Norway is known more for Black Metal than doom. This band proves cold grim winters can be an inspiration for both genres. There is more of a folk element haunting the atmosphere cast by their sound. The vocals are in an almost operatic baritone croon, as they resonate with vibrato. Piano and violin add to the classical trappings. Female vocals delivered in a similar fashion join in. The guitar carries all the crunch with very deliberate chugs holding things down. The symphonic elements make them stand out from the pack so far this month, It's eight and a half minutes though it does not feel as if they are dragging it out, so that is positive.
"Yestertear' feels more metal in the guitars. The deeply orchestrated arrangments are still intact with a dramatic operatic style employed for this one in the same manner it played into the first song. Although this vocal style could wear on me the end album, it still works well for two songs, I typically do not care how you are singing as long as they are dynamic and it feels like you approach each song differently. "Procession of Misery" is where they had taken these sounds and pushed them in this direction as far as they could go, without needing a shift. Otherwise, it will fade into the background. The more overt metal of "These Rusty Nails" is what the album needed. However, the vocals do not glide as smoothly over it as they could. It is not a deal breaker, but noticeable.
The violin interlude feels like it should have been tagged onto the beginning of "My Own Grave". A more folk feel collides with heavier riffs, and the vocals fall into better spots here. "To Break all Hearts of Men' finds the needed vocal shift leading into the song. The chest voice bellowing had reached its peak so it made sense. There is a lighter higher voice, that carries a lazier croon. "Nar Kisten Senkes" is more emotive in the atmosphere summoned by its dramatics. Perhaps not as melancholy a mood until it digs further into the song. Then guitar solos and more chugged guitar riffs anchor it more in metal. It comes together pretty well as the more traditional metal elements are allowed to come forth.
The vocals switch back to the same singer from "To Break All Hearts of Men" for the last song, giving an almost Psychic TV feel. I think his variance in the vocals is more original and gives them an interesting path to explore, as we already know how doom sounds when it's dramatic, thanks to bands like Candlemass. I will round this down to a 9, which is still an outstanding score because the dramatics is not something I can hear myself listening to regularly, but you can not ignore the work these guys put into this and how they made the album they set out to make which was an ambitious goal that they nailed. It was released on Season of Mist.
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