CoC : Odhinn - The North Brigade : Review

Odhinn - _The North Brigade_
(Napalm Records, 1998)
by: Pedro Azevedo (5 out of 10)

I finished my review of Odhinn's debut MCD in CoC #35 stating that, in my opinion, "considering the first two tracks, a properly produced full-length could be interesting." Well, it -could- be. The production here isn't terrible, but it's no more than average -- it may well be exactly the production that John Ostlund, sole member of Odhinn, wanted, I don't know. The first couple of tracks are quite good, however (especially the first), and basically sound like a much less technical version of the superior In Battle. Fast and raw, with a certain In Battle feel in the background, these two tracks display qualities that are seldom repeated throughout the rest of _The North Brigade_. A lot of variety is then added throughout the album: some keyboard lines, a few "Viking" vocals and plenty of experimentation. Noises abound, sometimes similar to some of the sound effects on Abigor's _Supreme Immortal Art_, although Abigor's results are better (and the music itself on _SIA_ is a -lot- better). There's even some polished film-like music (some of which is well done), together with war sounds and speech sequences. But even with all this sideshow and experimentation, _The North Brigade_ is overall below average; if it was all more like the first couple of tracks...

(article published 16/1/1999)

ALBUMS
19/11/1998	P Azevedo	6	Odhinn - From a Splendorous Battle