Monumension v. Below The Lights
- Thread starter Krilons Resa
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MFJ
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Dick Sirloin
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Ruun is freakin' awesome.
Was not expecting such a drastic shift in sound. But.... yeah. I like this version of Enslaved.
Was not expecting such a drastic shift in sound. But.... yeah. I like this version of Enslaved.
refraction
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Dick Sirloin
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Vikingligr Veldi, then Below The Lights.
Great examples from "both" eras (though I'd argue they've had more than two).
If you don't like either of those albums, you're a bad person.
Great examples from "both" eras (though I'd argue they've had more than two).
If you don't like either of those albums, you're a bad person.
refraction
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Will do, thanks guys. Ill be back here with opinions. Though definitely no reviews, because fuck that shit forever.
Dick Sirloin
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I know. Because you totally bailed on that mutual-review game we had a year or two back, wherein you were supposed to listen to my suggestion of ANOTHER GREEN WORLD 
NAD
What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse
Ruun is their worst album, and I'd still call it 8/10.
I started with Below the Lights and love them all.
I started with Below the Lights and love them all.
refraction
Member
I know. Because you totally bailed on that mutual-review game we had a year or two back, wherein you were supposed to listen to my suggestion of ANOTHER GREEN WORLD
Hahaha shit I totally forgot about that
Ive now got all three albums open in other tabs
Dick Sirloin
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Dick Sirloin
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I've been continuing with this re-listening project, slowly but surely, and I'm almost done. Let me go ahead and say that In Times is far and away my favorite of their newer releases. Great melodies, exciting song structures... and it doesn't lose me halfway through like many of their lesser albums do (RIITIIR, anyone?). This is my *almost* final and official ranking:
ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS:
1. Vikingligr Veldi
2. Below The Lights
3. Monumension
DAMN FINE RECORDS:
4. Eld
5. Mardraum: Beyond The Within
6. In Times
7. Vertebrae
8. Blodhemn
9. Frost
HAS ITS MOMENTS:
10. Isa
11. Ruun
MOSTLY BLAND BUT OKAY:
12. RIITIIR
13. Axioma Ethica Odini
A couple points...
- Notice I didn't include EPs. That said, The Sleeping Gods (along with the two-song Thorn) are pretty fucking great. They're a nice departure from the albums they were putting out around then (2010): simplified at times, at times more experimental. Thorn sounds like Drudkh. Anyway, check these out if you're a fan of the band. They're almost what Enslaved would be putting out today if they hadn't gone the prog route.
- They never made a truly bad album. Hell, the last one on my list seems to be a fan favorite.
- THAT SAID, they never made a true masterpiece (VV fans will disagree). Even at top-level, they never did anything higher than something in the 9/10 or 8.5/10 range.
- Many of their albums are front-loaded and overstay their welcome by at least ten minutes.
- That guitar tone still annoys me. At times, it's like grinding your teeth with metal fillings.
- Though they rarely reach Opeth levels, the band seems to struggle at times with the dichotomy between "exciting" and "aimless."
- I really want to see these fuckers live someday.
tl;dr: The Dick re-iterates what everyone already knew about Enslaved. Their new album is damn fine.
ABSOLUTE ESSENTIALS:
1. Vikingligr Veldi
2. Below The Lights
3. Monumension
DAMN FINE RECORDS:
4. Eld
5. Mardraum: Beyond The Within
6. In Times
7. Vertebrae
8. Blodhemn
9. Frost
HAS ITS MOMENTS:
10. Isa
11. Ruun
MOSTLY BLAND BUT OKAY:
12. RIITIIR
13. Axioma Ethica Odini
A couple points...
- Notice I didn't include EPs. That said, The Sleeping Gods (along with the two-song Thorn) are pretty fucking great. They're a nice departure from the albums they were putting out around then (2010): simplified at times, at times more experimental. Thorn sounds like Drudkh. Anyway, check these out if you're a fan of the band. They're almost what Enslaved would be putting out today if they hadn't gone the prog route.
