Band:	Bifröst
Album:	Heidenmetal
Style:	Pagan black metal, Folk metal
Release date:	January 29, 2010
A review by:	Raiden

01. Normannenzorn
02. Berserker
03. Der Mönch
04. Die Wilde Jagd
05. Fest Der Trolle
06. Ragnarök
07. Der Rächer
08. Weingeist
09. Odins Söhne
10. Herr Des Waldes
11. Schlachtklänge
12. Heimgang

Style: Folk/Viking Black Metal
Country: Austria
Label: Einheit Produktionen
Length: 52:05

Line-up:
Hrodgar - vocals
Matthias Solak - guitar, keyboards
Christopher Maier - guitar
Alexander Scharkosi - bass
Sebastian Haas - drums



There are some bands that when you listen to their music for the first time they catch your attention straight away. You prick up your ears and with very little persuasion, you decide you like what you hear. I've found newly discovered Bifröst to be one of those bands. While I didn't think I'd heard of these Austrian (no they aren't from the same country as I am) Pagans before (I hadn't heard their music at least), I have now and I'm glad of that little fact.

Even though I haven't heard the first album from Bifröst (Heidenmetal being their second) I think I can assume that second time around the band have produced more of a professional release. The artwork and the band's logo especially are very well done, and much better than that of Schlachtklänge. The production on Heidenmetal is pretty reasonable and I assume better than in the past.

The music itself on Heidenmetal is quite something though. The album kicks off pretty much straight away; a few drum beats and off we go. Before too long the uplifting qualities of the music are evident. The folk and occasional brass-sounding instruments couple well with thundering drums and cleverly matched guitar strumming. If I knew how to speak the language that Bifröst uses (native German it seems) I would learn the lyrics and shout them with a raised fist. It's that kind of music. The blend of Black Metal and the Pagan/Viking theme and aura work well too. Vocalist Hrodgar knows his craft well; his vocals, which are a blend of rasps and shouts, are extremely strong and forceful. Somewhat evident is on the song "Ragnarök", which happens to be my favourite on the album. While an echo kind of effect is used here and there is a blend of more and less guttural screams; Hrodgar is very impressive in his delivery. This kind of dark and harsh rasping combines well with the prominent distorted and heavy guitar sound. It in turn somehow comes together well with the differing Viking Metal guitar work and folk instruments.

For a fan of more extreme Folk/Viking Metal, there really isn't a lot to complain about on Heidenmetal. There will of course be the sceptics who say that this sort of thing has been done before, but Bifröst is by no means a basic clone. The song writing and musicianship here is good enough for Heidenmetal to hold its own, separating it from some of the blander music from the same style. The album closes with the song "Heimgang" with its pure folk music, brass and wonderful atmospheres. It's actually a great way to let down from the thundering and extreme music that came before it. The album comes to an end as the listener reflects on the great music they've just experienced.