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"They unleashed their best effort to date upon us with Vertebrae...."

come on, really!?!

Have none of you heard 'Eld'. Or for that matter any of enslaved discography starting from below the lights all the way back?! I just don't understand how vertebrae is scoring so many kudos. its a great album but saying it is their best is mind blowing.

I've heard it all mister... But I'm more of a prog-head than a Black Metal-head, I guess. They're all great. But I like Vertebrae the most.

Well, I have to side with you, myself. After working on it (and being a prog fan), I do like the post-Mardraum era (why Mardraum? Read on...) but not anywhere as much as the epic Eld or the blasting assault of Blodhemn. Blodhemn is viking metal without all the quirky folk bits and huge drunken choirs. Those who like the viking theme but not the folk part should definitely get in touch with pre-Monumension Enslaved. Actually... Vikingligr Veldi, Frost, Eld and Blodhemn should be required listening to any real viking metal fan.

By the way, when talking about the "progressive" turn of the band, most leave out Mardraum, which I think is criminal. Mardraum was great, IMO. It showed the start of proggier influence but without going into the noodling bits or instruments (mellotron) that prog mostly always introduce. Mardraum had actual songs and menaged to keep away from the pointless meanderings that so many prog bands or intrumentalists feel the need to show off.

I think you guys are being a bit fussy. I gave Vikingligr V. classic status, which is equal to 100/100, and I'd do the same for Frost and maybe Eld (when I finally get around to reviewing them). The only 'slaved album I'd score below 90 is Blodhemn. Amazing band.

Sorry if it came across that way. I was just trying to point that Enslaved's been getting a lot of praise lately (not just you guys, but everywhere around) for their last few albums and not so much for their 90s stuff. I'm definitely not knocking yours or Thomas's reviews, though. Definitely wasn't meant to come across that way.

Cheers!

Below the Lights got me, but anything else from enslaved is great, especially Eld.

Strange, Mardraum and Monumension are my two favourite Enslaved albums.

opinions definitely seem to vary... Although Frost and Eld are both classics, I don't seem to enjoy them as much as their newer stuff... still very good though,

I wouldn't rate anything Enslaved has done below 90.

Great album.

What's wrong with Bloodhemn Zad?

It's a bit short, and feels a little cobbled-together to me. There are too many electronic effects, and in the wrong place. Songs are meh, too.

I like that it's short, otherwise the straight forward song would grate. I think it's a great example of straightforward viking/thrash metal.