Njord

After the brilliant 'Vinland Saga' album I had this on pre-order and have played it more or less continuously since I got it. It is totally addictive. 'Vinland Saga' was just perfect and I could never get enough of that. This is more of the same and that is just great! It is majestically brilliant. Themed again around Viking and Norse legend the album gets off to an epic start with 'Njord' itself, 6 mins 14 seconds of utter genius. After a beautiful vocal introduction from Liv the band crashes in and a relentless, driving anthem emerges set against a choral backdrop and Krull's growling vocals. This is going to be something live. 'My Destiny' follows, their current single. Tragic lyrics, brilliant sorrowful vocals again from Liv, crunching guitars, great chorus. 'Emerald Isle' returns to a theme well explored in 'Vinland Saga', that of leaving and discovery. After a lovely orchestral intro Liv's crystaline voice comes in and then the song is propelled forward on a wave of drums and guitars with Krull growling menacingly in the background. 'Take the Devil in Me' is one of the many highlights. Another sad song about death and regret, it is brilliantly handled by the band who are so tight together here. Everything works so well, another rousing anthem and another great chorus. 'Scarborough fair' is the first time you draw breath. Until now the album has blasted along. This could have been a disaster but the wonderful Simon & Garfunkel song is beautifully handled by the band, effotlessly wonderful vocals by Liv, the song is built of alternate sequences of delicate verses and crunchingly epic choruses backed by uillean pipes which give it a trad folky feel. Superb! 'Through Our Veins' is easily missed but is yet another great fast paced song. 'Irish Rain' at last slows the album down, a beautiful celtic ballad with yet another great vocal performance from Liv and a gorgeous instrumental section complete with uillean pipes again. Lovely. But the quiet does not last long. 'Northbound' is a song of return and is classic Leave's Eyes, delicate verses, swirling, giddy choruses, crashing guitars, choirs and orchestra. But it still just keeps getting better. 'Ragnarok' is another epic, a Nightwish style symphonic opening blasts into an epic song about the Norse myth of the end of the world, haunting volcals from Liv balance against snarling screams from Krull who is no simple metal growler, he's far better than that - great guitar and drums which crashes to a finish. 'Morgenland' is another lovely, delicate ballad while 'The Holy Bond' is a slow burner that really grows on you after a few listens and would have been a great album closer, except that you still have the wonder that is 'Froya's Theme' to go. A sprawling 8 minute epic, not a second is wasted in this masterpiece. A delicate guitar opens with breathless vocals from Liv before the song lurches into its main theme which then gives way to a male choir and Krull's aggressive vocal. The theme again and then a beautiful passage with Liv and Krull exchanging poetic lines and then it builds to its epic conclusion with Liv saving the best for last. Her vocals throughout this album are quite exquisite. And do get the special version with the 2 extra tracks. Nothing can really follow 'Froya's Theme' but 'Landscape of the Dead' does it well. A light theme, a catchy, breezy chorus, nice guitar and just classic Leave's Eyes. They do this kind of song so well. 'Les Champs de Lavande' closes the album, a lovely ethereal ballad with haunting vocals from Liv set against choir and drums. The whole thing is packaged superbly with lots of images of ice and snow and Viking ships and swords that reflect the atmosphere perfectly. Just like 'Vinland' it all hangs together so well without a single mistep and you are just left at the end like you have been on some epic journey. And then you just hit play again! This album leaves the band as masters of their genre and confirms Liv Kristine as one of the great vocalists of our time. This is that good. I can't wait to play 'Vinland' and this back to back!

I enjoyed Vinland Saga but Njord is something else again, probably the best power-metal release of 2009.

A couple of other reviews describe the songs in detail but in summary this is a fine piece of music. Very orchestral and with overtones of Clannad and James Horner in the mix. To describe it just as "metal" is really doing this grand work a dis-service, it's an aural rock-metal symphony that the great classical composers would be proud of.

I've listened through the album twice now and it grows each time. There is some "light" growling from Mr. Krull but it's not intrusive cookie monster stuff and blends with the other themes in the music.

I thoroughly recommend this fine album.

I will admit that Leaves' Eyes are one of my top female fronted bands, ranking alongside Within Temptation, Nightwish and Lacuna Coil. Their music is awesome and Liv's vocals send shivers up and down my spine, So what about this latest offering. Let's just say this is just a colossal piece of music by musicians that are top of their league, and very near untouchable in this genre at this current moment in time. Kicking off with the atmospheric and heavy 6 minute plus title track, I know I am going to like this record...lots. Second track in, 'My Destiny' featured on the recent EP, and I am totally bewitched already by the music on this album. And it is only track 2! This is typical Leaves' Eyes (if it ain't broken, why fix it?), it rocks, it is heavy and it is so melodic. All the tracks here are top drawer, but songs worthy of a mention include the uptempo and catchy 'Take The Devil In Me', 'Northbound', 'The Holy Bond' and the epic 8 minute plus 'Froya's Theme'. And let's not forget 'Scarborough Fair'. Excellent and totally absorbing. The Vikings are coming - bring them on!