates the band can hit hard and hit heavy, with a headbanging chorus and tremolo picking that makes me nod my head and say “Fuck yeah”.
The album is at its best when it places storytelling at its centre, such as in ‘Raven Banner’ (the line about the wind blowing your beard around really adds to the verisimilitude), ‘Shield Wall’ and ‘Winterblot’. In future albums, I’d love for the vocals to be brought forward in the mix a little, so that listeners can immerse themselves in the story even more. From North also demonstrate a talent for the dramatic, and I feel that this is something that they could push further in future albums. ‘The Queen – Varangian Pt. 2’ has all the ingredients for an epic statement piece and for the most part it delivers, but admittedly does leave me with a hunger for something more.
All in all, “Raven Banner” was a fun listen, with melodies lively enough to make even the most sour of metalheads do a little jig. I just know these guys would kill it live, and until these Vikings sail over to the UK to blow our beards off in person, I’ll be blasting this through every Dungeons and Dragons session.
TRACKLISTING:
01. Raven Banner
02. Into the Oblivion
03. Berserkers
04. The Queen – Varangian Pt. 2
05. Harnbidder
06. Shield Wall
07. Runestones
08. The Plague
09. Järnvidja
10. Winterblot
LINE-UP:
Håkan Johnsson – Vocals
Mattias Svensson – Guitar
Janne Lüthje – Guitar
Conny Pettersson – Drums
Mikael Kindblad – Bass
LINKS:
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