Like their countrymen in , the members of have dedicated their band's entire career to chronicling the epic tales of Norse history and legend in loving, almost obsessive fashion -- and by means of incredibly violent to boot. Their fourth opus, 2003's beautifully rendered , is no exception: from the mood-setting period painting by Norwegian artist gracing its cover to the native themes and metallic orchestrations within, everything about the album speaks "Norway." Amazingly, only their second effort to feature any lyrics sung in English, boasts a wealth of cinematic , with overpowering tracks like and qualifying, for all intents and purposes, as constructed symphonic pieces. Except here, they are performed by a virtual orchestra consisting of multi-tracked guitars, keyboards, and a smattering of blastbeat percussion, all of which, along with predominantly hoarse screams and the occasional vocal sections, weave densely harmonic reams of sound. Somewhat at odds with the album's analog heart, elements occasionally rear their unwelcome heads, but save for portions of the lengthy they too are more often than not seamlessly integrated into 's impressive canvas. And with further masterful highlights such as leading the way, the stage is set for an emotionally complex and remarkably sensory listening experience. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia