Since the days BATHORY released "Blood Fire Death" (1988) "Hammerheart" (1990), a new rupture happened: Black Metal gave birth to Viking/Black Metal, a form of music that bound together the filthy and harsh approach of Black Metal with ambiences that creates a Viking feeling. And since those (that are 30 years in the past), things evolved and many subgenres were born. But some bands try to stay near of what was summoned by Quorthon. And EREB ALTOR, a quartet that storms from Sweden, seems to be in such way, as can be heard on "Vargitimman", their latest release.

The quartet, as stated above, plays a form of music keeping the crude and aggressive approach of Black Metal with tender (and melancholic) melodic ambiences that creates a Viking Metal-like feeling. And they prefer to stay in this way, but enriching their music with charming keyboards parts and contrasts between shrieks with clean voices. But be prepared, because they show a form of music full of energy and that's worked in a personal way. It's very good. The sonority of the album was created in a form that the natural and crude aggressiveness of Black Metal could be expressed in a form that can be understood by everyone, but keeping the trademarked elements of the genre. It's a fine blend of what the genre is with what it needs. And the band brought Jimmy Mattsson of ISOLE and PLANET RAIN to make backing vocals on "I Have the Sky" and "Heimdals Horn", and Lars Nedland (of BORKNAGAR) to play Hammond Organ on "I Have the Sky".

The album is excellent, but songs as "I Have the Sky" (excellent Viking ambience and melodies, with charming keyboards and guitars), "Vargitimman" (this one follows a more Viking/Black Metal outfit, based on darkened guitars), the climatic and introspective "Fenris", "Alvablot" (a charming set of harsh melodies with a very good playing of bass guitar and drums that supports the song), and "Heimdals Horn" (another very good and Viking-like set of ambiences with clean vocals tunes) are the right ones for a first time on the album. For now, EREB ALTOR did a very good work on "Vargitimman". Listen to it, and enjoy it as much as you want.