Enslaved
Axioma Ethica Odini


5.0
classic

Review

by Athom EMERITUS
September 22nd, 2010 | 1984 replies


Release Date: 2010 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Enslaved's masterwork

There is something about Enslaved that transcends black metal. Starting with 2003's Below The Lights, the Scandinavian metalers said to hell with the rigid traditionalist attitudes that act as a tether to even the most creative of black metal bands and embarked on a journey that would see them stretching and transcending the limits of the genre. Much like what Opeth did in the death metal world, Enslaved positioned themselves as the bastions of smooth, melodic 70's progressive rock within the cold, ethereal, blackened universe of jagged tremolo picking and ghoulish shrieks, with every album leading further and further away from the norm until with 2008's Vertebrae they found themselves at yet another crossroads. They could continue on the road they were on and risk losing the extreme elements that the band was founded upon, or they could rediscover themselves and stake out an identity not just based off of their current musical interests, but from their career as a whole. Enslaved chose the latter. A shimmering example of everything Enslaved have brought forth in their twenty years as a band, Axioma Ethica Odini is the crown jewel in an already renowned discography.

Let's get things straight. Axioma Ethica Odini is a black metal album. Simple as that. That aching feeling that Enslaved's metal herritage was slipping by the wayside on each passing release is put to rest thirty-five seconds into the lead off track “Ethica Odini” when the song's main riff springs to life like the cold Nordic winds. It's a triumphant blast of frigid intensity that rivals “As Fire Swept Clean the Earth” as the definitive Enslaved song, combining the harsh atmosphere of their past with the buttery Dave Gilmour-esque moments that shine like a diamond adrift in an icy sea. The album continues with Enslaved doing what they have always done, but doing it even better than ever before. It is truly astounding the way Enslaved continue to find new ways of combining their downright primeval and bestial minimalist metal framework with heavenly leads and progressive flourishes without ever faltering. Out of all the awe-inspiring moments on the album, what may be the biggest surprise on Axioma Ethica Odini is the riff-laden “Giants”. It bridges from monolithic riff to monolithic riff in a towering wall of occult atmosphere and increasingly heavy guitar chords that gets downright nasty when Grutle's monastic wails and beastly howls weave in and out of the the song's stunning crescendo, before it drops into what just might be the heaviest breakdown to make it's way into a black metal song. To be honest, I could go on forever describing every minute detail of Axioma Ethica Odini, but that wouldn't even begin to do it justice as each of the nine songs on Axioma Ethica Odini stand on their own as unique, beautiful, and intriguing works of art.

Enslaved have proven time and time again that they are one of the most forward thinking acts in metal. With albums like Isa and Below the Lights they positioned themselves as one of the premier extreme acts around, but with Axioma Ethica Odini they have securely cemented their spot as metal legends.



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4.2
excellent
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Comments:Add a Comment 
Hyperion1001
Emeritus
September 23rd 2010


27006 Comments


I want this so bad, only 6 more days here in the US.

coneren
September 23rd 2010


11111 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

SOOOOOOO GOOD!!!!

AngelofDeath
Emeritus
September 23rd 2010


16306 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Hope this is as good as it sounds.

Yazz_Flute
September 23rd 2010


19174 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

On my third listen today...obviously need more time to sink in but this is sounding like it could be their best album. And i've heard all of their albums.



Ethica Odini, Raidho, Giants, Singular, Night Sight, Lightening...all so good.

chaos17
September 23rd 2010


296 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Monumension and Below the Lights are better than this, but albums blows everything else in their discography away.



coneren
September 23rd 2010


11111 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Oh, it's good!!

Ethica Odini and Singular are my favorites

Yazz_Flute
September 23rd 2010


19174 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

No way Monumension has two good songs. This has 9.

TheSpirit
Emeritus
September 23rd 2010


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

Damn I wanted to review this so badly. But yeah, this fucking rules, really close to giving it a five.

marksellsuswallets
September 23rd 2010


4884 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Let's get things straight. Axioma Ethica Odini is black metal album


Is black metal? Is good? Yah?



Seriously though, a 5? Consider my interest piqued.

Enotron
September 23rd 2010


7695 Comments


sheesh

BigTuna
September 23rd 2010


5913 Comments


pumped to listen

Rugter32
September 23rd 2010


754 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

I fucking need to listen to this. Their past 3 albums have been win after win.

Aakon_Keetreh
September 23rd 2010


448 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

gunna check this shit out

coneren
September 23rd 2010


11111 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

My favorite of 2010, so far

TheSpirit
Emeritus
September 23rd 2010


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

This will probably pop up on a lot of top 10 lists now

BallsToTheWall
September 23rd 2010


51555 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

3.4 so far.

Yazz_Flute
September 23rd 2010


19174 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

balls avoiding the general consensus as usual

TheSpirit
Emeritus
September 23rd 2010


30304 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off

I thought you would insta-love this Balls

Athom
Emeritus
September 23rd 2010


17244 Comments


Wylie's knees must get awful wet from pissing in the wind all the time

coneren
September 23rd 2010


11111 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Oh shit.



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