Your writing style is a little unfocused sometimes but at least you seem to have pretty good opinions.

win

in theory they can coexist and among reasonable people they do. I try to teach both views to my kids. They are not mutually exclusive, especially from the perspective of kids. But the reality is this is the heart of arguments over scientists being neutral and objective, theologists ignoring evolution, the centuries long arguments over faith versus reason…

a further discussion would constitute a tangent

I have listened to about 360 2009 releases and I said this one would be an honorable mention come year end, meaning in the top 15 releases or so.

Advance press promised return to 97 style, didn’t happen, sounds just like the style developed over last three albums. The comment was meant as a declaration of disappointment clarified at the end of the paragraph, i.e. initial listen disappointing but grew on me rapidly.

As for not discussing the sound, said similar to last three albums, still has Immortal vibe, does not sound like a smattering of outside influences, is kind of pastoral- not angry or warlike- which should tell you about pacing and mood. I said it is a continuation of Sons of Northern Darkness but slowed overall with less emphasis on the noodling and more on riffs that convey mood, i/e. not fast and chaotic (pastoral)

if that was not enough to give you a sense of the sound, the production is overall a bit flat, vocals are growled a bit lower but still in the distinctive style, drums are lower in the mix with guitars louder and fuller… if you need a second by second break down in order to make a decision you are missing the key point- it sounds like Immortal.

as for tangents, the imagery and backdrop that Immortal uses for the placement of all their lyrical themes is a significant aspect of who they are, expressing their true Scandinavian character and therefore hardly a tangent, it is customary to discuss lyrical themes in a review.

now I’m off to visit my mother, I’ve still got a lot of digging to do to create a basement, since the house is built on posts.

It sounds like Immortal. Therefore, it rules.

Some of the songs actually reminded me of Bathory’s “Twilight of the Gods” album – very epic. Great songs, but the production is way too tinny, much more like Damned in Black sounded. Marduk’s “Wormwood” has much better production, much clearer and “beefier”.

No one else in the metal community writes like this. That’s why I read Grim’s reviews. He’s like the black metal Hemingway.