Enslaved is one of those bands who always seems to offer something different with each album while staying true to themselves at the same time. They have offered such gems as "Blodhemn", Below the Lights, and Ruun." All of which had something unique to offer.
Enslaved's 2008 offering "Vertebrae", was somewhat of a mellower record, however it was a very fine effort in it's own right. Then a little taste of the band's latest offering emerges. The song Ethica Odini becomes available for streaming and as soon as I heard that song I knew to expect something truly extraordinary. So in eager anticipation I pre-ordered the album.
To say I was not disappointed would be an understatement. Axioma Ethica Odini is easily one of Enslaved's premiere releases. Prior to the release I read a review of the album and the person who wrote it stated that on this album "Enslaved stayed true to form while taking their limits of experimenting with genres to the fullest." That cannot be more true.
On the record you have songs that start off with a slow doom inspired riff and as soon as you become accustomed to it the song changes into something that makes you wonder if you are listening to the same band let alone the same song.
On this album vocalist Grutle Kjellson demonstrates the full range of his vocal talents. At times he almost sounds like he is belting out traditional black metal shrieks, blended with death metal growls, with elements of folk singing and other clean vocals, when all mixed together provide one of the best variation of vocal styles to come along in quite some time.
Axioma Ethica Odini is making a strong case for best album of 2010. It does this with it's varied vocal style, creative song writing, combined with elements of previous Enslaved releases and new exciting musical directions. It will take a lot to rival this album and I'm not sure if anyone will even come close to this brilliant piece of modern art.
