Galar - Til Alle Heimsens Endar

July 5, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

Galar’s second album Til Alle Heimsens Endar is a much-anticipated release some four years in the making. After the wondrous Skogskvad album in ’06 the duo was long overdue for a follow-up, and it’s finally here, carrying on much the same high quality essence as the debut.

Hailing from Bergen, Norway Galar effortlessly welds the black metal sound with some strong Viking/Pagan influences to create a pleasing album worthy of inclusion among the likes of Bathory and Enslaved. Something beautiful and uplifting is to be found within this 45-minute epic as it creates some vivid imagery in the mind’s eye. The changing tide through the tracks takes you on a vast journey through the Norwegian mountains and foggy fjord-laden valleys ala fellow countrymen Stridsmenn’s equally impressive debut. The serene settings of the acoustic passages (“Gramr”) just pull you in as a listener, reminding you just slightly of Opeth during the Morningrise era. There is much going on here and all of it is of incredible quality and resonance. You will certainly want to listen to this often and in direct accordance to a positive mood.

It’s a great experience to find a Norwegian metal band that utilizes the special sound of the black metal era to a higher standard than a lot of come-latelys from the Norse backgrounds and elsewhere (why this is even possibly is beyond me). The satanic thing can only shock and impress for so long, so when the bands of these Scandinavian lands started to embrace their lovely culture as Quorthon did back in ’88 with Blood Fire Death the torch was passed for a more honest and certainly more resonating style to take hold. When bands from such beautiful countries embrace and compose music showcasing their beauty and all-encompassing heritage the music often can’t help but be impressive and pure. Galar achieves this to a very high degree. Between them and the aforementioned Stridsmenn the current Viking/Norse heritage theme is one of immense proportion and value.

Til Alle Heimsens Endar has, from beginning to finish, some of the most beautifully entrancing music and should find a nice niche with which to nestle in. Tracks like “Det graa riket” move you to a classical design and entice you to relax, just before “Ingen siger vart vunnin” disassembles the still and paints a picture of true Norse glory with its stampeding pulse. The vocals range from the harsh, breathy vocal that made black metal famous, only to give way to a clean, strong vocal with an overwhelming essence that seems to scream pride.

Well produced and arranged, I think Galar’s second offering was well worth the wait for many fans of both them and this amazingly undervalued Viking genre that seems to be more commercial epic power metal than natural in its honesty. I mean, how can you truly get the concept of true Norwegian beauty from a band from Minnesota or Washington State? You can’t; you have to be there to experience it and create accordingly. Thankfully Galar shares its visions with us. 

Release Date: March 1, 2010
Label: Dark Essence Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Forspill
2.  Ván
3.  Paa frossen mark
4.  Grámr
5.  Det graa riket
6.  Ingen siger vart vunnin
7.  Til alle heimsens endar
8.  Etterspill

Total playing time:  42:42

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