11th March, 2024
Jötnar
'Eternal Path'
So from the get go, there now exists a band so steeped in the ancient lore of their homeland that you might expect them to arrive at gigs on longships rather
than in vans. This band, known as Jötnar, hails from the beautiful icy lands of Norway, where the aurora borealis is not just a light show but potentially the backdrop for their upcoming album cover. But today, I dive deep into their debut EP, "Eternal Path," a journey not just through music but through mythological time itself.
The EP 'Eternal Path' is as enigmatic as a Viking trying to read a map without his runes. The music alternates between the serenity of a mountain stream and the ferocity of a berserker in a bad mood, with the vocal transitions from M's melodious chants to PrkL's guttural war cries providing a rollercoaster experience not unlike dining with Loki (you never quite know what you're going to get and that’s just fantastic!)
The opening track, 'Eternal Path,' kicks off with a soundscape so immersive, you'll find yourself checking your feet for snow. It’s as if Eluveitie and Wintersun had a music baby in a Norwegian forest. The use of synths in 'Time for Asgard' creates an atmosphere so thick that you could slice it with a battle-axe, soaring with melodies that could make an elf weep tears of joy. I hear nods to Ensiferum in some of the guitar and drum work along with the band Eternal Tears Of Sorrow (one of my favourites) so this is right up my alley.
Then there's 'Warrior Song,' which doesn’t just dip its toes into folk melodies but cannonballs into the fjord and there’s a great whisper/talk interlude
that creates a real sense of wintertime before closing the song out in epic fashion with some great blast beat type drumming.
These songs are equipped with enough epic Norse mythology references to make Odin sign up for Spotify!!
Speaking of spotify, have a listen to the EP below while you read ->
The artwork is excellent also to accompany the music. The production is crisp and clear, perfect for what they are trying to achieve.
You can hear all the instruments clearly and everything is given the right amount of volume to bring the listener into this sonic experience.
The EP concludes with 'Allfather,' which starts with a cool drum intro that has hints of Japanese type instrumentation, before transitioning into a melody so enchantingly Celtic, even Nightwish might be taking notes in the back.
In conclusion, Jötnar’s "Eternal Path" is an auditory feast fit for the halls of Valhalla, served on a silver platter with a side of mead. As we eagerly await their full-length album, one thing is clear: if this is the level of epic they’re starting at, we might just need to invent new adjectives to describe their next release. So, grab your horned helmets (figuratively, of course), pour yourself a drink, and let Jötnar take you on a journey through the ancient lands of Norway—no longship required, just these guys! Check this out folks!
