Asgard 7

On their fifth sonic assault, "svartrviðr", KING OF ASGARD maintain the perfect balance between the grim and the epic, darkness and twilight while keeping their sound crushing and stripped down to essentials. The blackened death veterans deliver an example of Sweden's classic style at the border of harsh and evocative Nordic blackness and the captivating epic melodies of their homeland's death metal. Founded in 2008 in Mjölby, Östergötland, the band rose from the ashes of cult act MITHOTYN. Teaming up with Magnus "Devo" Andersson, who could easily claim the title of MARDUK's house producer, the Swedes made sure to maintain a black twist to their individual sound. Now, KING OF ASGARD invite you to explore the dark secrets of the Viking world and those glimpses at ancient rituals that lurk deep within Old Norse writings.

With "Imago Mundi", their fourth effort, Asgard cancelled the first era of their career. and what a way to say momentarily goodbye! To go on after the splendorous "Arkana" was indeed a titanic task, and Asgard managed to do it quite well due to the exciting combination of talent and conviction that takes place all throughout the repertoire. The conceptual unity of the album (a travel through the lands of myths and legends) actually helps to construe a coherent sequential link between all tracks. The overall result is both excellent and appealing, thanks to the infusion of a more pronounced hard rocking edge into their basic symphonic colorfulness incarnated in attractive melody lines, effective keyboard orchestrations, and cohesive interplaying: at times you can really tell that these guys have gotten immersed in the pompous, bombastic spirit of the best prog rock.