Swedish metal titans Ereb Altor celebrate their heritage of legends and mysticism of ancient Scandinavia with their tenth release, the mighty Hälsingemörker. Since 2003 the four masters of epic dark metal have moved away from their initial Bathory inspiration into their own unique force.
From the epic start that is “Valkyrian Fate” This is pure Ereb Altor, the song structures are strong and powerful, the riffs give plenty of room to grow and develop, and the vocals of Ragnar reflect the world with “In times of fire, in times of war”. The clean vocals lines and melody run a strong thread throughout Hälsingemörker, backed by some excellent solos and keyboards, ‘Ättestupan’ is a track built entirely upon a darkened mood, its world-enhancing atmosphere built upon a slower arrangement echoing its sadness and loss. The Last Step is its frantic opposite yet no less poignant with anger, hope and resignation. The blackened descent of “Vir Är Mörkret” reaches its conclusion with “Träldom” where pure metal meets a bleak atmosphere. Mats vocals elevate “The Waves, the Sky and the Pyre” into a grandiose display of epic doom-inspired metal. Yet it is also dark folk with the excellent “Skogsrået,” and the acoustic coda that is “The Lake of Blood.”
Hälsingemörker is not such an album but a reflection of emotions where the past collides with the present, full of evocative imagery and concepts from the dual vocals and choirs, traditional to the bleak modern. This is a complete experience that combines blackened speed with melody, and aura with simple intensity. A celebration of Norse mythology and extreme music!
Ereb Altor: Facebook
Release Year: 2025
Label: Hammerheart Records
Category: Album
Country: Sweden
Reviewed by Sparky