This is my first time listening to Dødheimsgard and I'm assuming they've gone through many changes over the years but listening to this on its own I really enjoyed it, however I completely understand pretty much any criticism anyone would have of the album.

It definitely takes a few spins to digest it but that doesn't necessarily mean it will grow on you. The album is pretty consistent throughout, even with occasional surprises it doesn't stray far from its core sound for long so if it's not your thing after a song or two then it's unlikely that later songs will change your mind. The singing can be off putting but I got used to it rather quick. The vocal layers can be enchanting when they don't sound... so weird. I'd prefer if the instruments were as high as the vocals in the mix but the vocals are usually the driving part of each song so it works as it is. At times Vicotnik's singing reminds me of ICS Vortex and the music reminds me of Arcturus, so I'm sort of viewing this as the successor to Arcturian which I think is a fair comparison, although the writing here is more progressive and arguably superior.

It is very easy to zone out and end up wondering how a song got to where it did. To some people I'm sure the writing seems disjointed or sloppy but after a few listens I think there's a lot more talent to the craft than that and I find that all the songs have good flow and instrumentation through their sections. I've had parts of this album randomly pop into my head a couple weeks after not listening to it which keeps bringing me back to it. Tankespinnerens Smerte and Det Tomme Kalde Morke are probably my favorite songs.

It took me a few spins to fully warm up to this album but I gotta say this is kind of a hidden gem.

Not only do they manage to create a new never before heard sound by mixing elements together that seem a bit counter-intuitive but they actually make it work well for the most part with some pretty good songwriting to top it off. The creativity at display here alone is deserving of respect but when a band is also good at songwriting and takes the risk to try something new that's when you know you found a truly unique piece of art.

Admittedly there are 2 or 3 moments that are a little bit "too much out there" for me which is what is keeping me from giving this a 10 but I rather listen to an intresting album with a little bit of hit and miss than to another boring conventional album.

Also the outro song is absolutely beautiful.

I am not ashamed to admit that I don't really understand the album fully, musically. I like it though. The start of It Does Not Follow is still playing in my head. There are also other parts of the album with such melodic, surprisingly catchy sections but they are fleeting in nature.

So far this is my AOTY. Lots of albums to listen to still though.

didn't listen too many new albums this year, but this has to be my AOTY. no doubt.