MONUMENSION

"Monumension" is the 6th full-length studio album by Norwegian black metal act Enslaved. The band´s last album "Mardraum: Beyond the Within (2000)" was enjoyable to these ears but lacked the final touch to earn the excellent mark. "Monumension" pretty much continues down about the same path. With some improvement and innovation of the band´s sound though.

The music is aggressive black metal with lots of nods towards the blackened part of the eighties thrash/ heavy metal scene. bands like Celtic Frost and Possessed often comes to mind. There´s an epic element to Enslaved´s sound on "Monumension" that sets them apart from that scene though. The vocals are raspy and aggressive most of the time but guest musician Trygve Mathiesen adds some clean vocals to the tracks "Hollow Inside" and "Sigmundskvadet". There are also occassional clean vocals featured in other tracks on the album, which works great for the variation. In addition to guitars, bass and drums there are also various synths on the album courtesy of guest musician Dennis Reksten. Tracks like "Convoys to Nothingness", "Hollow Inside", "The Cromlech Gate" and "The Sleep: Floating Diversity - A Monument Part III" all feature progressive elements that give Enslaved their unique sound. The retro 70s progressive rock influence, that the band would embrace further on later releases, has begun to creep more and more into their music.

The production is powerful and aggressive.

"Monumension" is another solid effort by Enslaved. "Monumension" is, just like "Mardraum: Beyond the Within", a transitional album of sorts. The band stay rooted in their black metal past yet incorporate progressive rock elements to that sound. A 3.5 star rating is deserved. This one might get a 4 star rating in time though. I sense this could grow on me.