- They never made a truly bad album. Hell, the last one on my list seems to be a fan favorite.
- THAT SAID, they never made a true masterpiece (VV fans will disagree). Even at top-level, they never did anything higher than something in the 9/10 or 8.5/10 range.
- Many of their albums are front-loaded and overstay their welcome by at least ten minutes.
- That guitar tone still annoys me. At times, it's like grinding your teeth with metal fillings.
- Though they rarely reach Opeth levels, the band seems to struggle at times with the dichotomy between "exciting" and "aimless."
- I really want to see these fuckers live someday.
tl;dr: The Dick re-iterates what everyone already knew about Enslaved. Their new album is damn fine.
J.
Old Fart
Dick Sirloin
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- Jan 6, 2004
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J.
Old Fart
Dick Sirloin
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- Jan 6, 2004
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Pretty damn great interview with Ivar from the Mardraum era: http://www.metalupdate.com/interviewenslaved.html
A lot of the meaning and 'messages' in our lyrics are nested in the tradition of the ancient Northern beliefs, and the way of the Viking is our way. Not meaning that we spend a lot of time dressing up like they did in the year 790 -- like most other Viking Metal bands do. We try to connect with our ancestors on a non-material level -- thoughts, dreams, runes, and the inner worlds. The term 'Viking Metal' has been turned into a bad joke today by dozens of worthless 'musicians' running around in potato sacks grunting about "Hey! Ho! Give me mug of ale! I am Viking and want to fight. Hey! Ho! I am Oden's son, and give me a mug of ale!"
A lot of the meaning and 'messages' in our lyrics are nested in the tradition of the ancient Northern beliefs, and the way of the Viking is our way. Not meaning that we spend a lot of time dressing up like they did in the year 790 -- like most other Viking Metal bands do. We try to connect with our ancestors on a non-material level -- thoughts, dreams, runes, and the inner worlds. The term 'Viking Metal' has been turned into a bad joke today by dozens of worthless 'musicians' running around in potato sacks grunting about "Hey! Ho! Give me mug of ale! I am Viking and want to fight. Hey! Ho! I am Oden's son, and give me a mug of ale!"
MFJ
Active Member
Here, I'll post it because this is exactly what all of us thought about while reading that.
anyway, I'm just kidding. he's right and enslaved is awesome (not to mention that they were some of the very first guys to take photos like that)
anyway, I'm just kidding. he's right and enslaved is awesome (not to mention that they were some of the very first guys to take photos like that)
Dick Sirloin
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NAD
What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse
Man, their guitar tone might be my second favoUrite thing about the band! Probably my choice for the best "sounding" band of all time, at least from Monumension forward. It's modern and clean, but not sterile at all. I love them live, but prefer them on albums because that commitment to tone is a big part of why I dig them. I feel that the reverse is true for Opeth: good on albums, yet fantastic live.
In fact, the reason why I finally starting using all tube amps in any serious fashion is the ending bass-riff thing from Convoys to Nothingness. You don't get that kind of push/give/goop/jizz from solid state things. Lots of bands have influenced my playing over the years, but only a small handful have had an impact on my sound.
EDIT: Of course what would be funny is if he didn't use a tube amp at all, and I brought upon my own false conclusion. Either way, about 10 years ago I heard that and bought my first giant tube amp, because I was convinced that was how that particular noise emerged from out my speakers and into my psyche.
In fact, the reason why I finally starting using all tube amps in any serious fashion is the ending bass-riff thing from Convoys to Nothingness. You don't get that kind of push/give/goop/jizz from solid state things. Lots of bands have influenced my playing over the years, but only a small handful have had an impact on my sound.
EDIT: Of course what would be funny is if he didn't use a tube amp at all, and I brought upon my own false conclusion. Either way, about 10 years ago I heard that and bought my first giant tube amp, because I was convinced that was how that particular noise emerged from out my speakers and into my psyche.
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