Doomsword - Let Battle Commence

Genre(s) - Traditional doom metal
Origin - Italy
Year of release - 2003
Bitrate - 192 kbps
Size - 71.89

Though Italy might not sound like an entirely logical place of origin for Viking-themed metal, it should be known that the Northmen sailed the entire width of the Mediterranean sea, and set up trading posts deep in the European inlands. Some of these travellers might just have established a lineage around Gallarate, Lombardia, from which this savage warband springs. Doomsword don't play your average "Viking metal" fare, looking much more closely to Candlemass than to Bathory for inspiration. The epic, no-bullshit heaviness of tracks like Heathen Assault, The Siege or In the Battlefield does lend itself much more to themes of Medieval warfare than depression and the music and texts really reinforce each other. Of course the greatest role in this has been reserved for the vocalist, one mr. Deathbringer (pity...), whose deep, powerful bellows are the perfect glue between music and lyrics. Seriously, what a voice. Let Battle Commence proves the epic doom template fits well with warlike pagan lyrics and manages to sound more genuinely "Viking" than most of the Scandinavian stuff in the process.

1. Heathen assault
2. In the battlefield
3. Woden's reign
4. Deathbringer
5. The siege
6. Blood eagle
7. My name will live on
   

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