As skeptical as anyone could be about two Ukrainians calling themselves Valhalla and playing what appears to be semi-epic black/Viking metal, these two lads actually manage to pull it off with much finesse, so you can't help but be impressed, especially considering the fact that this, if I am not mistaken, is the band's first demo. It's hard to pinpoint what exactly makes them so good because they don't sound terribly original. Roughly speaking, they took equal parts of Viking period Bathory and Graveland's "Immortal Pride," broke them into short simplistic pieces, processed them through the modern black metal meat grinder adding speed, female vocals and distorted guitars, and served it all red-hot. A lot of Valhalla's appeal rests in the profound feeling they are able to exude. Plus, neither keyboards, female vocals or Viking chants, which remind me somewhat of Enslaved, sound cheesy in their hands. I guess what I am trying to say here is that Valhalla are cool. All you lame-ass Northmen should be ashamed of yourselves if you let two obscure Slavs carry the Viking torch for you.

© 2000 boris