Einherjer - Odin Owns Ye All - CD

Released in 1998, "Odin Owns Ye All" is the second full-length studio album by Einherjer. It’s a fascinating, if slightly polarizing, chapter in the history of Viking Metal because it marked a distinct departure from the cold, black-metal-influenced sound of their debut "Dragons of the North". While their earlier work was rooted in the atmospheric and aggressive Second Wave of Black Metal, "Odin Owns Ye All" leans heavily into Heavy Metal territory. The guitar work is much more rhythmic and "groove-oriented" than the tremolo-picking found in traditional Norwegian metal and the sound is cleaner and punchier, losing the raw, lo-fi aesthetic of the mid-90s in favor of a more polished, rock n' roll Viking vibe. One of the most notable changes is the vocal delivery of Ragnar Vikse: instead of the typical black metal shriek, Vikse utilizes a unique, raspy, and melodic approach. It feels more theatrical and storytelling-driven, which fits the epic themes of Norse mythology but was quite a surprise to fans at the time.

For fans of Enslaved, Moonsorrow, Thyrfing.