The Album Reader Reviews:
Title: Monumension
Artist: Enslaved
Label: Osmose Productions
Release Date: 11/19/01		 There are currently 1 Reader Reviews of this album.
Average Rating: 4
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    • Submitted by Andrew Deikun (2/2/02):
    Similar Artists: Primordial, Falkenbach, Amorphis

    This is Enslaved's latest opus. Enslaved started as a Nordic Black metal band, changed to a Viking metal band with progressive influences and has really now completely transformed to a progressive metal band with Viking and black metal influences. The line-up for this cd includes Dirge Rep (Percussion and effects), Ivar Bjornson (guitars, synths, Hammond, Piano and effects), R. Kronheim (rhythm and lead guitars, vocals and effects) and Grutle Kjellson (vocals and bass). Guest musicians include Tryge Mathiesen (lead vocals for one song), Dennis Reksten (MiniMoog, Vocoder, Synths/Fxs) and Trond Veland (backing vocals on one track).

    Monumension was recorded at Grieghallen studios in the summer of 2001. It was engineered by Pyteen, Herbrand Larsen, and Davide Bertolini and produced by Enslaved and Pytten. The production on this cd is very full and is not typical of what you would expect of Grieghallen. It is perfect, however, for what the band is doing on this recording. The sounds blend together very well and the mix is just right for the progressive elements (Hammond organ). It does not have the "weak and tinny" sound of some of their earlier releases and "wall of sound" style of Blodhemn. It is probably most similar to Mardraum but with a "warmer" feeling.

    I think that this recording is really going to surprise a lot of people. This one is definitely a radical change in their sound. What I really like about Enslaved is their progressive metal elements. They explore this on this recording even further while shortening the lengths of the songs. Weird, huh? This cd is definitely more midpaced, the guitars are downtuned substantially and they break into 70s grooviness at times. You can also really hear the bass on this recording. There is a nice blend of black metal screeches, death metal growls and a lot more clean singing on this cd than any of their previous releases. What I really like about this recording is the perfect use of transitions and the parts that want to make you break your neck head-banging. The Viking metal song by HOV kind of reminds me of Led Zeppelin some, especially the guitars. If you need to have some typical black metal, this album is not for you. Enslaved plays mature progressive metal with Black/Viking metal influences. Imagine older Enslaved and newer Amorphis mixed with Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple. This is a magnificent cd that needs to be played multiple times to fully enjoy. Highly recommended.
    4 out of 5

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