The Epic side of black metal (bleeding over into Viking Metal) is a hard thing to approach both in writing and reviewing. It's easy to play (slower and midpaced tempos abound, as well as keyboards and overall simpler patterns), but hard to play well (the songwriting must be top-notch to keep the simple elements coherent and focused to build the appropriate atmosphere which is at the heart of epic metal). Similarly, the reviewer must basically do one simple thing - answer the question of whether or not the music creates the atmosphere it is going for, allowing for the fact that different listeners will hear the same thing differently - and, let's face it: we all basically know what it's going to sound like when I say "Viking Metal". The only question left is "Is it any good?"

Fortunately, Graveland makes it easy for me with their latest full-length, "Creed of Iron". The answer is an unreserved "Fuck yes!"

I'm sure most people who have followed Darken's exploits know how far from his roots he has moved in one sense - the music he's writing today sounds nothing like "The Celtic Winter" or "In the Glare...". Well, Creed of Iron continues that march away from the earlier Graveland style, staying very much in the vein of Immortal Pride - long, slow, brooding, contemplative songs that conjure images of a yearning for a time long past when the glory of battle was the ultimate goal and war, face to face with your enemy, was a way of life. I know I bashed Immortal Pride when it came out, but I admit it has grown on me some since then - it's still far from my favorite (I still think the songs are too much of the same thing), but I appreciate more where it's coming from. Creed of Iron is like the best parts of that album, but even better. The songs aren't quite so long and go through more dynamic changes, so it doesn't overstay its welcome. It's also not quite so 'dense' and brooding in mood. There are moments of glory and triumph in the music that contrast well with the more subdued and violent moments. Lots of sweeping keyboard sections and excellent guitar riffing are brought in at just the right times. The vocal approach is fairly similar to what it's always been, except that I think it's more of a throaty, gruff style as opposed to the higher-pitched rasps he has used in the past; it also helps that the vocals are a bit more prominent in the mix than in the past. There are no dull moments on the album - all four full songs ("Tyrants of Cruelty", "No Mercy In My Heart", "Ancient Blood", and "White Beasts of Wotan") are epic masterpieces, and the intro "Blood and Ash" functions as a real song and effectively sets the tone for all that follows; instead of being a keyboard-only piece or a set of samples or such, it's written and played as a real song with the full band. Darken has always had the gift of making his intros something besides three-minute throwaways that start the album, and this one is no different; it's as integral to the album as any of the other songs, definitely NOT skip-button fodder.

Well, I thank Graveland for making it easy on me - "Creed of Iron" is some of the most epic metal I've heard, transcending the terms 'black metal' and 'viking metal' without forsaking Darken's own musical vision. I recommend the album highly. One last note, though: it seems that Capricornus may no longer be playing in Graveland. The liner notes list Darken as "Vocal, Guitar, Bass...", and there is NO mention of drums or of Capricornus anywhere in the liner notes, and the sound of the drums themselves on the album leave no doubt that a machine of some sort was used. I know that many (myself included) considered Capricornus' own unique style as an integral part of the Graveland sound, but again I think it's a testament to Darken's abilities that, even on his own, he can preserve the unique sound of Graveland.

© 2001 lord vic