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The Swedish viking/doom metal kings Ereb Altor are just about to release their new, already the fifth studio album entitled Nattramn. Album will hit the stores on 24th April via Cyclone Empire. Nattramn was recorded and mixed by Jonas Lindström at Studio Apocalypse and mastered by Jens Bogren at famous Fascination Street Studios (Opeth, Paradise Lost, Kreator, Amon Amarth,...). The brilliant cover artwork was done by Gustavo Sazes of Abstrata Design (Morbid Angel, Arch Enemy, Sodom, Isole,... and the layout once more by Robban Kanto who already did the debut, By Honour, and Fire Meets Ice. Ragnar (vocals, guitars and bass) and Mats (vocals, guitar, bass and keys) are also the mainmen behind Swedish doom-masters Isole and formerly played in bands like Withered Beauty, Forlorn, Windwalker, Theory In Practice,... The atmosphere of Nattramn will let you enter the vast wilderness of Scandinavia. The new masterpiece is a true and authentic album that will take the metal scene by storm. With seven dark hymns Ereb Altor will set out to conquer the World and leave all shores in flames! The band is a must for fans of Bathory, and as well for all those who enjoy in Isole, Borknagar, Enslaved and similar artists. And here's a little special for you, a track by track commentary by Mats.
Song by song commentary by: Mats
Edited by: T.V.
Band: Ereb Altor
Album title: Nattramn
Release date: 24 April 2015
Label: Cyclone Empire
Nattramn tracklist:
01. The Son Of Vindsvalr
02. Midsommarblot
03. Nattramn
04. The Dance Of The Elves
05. Dark Waters
06. Across The Giant's Blood
07. The Nemesis Of Frei
01. The Son Of Vindsvalr
"The Son Of Vindsvalr" is winter itself. This is an intro with pounding drums and distant choirs to set the mood for the album.
02. Midsommarblot
"Midsommarblot" comes in when the winter has passed. The Norsemen have endured yet another long cold winter and will make a blood sacrifice to the Gods Frej and Freja for a good harvest and a long summer. This is an epic piece with choirs and harmonies with a Nordic touch. As in most cases when we deal with Norse mythology or the life of the Vikings
Ereb Altor lean a little bit more to the epic and grandiose sound and composition.
03.
NattramnThe title track "Nattramn" is the first song of three in a row that will tell stories from the Swedish folklore like we did on the
Gastrike album. And the sound is more harsh and the song stretches towards the landscape where Black metal reigns. This is one of the most primitive songs in
Ereb Altor’s history but I still tried to capture the usual “
Ereb Altor atmosphere”. Still it’s pretty straightforward except the chorus where some “odd beats” appear, when you can do parts with “broken beats” without destroying the flow of the song it’s simply brilliant in my opinion. The song deals with a creature from the Swedish folklore called
Nattramn. A
Nattramn is a raven-like creature often described with big claws and sharp teeth. A
Nattramn is either a soul of a dead child which was never baptized or the soul of a sinner that couldn’t find rest. Nattramns travels during the nights on their way from east to west to find the grave of Christ, it’s the only way for them to release their souls from this nightmare and Nattramns are vicious creatures so people should take cover if they see a big raven during the night.
04.
The Dance Of The Elves"The Dance Of The Elves" is a story about where the elves lure their victims to participate in their nocturnal dance where time moves differently and a whole century can pass while you are dancing with the elves for only one night. If you see the mist over the fields or meadows just before dawn you might be staring at the elves. Musically the dance of the elves is somewhat more melodic than the other songs on the album.
05.
Dark Waters This is what epic Black Metal is to me. "Dark Waters" is about a creature born in the underworld according to Swedish legends. A creature playing enchanting tunes with his violin and it’s almost impossible to resist his music. He is driven by envy and he despises the common people “the ones who walks above” and he will try to drown everyone he can get his hand on. If you are able to trick him you might learn to play the violin from him and you will become one of the greatest musicians to walk on the face of the earth. But the stakes are high.
06.
Across The Giant's Blood"Across The Giants Blood" is the Majestic Doom Hymn of the album. With a slower pace to make the listener feel the long-ship rocking in the waves of the Ocean. The ice breaks on the spring and the men of the North set their sails to cross the Sea and conquer foreign shores.
07.
The Nemesis Of FreiThe last song of the album “The Nemesis Of Frei” is the most diverse song. The story starts with huge sound telling the History of Muspelheim and the famous sword made of fire that belongs to Surt the King of fire. When The King of Fire rides towards the final battle the pace increases into fierce blastbeats and at the end of Ragnarök the sound of DOOM take.
Ereb Altor links:
Official website,
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